Hải Vân Pass

View from the pass towards Lang Co. In the foreground the remains of a bunker are visible.

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The Hai Van Pass or clouds ( viet. Đèo Hải Vân, French Col des Nuages ​​) forms a natural border and weather divide between North and South Vietnam. It is about 20 km long, reaches 496 meters above sea level and runs over the spur of the Truong Son mountains, stretches down to the sea. From the highest point offers a panoramic view over the ocean, to Da Nang and the Son Tra Peninsula. Often, however, the pass is shrouded in clouds.

Over the pass the National road runs 1 Since 2005, the most important transport connection is released by the 6.3 km long Hai Van Tunnel. Continue over the railway main line between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon) the pass.

History

Historically, the pass was the border between the kingdoms of Champa and Dai Viet.

Due to the strategic importance of this place was hard fought over during the Indochina War. As there on June 24, 1953 drove a carriage with two locomotives train on an arch bridge, the Viet Minh blew up a bridge segment. Both locomotives and 18 cars plunged about 20 meters in depth. More than 100 people died.

In the Vietnam War, the pass was hotly contested. At the pass itself ruins are French and American bunker.

Today the pass is the border between the province of Thua Thien - Hue and Da Nang City.