Hải Vân Pass
| Hải Vân Pass | |
|---|---|
| Đèo Hải Vân | |
| Location | Vietnam |
| Range | Annamite Range |
| Coordinates | 16°12′N 108°8′E / 16.200°N 108.133°E |
The Hải Vân Pass (Vietnamese: Đèo Hải Vân, IPA: [ɗɛ̂w ha᷉ːj vən], 'ocean cloud pass'), is an approximately 21-kilometre (13 mi) long mountain pass on National Route 1 in Vietnam. It traverses a spur of the larger Annamite Range that juts into the South China Sea on the border of Đà Nẵng and Huế, near Bạch Mã National Park. Its name refers to the mists that rise from the sea, reducing visibility. Historically, the pass was a physical division between the kingdoms of Champa and Đại Việt from 1306 until Vietnamese invasion war in 1471.
The twisting road on the pass has long been a challenge for drivers traveling between the cities of Huế and Đà Nẵng. Since the completion of Hải Vân Tunnel, traffic flow and safety have improved. The pass has been the scene of at least two of Vietnam's most serious rail accidents, and at least one air crash.