Sitting atop Hai Van Pass, Hai Van Gate is one of the most interesting attractions in Da Nang, Vietnam. It’s constructed in the 19th century by the king for the purpose of national defense and security. After being destroyed and abandoned, this site was restored completely in 2024, making it become the new attractive tourist spot; Now, HoiAn Day Trip Company will provide all the information that you need to know about Hai Van Gate.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Hai Van Gate
– Location/address: Hoa Hiep Bac ward, Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city, and Lang Co town, Phu Loc district, Hue city, Vietnam
– Name meaning: Hai Van means ‘ocean cloud’
– Other name(s): Hai Van Pass Gate, Hai Van Quan, the First Post (Don Nhat)
– Opening hours: sunrise to sunset
– Ticket price: free
– Elevation: nearly 500 meters
– Reason(s) to visit:
– Best time to visit: early morning or late afternoon
– Time to spend: 30 mins
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hai-van-gate
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: no
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapps/line/zalo)
Hai Van Gate on Map
Better to Know about Hai Van Pass
Hai Van Pass is a 20-kilometers-long mountain pass on National Highway 1A (QL1A, North-South Highway), lying between Da Nang city and Lang Co fishing town, Hue city. It traverses a spectacular spur of Bach Ma National Park’s mountain range that juts into the sea. This is honored as the most beautiful coastal road in Vietnam, and a must-go place for motorbike riders and those who love adventure. On its top, at an elevation of nearly 500 meters, there is a military post known as ‘Hai Van Gate’. See more information & details
History of Hai Van Gate
In 1826, Hai Van Gate was built by request of Minh Mang king, the second emperor of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).
From 1886 to 1918, the trail across Hai Van Pass was improved, allowing cars to go to its top. By that, Hai Van Gate gradually lost its important role.
After a long period of abandonment, local authorities in Da Nang and Hue cities decided to join hands to protect Hai Van Gate. Since the war ended, this site was in the area where frontier lines of both cities were not determined yet. The situation led to . On 14th April 2017, after many efforts, Hai Van Gate was recognized to be a national heritage.
In 2018, after excavation and archaeological survey, Hai Van Gate complex was restored. Two ancient brick gates, French/American bunkers and stone trails were preserved. On 1st August 2024, this restoration project finished and the gate opened to the public, attracting lots of local visitors.
Visit Hai Van Gate on Top of Hai Van Pass
After restoration in 2024, Hai Van Gate became a very stunning historical site to sightsee. It still retains two ancient brick gates, French and American bunkers.
After climbing stairs, visitors will see ‘Da Nang Gate’ first. This brick gate remains from 1825 when the whole complex was constructed. It’s 6,1 meters tall, 7,7 meters wide, and looks to the south (Da Nang bay and city). Above the entrance, there is a limestone board with three Chinese words which mean ‘Hai Van Gate’. On the left side, there are smaller words written vertically, informing the date, month and year of construction. To go to the top of this gate, visitors need to climb stairs.
Walking inside and on the right (on higher grounds), there is the main office and the arsenal. Both have three compartments, with brick walls, tile roof and wooden doors and furniture. The lower house is where soldiers live and work. The other is used to store weapons.
Following the main path uphill, visitors can find another ancient brick gate. The age and the size of this gate is similar to the first one. Above its entrance, there is a limestone board with six Chinese words which mean ‘the most majestic wonder in the world (Vietnam)’. This sentence was given to the place from Vietnamese king Le Thanh Tong who visited in 1470, on his journey southwards to defeat Champa kingdom. Visitors can climb stairs to the top of this second gate, to enjoy seeing beautiful scenery in the surrounding area.
Keep walking uphill, along a stone-paved path, there are some American bunkers built during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. After the war, they were abandoned and then preserved as a part of the history of the site.
Near the highway, at the foot of the hill where Hai Van Gate sits, there is a sculpture commemorating ‘First Post Victory’ on 25th September 1952.
On the other side of the highway, shops sell food, beverages and local products to buy as souvenirs. The best places are to have a break and enjoy drinking with a view, lie on Da Nang’s side.
How to Get to Hai Van Gate
Tips to Visit Hai Van Gate
– In the dry season, from February to the end of August, visitors should bring sunglasses, sun cream, hat/cap or umbrella, bottles of water, cash.
– In the rainy season, from September to January, visitors should bring rain poncho/jacket, umbrella, sandal or waterproof shoes.
– Visitors must check the weather forecast in advance, and should not visit Hai Van Gate on cloudy or rainy days because of nothing to see.
– While walking across the highway to Hai Van Gate (and vice versa), visitors must observe carefully.
– There is no dress code regulations required at Hai Van Gate because it’s not a holy site.
– Visitors still need to climb stairs to go to Hai Van Pass from the main road. It’s not wheelchair accessible.
– There is a store selling cold drinks and snacks near the parking lot.
– It’s better to visit Hai Van Gate with a local guide. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp) to book.
Places to Visit near Hai Van Pass
Near Hai Van Pass, on Da Nang side, visitors can go to Mikazuki Water Park 365 (an indoor water park with slides, swimming pool, Japanese style spas, restaurants), Red Beach (Xuan Thieu Beach) (a non-touristy beach on the edge of Da Nang Bay), Nam O Fish Sauce Village (a famous traditional fish sauce making village in the region), Nam O Reef (a rocky cape with scenic views).
Near Hai Van Pass, on Hue/Lang Co side, visitors can go to Lang Co Beach (a 6-kilometers-long soft sandy beach lined by resorts and seafood restaurants), Lap An Lagoon (a picturesque brackish water lake at the foot of high mountains, with oyster farms), Lang Co Fishing Village (an authentic fisherman village in a peninsula between the lagoon and the ocean), Suoi Mo (Dream Springs) (a cool-water stream running down from a national park), Bach Ma National Park (an untouched forest zone with high biodiversity, tall waterfalls and trekking trails).
Guided Tours to Hai Van Pass Vietnam
Here are typical tours to/include Hai Van Pass:
– Hai Van Pass Tour By Car: Viewpoints, Old Gate, Café, More
– Hai Van Pass Loop Motorbike Tour from Da Nang/Hoi An
– Hai Van Pass Day Tour from Hoi An
– Hue to Hoi An Motorbike Tour: Hai Van Pass, Easy Rider, More
– Hoi An to Hue Motorbike Tour: Hai Van Pass, Easy Rider, More
– Hue to Hoi An Jeep Tour
– Hai Van Pass Bike Tour
– Chan May Port to Golden Bridge & Hai Van Pass Transfer
– Hue to Hoi An Private Car Transfer via Hai Van Pass
Photos, Videos about Hai Van Gate
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Hai Van Gate:
