Estimated reading time: 10 mins
Some road trips are really just a transfer with a prettier window. The Hai Van Pass is not that.
This is one of Central Vietnam’s best short drives because it gives you a bit of everything without asking for a heroic amount of time off. You start in Hue with imperial history and riverfront calm, roll south past countryside, lagoons and beach towns, climb over the Hai Van Pass, drop into Da Nang, then finish in lantern-lit Hoi An. It links up neatly, which I always appreciate. Nothing ruins a road trip faster than a route that looks clever on a map and then behaves like a geography prank in real life.
I’d do this Vietnam Hai Van Pass road trip by private car with a driver, not as a self-drive mission unless you’re properly prepared for Vietnam’s roads. Having a driver means you can actually look out the window, stop for coffee, take the old pass road rather than the tunnel, and avoid arriving in Hoi An with your nerves packed separately from your luggage.
For wider planning, pair this route with our Vietnam travel guide and best places to visit in Vietnam. If you’re building a longer trip around it, our road trip route ideas page is a handy place to keep tinkering.
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Vietnam Hai Van Pass Road Trip
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
✅ Route: Hue → Thanh Toan Bridge → Lap An Lagoon → Lang Co → Hai Van Pass → Da Nang → Marble Mountains → An Bang Beach → Hoi An
✅ Start point: Hue
✅ End point: Hoi An
✅ Best length: 3 days, 2 nights
✅ Best transport: Private car with a local driver
✅ Total route distance: Around 150km before scenic detours
✅ Best overnight stops: Lang Co on night one, Da Nang or An Bang on night two
✅ Best for: Culture, coast, mountain views, food, beaches and a short-but-proper road trip
✅ Not ideal for: Travellers who want one fast transfer with no stops
✅ Best direction: Hue to Hoi An, because the route builds beautifully and ends somewhere soft and walkable
✅ Best season: February to August tends to be the easiest period for drier Central Vietnam travel
✅ Rain note: September to November can be wetter, so keep the schedule flexible
✅ Booking tip: Tell your driver you want the old Hai Van Pass road, not the tunnel
✅ Useful extras: Offline maps, cash, a portable charger and a Vietnam eSIM option
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: Discover Cars
🔥 Recommended Tour to get you started: Hue Imperial City Tour
Vietnam Hai Van Pass Road Trip Map Route
This route works best from north to south. Hue gives you the cultural opening, Lang Co gives you the coastal pause, the Hai Van Pass gives you the drama, Da Nang gives you food and beach energy, then Hoi An lets everything slow down at the end.
You can technically drive from Hue to Hoi An in one long day. Plenty of people do. But stretching it across three days turns it from “nice transfer” into a proper mini road trip, with time for food stops, viewpoints, beach wandering and the odd unnecessary iced coffee, which is usually the best kind.
The basic route logic:
- Day 1: Hue to Lang Co, with imperial sights, countryside and lagoon stops
- Day 2: Lang Co to Da Nang, over the old Hai Van Pass road
- Day 3: Da Nang to Hoi An, via Marble Mountains and An Bang Beach
Day 1: Hue to Lang Co via Imperial Sights, Countryside and Lap An Lagoon
Distance: Around 80 to 100km, depending on Hue stops
Driving time: Around 2.5 to 3.5 hours without long sightseeing stops
Overnight: Lang Co
Start in Hue, but don’t rush straight out of town. This city deserves at least a morning before the road trip properly begins, especially if you like your travel with a bit of ruined-wall drama and royal backstory. I’d choose one main Hue sight rather than trying to inhale the entire city before lunch. The Imperial City is the obvious pick, while Thien Mu Pagoda or Khai Dinh Tomb works better if you want a tighter stop before heading south.
Once you leave Hue, break up the drive at Thanh Toan Bridge or a countryside stop before pushing on towards Lap An Lagoon. This is where the route starts to loosen up. Mountains sit behind still water, seafood restaurants dot the edge, and the whole place has that “why didn’t I allow longer here?” feeling. End the day in Lang Co so you can wake up close to the Hai Van Pass rather than tackling it tired.
