The pass in one paragraph

The Hai Van Pass is a coastal mountain road of about 20 to 21 km. It climbs to roughly 500 m between Da Nang, about 20 km south, and Hue, about 80 km north. Most traffic now uses the 6.2 km Hai Van Tunnel, which leaves the old road quiet. Guides from October 2026 describe about 45 to 60 minutes to ride up from Da Nang by motorbike and about 30 minutes to the summit by car.

This page helps you choose how to cross it: by motorbike with a driver, by private car, by train or on your own. The viewpoints and the old fortified gate are covered in our Hai Van Pass page.

Your options compared (as of 8 November 2026)

Operators set these prices, and they can change. Car prices are per vehicle, not per person, so a group of three or four pays much less each than for two Easy Riders.

By motorbike with a driver: two Easy Rider formats

The Hue–Hoi An tour, in detail

This listing offers two formats:

  • One-way tour: runs between Hue and Hoi An in either direction. It includes a hotel pick-up in Hue or Hoi An, the pass, a stop at Lang Co beach and one at Lap An lagoon.
  • Round trip: starts and ends in Hoi An or Da Nang. It adds the Marble Mountains and the Lady Buddha at Linh Ung Pagoda.

You ride as a passenger behind the driver, who speaks basic conversational English, explains the route and helps with photos. If you prefer to ride your own bike, the operator asks you to contact it in advance.

Included: the experienced Easy Rider driver, fuel, a helmet, a rain poncho, the scenic stops, and pick-up and drop-off as per the option. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start. The listing is rated 4.9 from 124 reviews. Reviews describe safe, careful drivers and local stops off the main route.

Not included: the Marble Mountains entrance fee, lunch, other drinks, a guide inside sites and tips.

Luggage on the one-way option: small bags are strapped to the bike. Large suitcases go separately by bus to your hotel in Hue or Hoi An, so you can change cities without carrying them.

Pick-up locations offered: Dien Duong, Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue.

The Da Nang day loop

Easy Riders Vietnam publishes a Hai Van Pass tour that leaves from Da Nang and returns to Da Nang. It lasts one day and costs $50 per person per day (2026 price published by the operator, as of 8 November 2026).

This format suits travellers who already have a hotel in Da Nang and want to come back the same evening. It does not move you to Hue or Hoi An. Before booking, ask the operator:

  • what is included;
  • where the pick-up point is;
  • whether lunch and stops are part of the day.

Which Easy Rider to pick

  • Changing city that day: the one-way Hue–Hoi An tour, because it carries you and sends your suitcase ahead.
  • Staying in Da Nang and returning there: either the Da Nang loop or the round trip from Da Nang or Hoi An.
  • Wanting the Marble Mountains and Linh Ung Pagoda in the same day: the round trip on the listing above.

By private car with driver

Hue Private Car lists two different routes. One is a direct Hue–Da Nang transfer. The other is the Hue–Hai Van Pass–Da Nang route, which takes the pass road rather than the tunnel.

On 8 November 2026, the via-the-pass route is priced for 2026 at:

  • 1,600,000 VND per vehicle for a four-seat car;
  • 1,700,000 VND per vehicle for a seven-seat vehicle.

The difference between the two routes matters. A "Hue to Da Nang" car that does not name Hai Van will usually take the quicker tunnel. When you book any car, check that the route says Hai Van Pass explicitly.

A car is the comfortable choice in several situations:

  • the weather is uncertain;
  • you travel with children or older relatives;
  • you have several suitcases;
  • you simply do not want to sit on a motorbike for hours.

Ask the driver to stop at the summit and at Lang Co. Agree before you set off on how long each stop lasts.

By train: the coast without the road

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism describes a heritage rail link between Hue and Da Nang that pauses at Lang Co. It lists two pairs of trains, HD1/2 and HD3/4, and refers to Vietnam Railway (VNR) for the timetable.

Check the exact calendar and departure times with VNR before planning around them. The tourism office does not give a fixed schedule, and the services may not run every day.

A second operator, Revolution Express, runs between Da Nang and Hue in both directions. The full journey takes about four hours, according to the operator, and includes a one-hour stop at Lang Co. That stop gives you time for a walk along the lagoon or a quick seafood meal.

The train follows the coast and tunnels through the mountain, so you see the sea rather than the switchbacks of the pass. It is a different experience, not a substitute for the road. Many travellers combine them: train one way, Easy Rider or car the other.

Do not assume you can do a Hue–Da Nang return by train in one day. Nothing published guarantees a timetable that allows it. Plan to sleep at the other end, or return by road. For rail classes and booking in general, see our guide to trains in Vietnam.

By bus, and on your own

Bus: this is the cheapest way between Hue and Da Nang, but most buses go through the tunnel. If seeing the pass is the point, a bus is the wrong choice unless the operator confirms in writing that it uses the old road.

