Overview
The famous Hai Van Pass is undeniably Vietnam’s most beautiful coastal road that was dubbed ‘a deserted ribbon of perfection’ by Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson and named as one of the ‘world’s great scenic drives’ by The Guardian. Jungle-clad on one side and views of deserted golden beaches on the other, you simply can’t miss soaking up this scenery!
One of the absolute best ways to travel the Hai Van Pass is by open-top jeep. Climb in the back for a day that’s jam-packed with adventure! This unique tour will take you off the beaten track to little-known spots along the pass. Visit gorgeous beaches and lagoons, ancient temples, waterfalls, fishing villages and even an unusual Vietnamese cemetery! The trip includes a seaside lunch on one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, all transport, luggage transfer, entrance fees and an English-speaking guide. What are you waiting for?
Itinerary
⬅️ ➡️ This tour can be done in two directions: You can choose to start from Hue to Hoi An or vice versa. You can also start / finish the tour in Danang.
Please let us know your preferred direction and your pick-up / drop-off address (if known) when booking. (Please write this in the ‘additional information’ box.)
- 9:00 AM – 10:00AM: You’ll drive away from the hustle and bustle of Hue City and start to pass by local villages. You’ll drive through luscious green rice fields, glimpse traditional Vietnamese houses, local schools and “mushroom” villages. You will then make your first stop at the unusual An Bang Cemetery, also known as ‘Ghost City’, to admire the elaborately built tombs of Vietnamese people.
- 10:00 AM –10:30 AM: You will drive up to Tu Hien Bridge and stop here to admire the scenery and take some photos.
- 10:30 AM–12:00 PM: Your jeep will take you to the hidden gem of Suoi Mo Waterfall and along the way, you will cross the majestic Lap An lagoon, which is considered one of the most beautiful viewpoints in all of Vietnam.
- 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM: You will keep driving to Lang Co Bay, which is known as the 3rd bay of Vietnam (after Ha Long and Nha Trang) and named in the list of 30 most beautiful bays in the world. You’ll experience the life of the fishing village and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Bach Ha National Park in the distance. The group will stop for lunch at a local seafood restaurant there.
- 1:15 PM –1:45 PM: You will continue driving up to the Hai Van Pass. As you ascend through the clouds, you’ll realise why the pass is named ‘Ocean Clouds Pass’ in Vietnamese. With jungle and mountains on one side and the sea views on the other, the scene is magical and like something out of a fairy tale.
- 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM: You will stop for a quick a rest in Turtle Stone Coffee at the very top of the Hai Van Pass and enjoy the panoramic view of Da Nang City below.
- 2:15 PM – 3:45 PM: On the way down the pass you will drive through endless green rice fields before stopping at Bang An Tower – a 1000-year-old temple where you will learn more about Champa culture and the Hindu Religion from your Vietnamese guide.
- 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM: The day is coming to a close and you will approach the beautiful Hoi An Old Town. You’ll be dropped off by jeep at your accommodation where the tour ends.
⏰ Note: Pick-up time can be flexible between 9-10am depending on the weather. Sometimes it can get cloudy on the Hai Van Pass, so the driver might change the pick-up time to 10 am to allow the mist to clear.
Private Tour: Itinerary
There is the option to do this tour as a private tour which means that the itinerary is fully customisable. This is a great option for travellers who want to start / finish the journey in a different location, do a round trip (from Hoi An to Hoi An, or Hue to Hue) or simply tailor which destinations the driver will stop at along the way. (Please note, the jeep will not pass through Da Nang city as jeeps are not allowed to go there.)
Pick up for the private tour is normally at 9am, though this can be flexible too. Hue / Hoi An Airport pick-up is available. The price is $115 US per person and there are discounts for families with children. See below:
- Children under 5 years old: Free
- Children 5-9 years old: 50% adult price. Children over 9 years old are charged as adults.
- Note: If there are 2 children under 5 years old in the family, the price for the second child will be 50% of the adult price.
Please choose the option ‘private tour’ above to reserve your place. When booking, please write in the ‘additional information’ box your specific requirements for the tour, e.g. pick up / drop off location / time + any other special requirements.
Food
Lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant on Lang Co Beach is included. Vietnamese options and some Western options available. Vegetarian and vegan options available. Specific diets or allergies can be catered for.
What’s Included
Includes:
- Pick-up from your accommodation in Hoi An/Hue*
- Transport
- Luggage transfer (1 piece per person)
- Seaside lunch
- All entrance fees
- English speaking guide and driver
- Drop-off at your hostel in Hoi An/Hue *Also pick-up/drop-off in Danang is possible.
Does not include:
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
FAQs
- What should I pack for the trip? Bring a day pack with suncream, water, sunglasses, sun hat, a warm jacket incase of cold weather, your phone (camera), swim wear. Wear hiking shoes / trainers and comfortable clothing.
- What is the best time of year to do this trip? This trip can be done all year round but to get the best views, the best time of year to do the Hai Van Pass tour is March to September which is dry season in this part of Vietnam. During the rainy season, sometimes low clouds can pervade the views.
- What is the average age of people on the tour? The tour welcomes all ages and everyone from families with small children to retirees have enjoyed this tour.
- What happens with my luggage? The transportation of one large piece of luggage from Hue to Hoi An (or vice versa) is included.
- I’m a vegetarian/vegan and/or I have an allergy or a specific diet, can I be catered for on this trip? Yes, no problem! Please write your dietary requirement in the ‘additional information box’ when booking the tour.
- Are children allowed on the tour? Yes, children of all ages are allowed. Children 2 years and younger are free of charge.
Payment:
To reserve your place on this tour, you need to pay a deposit online with South East Asia Backpacker via credit or debit card. The remaining payment can be made via payment link 7 days before the start of the tour. (No extra credit or debit fees.) Full payment must be made before you depart on the tour.
Hi, I’m Nikki and I started South East Asia Backpacker in 2008 after my own first solo backpacking trip! My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone, a place for travellers to share their experiences from the road. After backpacking and writing about Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region!
Easy to organise with trouble-free transfer of my luggage to my destination hotel.
As for the tour itself, it was one of my favourite activities during my stay in Vietnam.
Su, my guide, was chatty and good company and we both took some great
pics and videos en route which we shared afterwards.
The stop for relaxing at the waterfall is a nice addition but the best part of course is the riding of the Hai Van Pass. Simply superb, even on an automatic motorbike/scooter.
We had the best day doing the jeep tour from Hue to Hoi A with our amazing guide, Mr Music! He was very knowledgeable of the route and really looked after us! We had some great stops along the way, swam in a private waterfall and had lunch on the beach! We would thoroughly recommend this transfer and way to travel the Hai Van Pass!
Fabulous way to travel from Hue to Hoi An Excellent service from the tour company and drivers. Tony and Nguyen were excellent tour guides, friendly and they both looked after us.
The weather was not kind too us, however Tony and Nguyen provided us with waterproofs and strapped our cases on and we were off. It is a must way to transfer from Hue to Hoi An or via Versa. The Hoi van pass is beautiful, you have regular stops for photos, food and drinks. The guides really do look after you and are very friendly. You also visit Marble mountain which is Beautiful. Thank you for making wonderful memories.