Vietnam: Da Nang to Hue by Train via Hai Van Pass
As part of my travels through Vietnam, I was especially looking forward to taking the northbound train from Da Nang, along the coastal route to the historic city of Hue, via the famous and stunningly beautiful Hai Van Pass.
Traversing the Hai Van Pass – known locally as ‘Ocean Cloud Pass’ by train is a bucket list experience for many and I’m no exception.
The Hai Van Pass is said to be the most scenic route in the whole of Vietnam.
It is also considered to be one of the most spectacular train journeys in the whole world and I was really looking forward to it as an epic part of my six month long Grand Tour of Asia!
I was boarding the SE1 Reunification Train at Da Nang, having spent a week in Hoi An, but the train actually started its journey in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and ends it in Hanoi.
Depending on the season there are 3-5 trains a day (some are overnight) on this route.
Various classes of travel are offered with an options with/without air con.
Carriages are a mix of sleeper berths and seated only sections.
Ticket prices on the 2-3 hour journey (depending on which train) from Da Nang to Hue start at around $15.
Find out more about best ticket prices from (affiliate link) KLOOK.
It’s worth noting that tickets book up fast so do try to book in advance.
If possible, you should make sure to book a window seat or a berth on the coastal side of the train, and choose to travel in the daytime through the Hai Van Pass section of the journey.
DA NANG TO HUE (OR HUE TO DA NANG) BY ROAD
It is also possible to travel from Da Nang to Hue (or Hue to Da Nang) by road.
The 165km old heritage road (made famous on the Top Gear programme in 2008) is a notoriously windy and mountainous route with hairpin bends.
The old road offers the opportunity to stop off in places and is relatively unused these days as most traffic and all heavy traffic will take the modern Highway One.
It’s worth knowing that the newer road is serviced by a series of modern day tunnels, cut through the Trường Sơn mountains that separate Central Vietnam from North Vietnam.
The longest of these road tunnels on Highway One at 6km (completed in 2005) is actually the longest road tunnel in south east Asia.
So, for the most scenic coastal route, I’d recommended taking the train.
DA NANG TO HUE BY TRAIN VIA HAI VAN PASS
Travel with me on this iconic and stunningly scenic train journey with misty mountainous jungle and rivers and waterfalls to see on one side of us and the glistening South China Sea and curved white sand beaches in secluded bays on the other.
Sit back and relax as our train will travel at an unhurried pace along this long-established rail track (established around 100 years ago).
We can press our faces against the window glass to watch the first part of the train curving around bends and crossing bridges ahead of us.
And we can stare out of the window at the natural beauty all around us.
Have you travelled through Vietnam by train?
Is the Hai Van Pass by train on your bucket list?
Let me know in the comment box!