📍 Things to do:
- Walk part of Hue’s Imperial City early before the heat starts behaving badly.
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda if you want a calm riverside stop.
- Choose Khai Dinh Tomb if you prefer one compact, dramatic royal tomb.
- Detour to Thanh Toan Bridge for a quieter countryside pause.
- Stop around Lap An Lagoon for seafood, coffee or a slow leg stretch.
- Arrive in Lang Co before dark so you can actually enjoy the beach setting.
- Keep dinner simple with seafood, noodles or whatever place looks busy with locals.
💡 Fact: Hue was Vietnam’s imperial capital under the Nguyen Dynasty, so it makes sense to start here rather than treating it as a quick pre-road-trip hotel stop.
🗺️ Guides to Vietnam: All our guides to Vietnam
Where to Stay Around Lang Co
Day 2: Lang Co to Da Nang Over the Hai Van Pass
Distance: Around 45 to 60km, depending on Da Nang detours
Driving time: Around 1.5 to 2.5 hours with viewpoints
Overnight: Da Nang or An Bang Beach
This is the day most people picture when they think of the Hai Van Pass. Leave Lang Co after breakfast and take the old mountain road instead of the tunnel. The tunnel is quicker, yes, but it also deletes the entire reason you came this way. The old road climbs into the hills with sea views, bends, jungle-covered slopes and enough scenic pull-ins to make your phone battery nervous.
Ask your driver to stop at safe viewpoints, especially near Hai Van Gate. I’d avoid turning the pass into a full photoshoot marathon, though. Part of the fun is the motion, the changing light, the glimpses of coastline appearing between bends, and that quiet moment where everyone in the car stops chatting because the view has done the heavy lifting.
By early afternoon, drop into Da Nang. This is a good place to stay if you want restaurants, beach time, coffee shops and a bit more city energy before Hoi An. My Khe Beach is the easy reset. Son Tra Peninsula is worth adding if the sky is clear and you still have road-trip appetite left.
📍 Things to do:
- Leave Lang Co after breakfast so you’re not driving the pass in a rush.
- Confirm you’re taking the old Hai Van Pass road, not the tunnel.
- Stop at Hai Van Gate for the classic mountain viewpoint.
- Keep viewpoint stops safe and sensible, not halfway round a blind bend.
- Have lunch in Da Nang, ideally somewhere casual and local.
- Walk My Khe Beach if you want an easy coastal pause.
- Add Son Tra Peninsula if you have time, clear weather and a driver happy with the extra loop.
- Stay in Da Nang for food and convenience, or An Bang for a softer beach-style night.
⚠️ Watch out: The Hai Van Pass is scenic, not sleepy. Expect bends, traffic and weather changes. This is another reason I’d use a driver rather than treating it like a relaxed self-drive experiment.
Where to Stay in Da Nang
Day 3: Da Nang to Hoi An via Marble Mountains and An Bang Beach
Distance: Around 35 to 45km, depending on beach stops
Driving time: Around 1 to 1.5 hours without sightseeing
Overnight: Hoi An
Keep day three short and generous. You’re close to Hoi An now, so there’s no need to attack the day like a clipboard. Start with Marble Mountains, where caves, pagodas, viewpoints and stone steps sit inside limestone hills just south of Da Nang. Go early if you can, because heat and crowds make stairs feel much more personal.
After Marble Mountains, drift south towards An Bang Beach. This is a good lunch stop before Hoi An, especially if you like ending a road trip with sand, seafood and a cold drink rather than another museum sprint. Then roll into Hoi An mid-afternoon, drop your bags, and leave the car behind.
Hoi An is best on foot. The old town works because of the small details: wooden shopfronts, lanterns, river reflections, food carts, coffee, tiny lanes and that slightly unreal evening glow that makes everyone suddenly think they’re a photographer.
