Instead of spending nearly an hour "climbing up and then descending" the 22km mountain pass, drivers on the North-South route now only need 10-15 minutes to "cross Hai Van Pass" via the more than 12km long tunnel.
The Hai Van Tunnel entrance, heading from Da Nang city to Hue. (Photo: Tran Le Lam/VNA)
On November 7, 2003, the tunnel workers from both the North and South ends of the Hai Van Road Tunnel on National Highway 1A officially met after months of intensive work.
Construction of the tunnel began on August 27, 2000, and it was inaugurated on June 5, 2005.
Instead of spending nearly an hour "climbing up and then descending" the 22km mountain pass road if there are no incidents, drivers on the North-South route now only need 10-15 minutes to "cross Hai Van Pass" via the more than 12km long tunnel.
Hai Van Pass - "The most magnificent pass in the world"
Hai Van Pass is the natural boundary between Da Nang city and Thua Thien- Hue province.
According to historical records, in 1470, King Le Thanh Tong personally led his army to attack Champa. Upon arriving at Hai Van Pass, impressed by the majestic scenery, the king composed a poem and called this place "the most magnificent pass in the world."
In the early 19th century, after the reunification of the country, the Nguyen dynasty chose Hue as its capital, and Hai Van Pass became the gateway to the capital.
According to the book "Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien," during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang, the road through the pass was built and paved with stone; notably, in the year Bing Tuat 1826, a complex of structures was built in the middle of the pass summit, forming a strong military fortress called Hai Van Quan.
After conquering Central Vietnam, the Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, General De Courcy, ordered the immediate opening of a strategic road through the Hai Van Pass to connect Hue with Da Nang, and to allow for the rapid mobilization of troops to pacify Quang Nam when needed.
The French engineering corps conscripted laborers from two provinces to build roads starting in 1886.
From 1902 to 1906, the French colonialists built a railway line through Hai Van Pass, winding along the mountainside, passing through 6 tunnels and 18 bridges. That railway line still exists today.
Hai Van Tunnel - The longest and most modern road tunnel in Southeast Asia.
The road through Hai Van Pass, nearly 21km long, bears the marks of time and history, coupled with complex terrain. Therefore, even with upgrades, repairs, and expansions, it remains a dangerous route for drivers.
The winding, meandering roads clinging to the mountainside, with their continuous sharp turns, could easily overturn any careless vehicle.
The majestic, winding curves of Hai Van Pass. (Photo: Van Dung/VNA)
Especially during the rainy season, landslides frequently occur, causing numerous traffic accidents and resulting in serious loss of life and property.
To contribute to solving traffic safety problems and to keep up with the requirements of integration and economic development, the Party and the State have decided to build a tunnel through the mountain.
Feasibility studies for the tunnel construction project were conducted from 1996, and by early 1998, the Prime Minister officially approved the investment for construction with a total investment of over 250 million USD from a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Bank (JBIC) and a portion of the state's counterpart funding.
The entire Hai Van Road Tunnel project has a length of 12.047 km, is designed for permanent use, and has a design speed of 80 km/h. The main tunnel is 6,280 m long and 10 m wide, accommodating two lanes of traffic with a clearance height of 7.5 m. A parallel emergency tunnel of similar length and width (4.7 m) runs alongside the main tunnel and is connected by transverse tunnels, serving as escape routes for people and vehicles in case of an emergency.
This is the longest and most modern road tunnel in Southeast Asia, and one of the 30 longest tunnels in the world.
The Hai Van Pass road tunnel is a multi-purpose transportation project comprising roads, tunnels, bridges, and operational equipment, passing through Thua Thien-Hue province to the north and Da Nang city to the south of the tunnel.
The tunnel was built in a circular shape to increase its load-bearing capacity and avoid stress concentration at the corners. According to statistics, an average of about 6,500 vehicles pass through the Hai Van tunnel every day and night; during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), that number sometimes doubles.
The Hai Van Tunnel, heading from Da Nang city to Hue. (Photo: Tran Le Lam/VNA)
The opening of the Hai Van road tunnel has fundamentally improved traffic conditions on the treacherous mountain pass, shortened the North-South journey, reduced fuel consumption and vehicle damage, and, most importantly, helped to mitigate unforeseen losses due to traffic congestion and accidents that occur annually compared to the mountain pass road, bringing enormous socio-economic benefits.
The Hai Van road tunnel is a vivid example of the industrialization and modernization of the transportation sector.
Besides its significance for the socio-economic development of Da Nang city and Thua Thien-Hue province, the Hai Van tunnel project also contributes to completing the transportation infrastructure of the East-West economic corridor, helping to bring the Central and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam closer to Southeast Asia and to international integration.
Hai Van Pass - From a vital North-South route to a National Tourist Destination
Returning to the mountain pass, after its mission as the North-South highway ended, Hai Van Pass has become a popular destination for many tours.
Reaching an altitude of nearly 500 meters above sea level, after a long journey over the pass, a vast expanse of land and sky unfolds before the eyes of visitors, with Hai Van Pass - the boundary between two provinces, two regions.
The Hai Van Pass National Historical Monument, with its two arched gates, is located at the summit of Hai Van Pass. (Photo: Tran Le Lam/VNA)
Hai Van Pass was built during the Tran Dynasty and acquired its current appearance thanks to restoration during the Nguyen Dynasty (in the 7th year of Minh Mang's reign - 1826).
Hai Van Pass is located on the watershed of the Bach Ma mountain range, which also marks the boundary between Thua Thien-Hue province and present-day Da Nang city.
Hai Van Pass is built in the shape of an arched gateway. The gate facing Thua Thien-Hue has a stone plaque inscribed with the words "Hai Van Pass," while the gate facing Da Nang has a plaque inscribed with "The most magnificent pass in the world."
During the Nguyen dynasty, Hai Van Pass was a complex of many structures, functioning as a gateway, a fortress, and an important southern defense line of the imperial capital of Hue.
The image of Hai Van Pass is also engraved on the Imperial Cauldron, one of the Nine Cauldrons cast in 1837 during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang of the Nguyen Dynasty.
During the 20th-century wars of aggression against Vietnam, the French colonialists and later the American imperialists transformed this area into a crucial strategic stronghold and constructed numerous additional military facilities.
In addition, numerous major battles have altered the original architecture of Hai Van Pass. After the war, the site deteriorated due to a lack of proper care and preservation.
It wasn't until 2017 that Hai Van Pass was officially recognized as a National Historical and Architectural Monument.
To best exploit the tourism potential of this area, in early 2013, the People's Committee of Da Nang City issued a decision recognizing Hai Van Pass Peak as a local tourist destination of Da Nang City.
Following this, the city also planned to develop Hai Van Pass into a National Tourist Destination.
According to Vietnam+
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