Hai Van Pass

Welcome to the legendary Hai Van Pass, a ribbon of asphalt that weaves through some of the most dramatic and breathtaking coastal scenery in all of Southeast Asia. Stretching for roughly twenty one kilometers, this mountainous…

Our journey begins at the southern base of the mountain, leaving the sprawling, modern skyline of Da Nang behind as we lean into the first series of dramatic inclines. Almost immediately, the environment radically transforms. …

As we navigate the middle elevations of the Hai Van Pass, I urge you to look down, far below the ribbon of asphalt on which we ride. Tracing the very edge of the coastline, dangerously close to where the crashing waves meet the…

As we approach the higher elevations, nearing the absolute summit of the pass, you will likely experience a sudden, dramatic, and intensely physical phenomenon. The Hai Van Pass is not merely a topographical boundary, it is a…

We have finally reached the absolute apex of our journey, the summit of the Hai Van Pass, sitting at an elevation of approximately five hundred meters above sea level. This is the crest of the wave, the literal high point where…

While the ancient brick archway of Emperor Minh Mang speaks of nineteenth century imperial glory, the structures immediately surrounding it tell a much darker, more modern, and far more violent story. Scattered across the highest…

Having explored the historical weight and the misty heights of the summit, it is time to begin our descent down the northern face of the mountain, leaving the territory of Da Nang and officially entering the Thua Thien Hue…

As the dramatic inclines of the Hai Van Pass flatten out into the peaceful coastal plains leading towards Hue, it is time to reflect on the incredible twenty one kilometer journey we have just completed. You have not merely…