📍 Things to do:
- Visit Marble Mountains in the morning before the steps turn spicy.
- Wear proper shoes, especially if there has been rain.
- Stop at Non Nuoc Beach if you want a quick coastal look.
- Have lunch at An Bang Beach.
- Arrive in Hoi An by mid-afternoon.
- Walk the Ancient Town towards sunset.
- Try cao lau, white rose dumplings and strong Vietnamese coffee.
- Save tailor shopping or My Son Sanctuary for an extra Hoi An day if possible.
⏰ Timing tip: Arrive in Hoi An before sunset. Checking into a hotel down a narrow lane is much less charming when you’re dragging luggage through evening crowds while pretending you’re not mildly stressed.
🗺️ Recommended Road Trip Alternative: Canadian Rockies Road Trip + Map: Banff, Jasper & Epic Lakes 🚗
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
Grab the Map
Access to the map
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Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
Where To Stay On the Road Trip
Where you sleep changes the feel of this route. You don’t need luxury at every stop, but you do want each overnight to make the next day easier. This is not the route for staying somewhere awkward because it saved £4 and came with one mysterious review from 2018.
For accommodation, compare Central Vietnam hotel stays in Hue, Lang Co, Da Nang and Hoi An before locking in the route. If you’re travelling light or keeping costs down, Vietnam hostel stays can work well in Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An.
Hue
Stay near the Perfume River or inside easy reach of the Imperial City if you want the smoothest start. Hue is calm compared with Vietnam’s bigger cities, but you still don’t want to waste your first morning crossing town unnecessarily.
Best for:
- First night before the road trip
- Imperial City access
- Riverfront walks
- Food-focused stays
- Travellers who want a softer start before the coast
Lang Co
Lang Co is the best overnight if your priority is route flow. You get the lagoon and beach mood on day one, then start day two close to the Hai Van Pass. It’s quieter than Da Nang, which can be lovely or slightly too sleepy depending on your mood.
Best for:
- Waking up close to the pass
- Beach views
- Seafood
- Slower travel
- Breaking the route neatly
Da Nang
Da Nang is the practical middle ground. It has beach hotels, city restaurants, coffee shops, nightlife, good transport links and easy access to Marble Mountains the next morning. If you’re unsure, Da Nang is usually the safest night-two choice.
Best for:
- Food and city convenience
- My Khe Beach
- Short transfer to Marble Mountains
- Bigger hotel choice
- Travellers who like a lively base
An Bang Beach
An Bang gives you a softer landing before Hoi An. It’s close enough to the old town for easy access but far enough away to feel more relaxed. I’d choose this if you want beach time before the lanterns.
Best for:
- Beach cafés
- A calmer night before Hoi An
- Couples and slower travellers
- Easy access to both coast and old town
- A less city-like finish
Hoi An
For the final night, stay either in the Ancient Town area for atmosphere or slightly outside it for more space and quieter evenings. Hoi An is walkable, but heat, scooters and crowds can make “just 20 minutes” feel more ambitious than it sounded online.
Best for:
- Lantern evenings
- Food and cafés
- Tailors and markets
- Walking the old town
- Ending the road trip somewhere memorable
Pit Stops & Side Detours 🚗✨
You don’t need every detour on this list. Pick two or three that fit your pace and leave the rest for another trip. Central Vietnam is not short of things to do, which is both wonderful and mildly annoying when you’re trying to plan sensibly.
- Thanh Toan Bridge: A gentle countryside stop near Hue, good for a slower start.
- Khai Dinh Tomb: Compact, dramatic and easier to fit into day one than several royal tombs.
- Thien Mu Pagoda: A calm riverside stop if you want a classic Hue moment.
- Lap An Lagoon: One of the best scenic breaks between Hue and Lang Co.
- Lang Co Beach: Ideal for a sunset wander or seafood dinner.
- Hai Van Gate: The main viewpoint on the pass.