Self-ride: this suits experienced riders only. You need:

  • a valid licence for Vietnam;
  • insurance that covers motorbikes, which you should check in our travel insurance guide;
  • a helmet that fits.

Motorbikes cannot enter the tunnel, so you will be on the pass road anyway.

The route, stop by stop

From Da Nang, the first bend on the Da Nang side is Turtle Rock, overlooking Da Nang Bay and the Son Tra peninsula. Higher up, cafés look over Lang Co bay and Lap An lagoon. Near the crest stands the Hai Van Gate, the old fortified gate, which is best at sunrise or sunset. At the foot of the pass on the Hue side, Lang Co is a good place for a seafood lunch by the lagoon. Coming from Hue, the order is simply reversed.

The tour listing allows:

  • about 2 hours for the pass itself;
  • 2 hours at Lang Co, including lunch;
  • 30 minutes at the lagoon;
  • 1.5 hours at the Marble Mountains on the round trip.

The Revolution Express train gives you one hour at Lang Co.

Timing tips

  • Go in the dry months, February to August. Early morning or late afternoon gives the best light and fewer vehicles.
  • Start in the morning if you are crossing between cities. The tour has several stops, and the light fades early in the afternoon.
  • Bring a jacket. It is cooler at the summit than on the coast.
  • Avoid fog, rain and night. The road is narrow and visibility drops quickly. For the central coast's wet months, see the Vietnam rainy season guide.
  • Refuel at the foot. There is no fuel on the pass itself.
  • Check the train calendar early with VNR if the heritage train is part of your plan.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Taking a bus and expecting the view. Ask any bus, car or tour whether it takes the pass road or the tunnel. Most buses use the tunnel.
  • Booking a "Hue–Da Nang" car without "Hai Van" in the route. Operators list the direct transfer and the pass route separately.
  • Comparing car and motorbike prices the wrong way. Car prices are per vehicle; Easy Rider prices are per person.
  • Riding a motorbike into the tunnel. Motorbikes cannot enter it; shuttles carry them.
  • Forgetting your licence and insurance if you ride yourself.
  • Not asking what is included. Lunch, the Marble Mountains fee and tips are extras on the tour above.
  • Leaving large bags on the bike. Only small bags travel with you; large suitcases go separately.
  • Counting on a same-day train return without checking the timetable.

Which way for which traveller

  • First time in Vietnam and nervous about motorbikes: an Easy Rider, because the driver knows the road and the stops. Take a car instead if the weather is bad.
  • Based in Da Nang: the one-day Da Nang loop at $50 per person, or a round trip from Da Nang.
  • Couple or friends: two Easy Riders, so you travel side by side. For three or four people, a four-seat car is often cheaper per head.
  • Families with young children: a car with driver, or the seven-seat vehicle for larger groups. The motorbike tour is not designed for small children.
  • Moving between Hue and Hoi An with luggage: the one-way Easy Rider, which sends large suitcases ahead by bus.
  • Lovers of slow travel: the heritage train or Revolution Express, with the Lang Co stop.
  • Short on budget: the regular train or a bus, accepting that a bus will probably go through the tunnel.
  • Experienced riders: a rented motorbike, with licence and insurance in order.

Plan the stages

For the stages on either side of the pass, see:

If you plan to ride the pass between Hue and Hoi An, book the Easy Rider tour a day or two ahead and choose your date in the listing.

FAQ

Is there a ticket for the Hai Van Pass? No. It is a public road and free to cross.

How much does a tour cost? On 8 November 2026, the Da Nang day loop by Easy Riders Vietnam costs $50 per person per day (2026 price). The Hue–Hoi An Easy Rider tour starts at $61 per person.

How much is a private car over the pass? Hue Private Car lists the Hue–Hai Van–Da Nang route at 1,600,000 VND per four-seat car and 1,700,000 VND per seven-seat vehicle (2026 prices, as of 8 November 2026).

How long does the Hai Van Pass take? About 45 to 60 minutes up from Da Nang by motorbike and about 30 minutes to the summit by car. The Easy Rider tour lasts 6 to 8 hours with stops, and the Da Nang loop takes one day.

Is there a train over the pass? The railway follows the coast. A heritage train runs between Hue and Da Nang with a pause at Lang Co; check the HD1/2 and HD3/4 timetable with VNR. Revolution Express takes about four hours, including one hour at Lang Co.

Is the Easy Rider tour safe? Reviews on the listing describe careful drivers. You ride as a passenger and wear the included helmet. Check the weather and avoid fog and rain.

Can I go from Hue to Hoi An with my luggage? Yes, on the one-way option. Small bags travel on the bike, and large suitcases go by bus to your hotel.

When is the best time? February to August, in the early morning or late afternoon.

Can I use the bus? Yes, but most buses use the tunnel and skip the pass.

The Hanoi Authority editorial team, 8 November 2026.