Hue Imperial City Day Trip via Hai Van Pass by Road from Da Nang

Hai Van Pass: the scenic road from Da Nang to Hue

The Hai Van Pass, whose name means ocean cloud pass, climbs about 20 km over a spur of the Truong Son mountains that drops straight into the sea between Da Nang and Lang Co. At the summit, close to 500 metres high, stand the ruins of a 19th-century fortified gate that once guarded the border between historic regions. The mountains also form a climate divide, and the weather often changes from one side to the other.

Since the tunnel opened in 2005, most traffic avoids the pass, leaving the winding road quiet for travellers who come for the views over Da Nang Bay and the coast. Taking the Hai Van Pass from Da Nang to Hue adds time compared with the tunnel, but it turns the journey itself into one of the highlights of the day.

Lap An Lagoon and Lang Co

Descending the north side of the pass you reach Lang Co, a fishing town on a narrow strip of sand between the sea and the calm Lap An Lagoon. The lagoon is a wide stretch of brackish water ringed by green mountains, dotted with oyster farms and wooden fishing platforms, and its still surface reflects the peaks on clear mornings.

We stop here for about 15 to 20 minutes for photos and a short stroll along the lakeside path. It is a peaceful contrast to the drama of the pass and a good chance to stretch your legs before the second part of the drive to Hue, which takes a little over an hour from here.

Hue Imperial City

Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Its vast citadel, begun in the early 1800s on the north bank of the Perfume River, is enclosed by moats and thick walls, and inside lies the Imperial City with its ceremonial gates, palaces, temples and gardens. The complex is part of the Complex of Hue Monuments, listed by UNESCO in 1993.

With your guide you enter through the grand Noon Gate, see the Palace of Supreme Harmony where the throne stood, and walk through courtyards, pavilions and the restored halls of the Forbidden Purple City, much of which was damaged in 1968 and is being carefully rebuilt. Allow about two hours. Is the Imperial City worth visiting? It is the heart of any Hue day trip, and the guide brings its rituals and court life to life.

Thien Mu Pagoda

Founded in 1601 on a low hill overlooking the Perfume River, Thien Mu Pagoda is the oldest and most recognisable religious building in Hue. Its symbol is the seven-storey Phuoc Duyen tower, about 21 metres high and built in 1844, each level dedicated to a Buddha. Behind the tower lie bell and stele pavilions, a main sanctuary and peaceful gardens where monks still live and study.

Entry is free, and we spend about 30 to 40 minutes here, enjoying the river views as the boats drift past. This is an active monastery, so dress respectfully with shoulders and knees covered. The pagoda is especially beautiful in the late afternoon light, when the tower glows against the water.

Khai Dinh Tomb

Built between 1920 and 1931 on a hillside about 10 km south of the city, Khai Dinh Tomb is the most unusual of Hue's royal tombs. Steep staircases flanked by dragon balustrades lead past a courtyard of stone mandarins, elephants and horses to a dark, weathered concrete facade that blends Vietnamese, European and other influences.

Inside, the main hall is a surprise: walls and ceilings covered in intricate mosaics made from fragments of porcelain and coloured glass, depicting landscapes, flowers and symbols of good fortune. Allow about 45 minutes and be ready for many steps. Entrance fees for the Imperial City and this tomb are included in the default option, so your guide simply leads you in.