- My Khe Beach: Easy Da Nang beach stop with plenty of nearby food.
- Son Tra Peninsula: Best on a clear day if you have extra time.
- Marble Mountains: The strongest stop between Da Nang and Hoi An.
- An Bang Beach: A relaxed lunch stop before Hoi An.
- My Son Sanctuary: Better as a separate half-day trip from Hoi An rather than forcing it into this 3-day route.
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
Central Vietnam eats ridiculously well. This route is short, but the food changes enough between Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An to make every stop feel distinct. I’d avoid hotel breakfasts every day if you can. They’re convenient, but this part of Vietnam deserves better than lukewarm toast and a banana.
- Bun bo Hue in Hue: Rich, spicy noodle soup and a far better start than a sad pastry.
- Banh khoai in Hue: Crispy pancake-style snack, usually eaten with herbs and dipping sauce.
- Nem lui in Hue: Lemongrass pork skewers with rice paper, herbs and sauce.
- Seafood in Lang Co: Keep it simple. Grilled, steamed, soupy, all good.
- Mi quang in Da Nang: Turmeric noodles, herbs, peanuts and a small-but-mighty broth.
- Banh trang cuon thit heo in Da Nang: Pork, rice paper, herbs and dipping sauce. Messy in the best way.
- Cao lau in Hoi An: The headline Hoi An noodle dish.
- White rose dumplings in Hoi An: Delicate, pretty and dangerously easy to reorder.
- Vietnamese iced coffee: Essential road-trip fuel. Also a personality reset when the heat gets rude.
🎶 Road Trip Playlist
👉 Good to know: Download offline. Signal can be patchy and your playlist deserves better. 📲
🎙️ Podcasts to Queue Up
I’d keep podcasts for the flatter sections, not the pass itself. The best bit of Hai Van is watching the road and coastline unfold. That said, a good episode helps during transfers, hotel downtime or the moment someone in the car starts giving live commentary on every scooter.
- The Travel Diaries: Easy travel listening with good destination chat.
- Zero To Travel: Useful for bigger trip ideas and long-term travel thinking.
- Amateur Traveler: Good destination deep dives without too much fluff.
- The Rest Is History: Ideal if you like context while travelling.
- Gastropod: Food, culture and history, useful before a very noodle-heavy evening.
- Stuff You Should Know: Easy background listening for road days.
- Desert Island Discs: Calm, human and a good reset after busy travel days.
📱 Good to know: Download offline maps as well as podcasts. Our best travel navigation app guide is useful if you’re deciding how to set up Google Maps, Apple Maps or another navigation app before the trip.
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Road Trip Essentials (All Year Round) 🎒🚗
Pack light, but not lazily. This is a short route with heat, temples, stairs, beaches, caves, rain risk and luggage transfers all bundled together like Vietnam is testing your admin skills.
- Lightweight day bag
- Refillable water bottle
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat or cap
- Light rain jacket or poncho
- Comfortable walking shoes for Hue and Marble Mountains
- Sandals for beach stops
- Modest cover-up for temples and pagodas
- Motion sickness tablets if winding roads bother you
- Small cash in Vietnamese dong
- Portable charger
- Offline maps
- Hand sanitiser
- Travel towel if you plan to swim
- Basic first-aid bits
- Copies of key booking details
- Vietnam eSIM option
- Vietnam travel insurance
For general route prep, our how to plan a trip properly guide is useful if you’re stitching this into a longer Vietnam itinerary.
🧠 Reality check: Don’t overpack for this drive. You’ll be moving between hotels, viewpoints and small streets, and a heavy suitcase quickly becomes the least scenic part of the route.
Rent a Car
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: AiraloWorldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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Helen Ross
I’m a 32-year-old photographer and travel enthusiast, journeying from place to place, immortalizing the hidden tales, unseen moments, and the narratives that lie between.
All articles on The Travel Tinker are written by humans. Read our editorial policy.
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