Hai Van Pass

On the road through Vietnam to North to South, Hai Van is always a place that makes a top impression.

Recorded data show that Hai Van is one of the highest of the passes in Vietnam, full of crags and is also the last peak of a Truong Son circuit crashing into the sea. In Phu Bien Tap Luc, Le Quy Don once commented: “Hai Van below the coast, touching every cloud above is the limit of the two countries of Thuan Hoa and Quang Nam”.

During the length of more than 20km, Hai Van Pass squeezes through the mountains, right where the sea and clouds meet, waves at the foot of the pass and clouds on the top of the mountain. According to the book Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien, Hai Van Quan Gate was built in the 7th year of Minh Mang (Binh Tuat – 1826).

The most majestic underworld

Previously, the name “The most majestic gate in the world” (the most majestic gate in the world) was dedicated to King Le Thanh Tong when he stopped on the top of this pass when he personally defeated the Chiem army for more than 600 years. before. In the book Thien Nam Du Ha, it is written that: King Le Thanh Tong went to fight Champa, stationed in Hai Van Quan, did not sleep late at night, in the middle of a nervous mood, stood looking at mountains, sea, passes, clouds, and water, with a verse: Tam Canh static night Dong Long Nguyet / Ngu ancient wind bar Lo Hac boat. (Translation: The Dong Long moon three watches and the night is still / the boat of Loc Hac is empty and the wind is clear).

Hai Van Quan

Right at the top of the pass, traces of the past are still left. The gates through the pass and the ramparts are horizontal. The door facing Thua Thien Palace has the three words Hai Van Quan, the door looking down to Quang Nam has the title Thien Ha the first majestic man.

More than 6 centuries ago, this land belonged to two continents, O and Ri of the Champa kingdom, cut by Champa king Che Man as a wedding proposal to Princess Huyen Tran in the Tran dynasty. The old story is only a memory, the ancient grass has been dimly mossy green, in the middle of the vast reed grass, visitors now standing on the pass can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

Just based on the name, it is enough to imagine that Hai Van is the world of wind and clouds. The wind is like a herd of horses roaming for a long time, the clouds are like falling from the sky, the footsteps of people coming here seem to be lost in a strange, magical world. Cao Bat Quat, a poet who only knew how to bow to apricot flowers for a lifetime (Nhat Sinh De Thu worships apricot flowers) was also stunned: “Nhat Bich stops violating the precepts, Trung Van interferes to form” (One strip is a landmark, clouds are endless. build citadel).

From time immemorial, Hai Van pass has been famous as the most poetic, majestic, magnificent and also the most dangerous pass on the journey from the South to the North. The old gate, after several restorations, is still on the top of the pass and recognized as a national historical relic.

This is considered as a natural citadel in the defense of Hue citadel in the past, as well as a screen to demarcate the climate between the two lands Hue – Quang and is one of the attractive destinations for tourists today. .

Tourist route

In the old records, Hai Van pass in the past was famous for being dangerous and difficult on the north-south celestial road. However, from the French colonial period and until now, the road through the pass is increasingly easy thanks to the road system and motorized means of transport.

“The first majestic landscape” has been invested and developed into a tourist route. Rest stops on the pass have been built, creating conditions for guests to rest and relax while sightseeing on the pass.

What nature gives, over time and through human hands, will become human values.

Coming to Hai Van is coming to the intersection between two lands, satisfying the psychology of conquering the peak, immersing in the epic echoes of many Vietnamese footprints when they went to open the world, reminiscing about the past. the depths of a central part of the bowels, which suffered many losses during the journey of opening and retaining water.

Good tip:

+ Being present at the top of the pass at dawn or dusk can own beautiful photos and enjoy the best atmosphere of the day.

+ Climbing up Hai Van Quan with friends to sip coffee bought at the top of the Pass is also an interesting new experience.