Road to Da Nang and Hoi An

Troglodyte Sanctuary - The Marbele Mountains of Da Nang

Highlights:

Hai Van Pass
Lang Co Beach
The Marble Mountains of Da Nang



Together with Kevin's fellow from North Laos Micha, his wife Karin, their friend Gerdrun, Juan and Eric (a Canadian we met in Hué) we rent a private van for our next common destination, the charming town of Hoi An. We managed to get a 15 seater van for 78 USD (for 6 pax) including a sightseeing tour with stops at Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass and the Marble Mountains of Da Nang. The distance between Hué and Hoi An is 102 km ( (63 miles) and takes approximately 4-5 hours by car.

Lang Co Beach

Lang Co Beach has a magnificent natural landscapes surrounded by mountains and the boundless blue South China Sea. Best time to visit Lang Co Beach is between April and June.

Lang Co Beach

Hai Van Pass

The path from Hué to Da Nang and Hoi An led us through one of the most scenic hillside roads in Vietnam: the Hai Van Pass! Hai Van means in English "Sea or Ocean Clouds" and thus the pass is known for its misty vapors rising from the sea, reducing visibility (see the picture below).
With 500m above the sea level, Ha Van is the highest pass in Vietnam and approximately a 2 mile long mountain pass on National Road 1A.

North Vietnam - view from the crest of Hai Van Pass

South Vietnam - view from the crest of Hai Van Pass

Hai Van Pass forms an obvious boundary between North and South Vietnam. At the crest of the Pass, you will find Pillboxes (pictures below) - frontier fortifications built by French and then used by South Vietnamese and Americans.

Pillboxes at the crest

Pillbox

Marble Mountains of Da Nang

The Marble Mountains (Nui Ngu Hanh Son, in English for "Five Elements Mountains") were definitely the best stop on this road trip. Five peaks consist of limestone in different hues and located south of Da Nang stretched from the coast inland or westward for about three miles. They are named after the five elements of nature: Kim Son (metal), Moc Son (wood), Hoa Son (fire), Tho Son (earth), and Thuy Son (water). The largest and highest one we visited was Thuy Son (Element: Water), is "honey combed" with caves in which there are Cham, Buddhist and Confucian relics, pagodas, and temples.

Visiting the caves and shrines of the Marble Mountains involve a steep climb up mostly rough steps that can be slippery in wet weather. But however, it is worth to climb all these stairs!

Entrance to the temples and pagodas...after the first steps