Hai Van Pass and Da Nang – Photographs of Vietnam’s Weather and Light Frontier
A ride between two worlds: the Hai Van Pass marks a climatic and visual transition between Hue and Da Nang. From northern mist to southern sunlight, the contrast is striking.
Hai Van Pass, the climatic frontier between Hue and Da Nang, offers a stunning shift in scenery, weather, and light. This photographic story captures the changing moods of Vietnam from mist-covered hills to sunlit beaches.
The road connecting Hue to Da Nang crosses one of Vietnam’s most scenic mountain passes: the Hai Van Pass, meaning “Ocean Cloud Pass” in Vietnamese. The name refers to the clouds that often gather on the northern side, blocked by the Annamite Range. It serves as a climatic and geographical boundary between north and central Vietnam.
Once a strategic route, the pass is now bypassed by a road tunnel, leaving the old scenic road mostly to motorbikes and tourists. And they’re right to take it: after crossing the summit, the sky clears, the light sharpens, and the sunny bay of Da Nang appears below.
A Spectacular Route Between Sky and Sea
Climbing via the old road offers superb viewpoints over the coastline, the surrounding jungle, and the railway lines. The descent toward Da Nang reveals a vast bay, wide beaches, and a rapidly growing city. The landscape shifts entirely, as if moving from a misty, traditional Vietnam to a modern, seaside one.
The Hai Van Pass is perfect for landscape photography, with dynamic compositions blending sea and mountain, shadow and light. It’s worth stopping, stepping out of the vehicle, and taking time to absorb the subtle atmospheric changes.
Da Nang – A City of Beaches, High-Rises, and Soft Light
Formerly a U.S. military base, Da Nang is now a thriving city focused on tourism and economic development. Its seafront stretches for kilometers, lined with modern buildings and luxury hotels.
Vietnamese locals visit the beach early in the morning, well before tourists arrive. This habit partly reflects a cultural preference for lighter skin, but also the comfort of cooler temperatures. Tourists prefer the afternoons, even though the shifting shadows from tall buildings create a unique checkerboard effect on the sand.
For a photographer, this alternation of light and shade, morning silhouettes in the mist, closed umbrellas, and reflections on the towers offer rich visual material. Less picturesque than Hoi An, Da Nang nonetheless deserves curious exploration, open to its contrasts.
A Transition to Central Vietnam
The Hai Van Pass marks a true transition in any journey — from the imperial remains of Hue to the southern light of central Vietnam. It’s also an ideal stop before reaching Hoi An, just a few dozen kilometers further south.
By combining these three places — Hue, Hai Van Pass, and Da Nang — you move in just a few days from the solemnity of royal tombs to urban bustle, and then to the calm brightness of Vietnam’s coastline. The contrast is as much emotional as geographical.
This route is memorable not because of any single monument, but for its succession of atmospheres. As long as you take your time — camera in hand.
Click on the images below to view them in full screen.
Author: Sebastien Desnoulez is a professional photographer specializing in travel and architectural photography. Through his photographs of Vietnam, he captures visual and emotional contrasts that shape the landscapes of Southeast Asia.
All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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