Whilst visiting Vietnam we knew we really wanted to do the Hai Van Pass. It was something we had both watched on Top Gear, the Vietnam special, and thought it looked so amazing. As we were travelling from the North to the South, we decided to start the Hai Van Pass at Hue and head to Hoi An.
Although neither of us had ever ridden a motorbike before we had come away travelling, Dan had been scooting us around Thailand a month before this. We also had quite a few friends who have done it on no experience as well, so we weren’t too scared. We decided it would be better for both of us if we took two different bikes (for balance purposes) and paid a company to rent us the bikes, but also to transport our luggage for us to our hostel in Hoi An, so we didn’t have to worry about that.
The drive itself was not too difficult. The only place that was a bit scary was actually getting out of Hue in the morning. After that the roads are very smooth and, in my opinion, not to0 windy.
If you don’t feel confident riding the motorbike yourselves, then we know some travellers that did this thing called an ‘Easy Rider’. This is where you sit on the back of a driver’s motorbike, and they transport you, leaving you to just admire the views. You can also hire a van that will take you as well and will stop off at different locations along the way.
Things to take with you
- Water
- Money
- Phones with data, so you can communicate with each other if lost
- Sun cream and clothes to cover up from the sun
- Snacks
- A map (usually you are given one when you hire the bikes, otherwise you can find a good one online that shows you where to stop etc)
- Swimming costume and change of clothes (You will most likely be stopping at some beaches along the way and want to jump in the sea)
- Towel
Where to stop off
Stop at Cau Hai lagoon for a drink
Our first stop was the Cau Hai lagoon, where we enjoyed a drink and admired the view of the huge lagoon in front of us. There was also a hotel and spa there, so if you wanted to make use of their facilities I am sure you could pay to use their pool etc.
Stop for lunch at Lang Co bay
The beach at Lang Co Bay was completely empty when we got there, which was so amazing. It is a long beach with white sand and beautiful views. Along the beach front there are a couple of restaurants where we sat and ate with a sea view.
Hai Van pass
When you are at the top of the Hai Van Pass there are a few restaurants and cafes that offer some amazing photo opportunities. We stopped at one for an ice cream and to take some photos of the views.
Stop for a dip and a drink in Da Nang
Depending on how late in the day it is, we would suggest stopping in Da Nang for a drink and potentially a dip in the sea.
“Need to knows” when riding a motorbike in Vietnam
- They drive on the right-hand side of the road in Vietnam.
- However, it is quite common to see someone driving on the incorrect side of the road, so don’t be alarmed.
- Everyone honks their horn at everything. If you are passing someone you should honk your horn, if pedestrians are about to cross the road or crossing the road then honk your horn and if you are coming to an intersection, even if it is your right of way just honk your horn to be safe. A lot of drivers do not look and just pull out, so please be careful of this.
- As everyone honks their horns, it is a good idea to come up with a signal with the people you are doing the Hai Van Pass with, so if one of you needs to stop or you need to get their attention, you can. Just beeping normally will probably not work as you will soon find out that everyone is beeping. We used the tune of the England football chant to get each other’s attention. Very Brits abroad we know!
- If in doubt, go slowly. Sometimes it might get a bit overwhelming. Drive slowly and stop if you need to. You can take all day to do what would normally be a maximum 4-hour drive, so you have plenty of time.
- Fill up your bikes completely before setting off. We actually only ended up using just over half of our tanks and there were plenty of gas stations along the way, however it was nice knowing we didn’t have to worry about that and would have saved us if we got lost.
Without A Paddle Travel 