Hai Van Pass is on the most attractive tourism route of the central region, passing four world cultural and natural heritage sites: thSe ancient city of Hue, the ancient town of Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary and Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.

In Da Nang city and Thua Thien – Hue province, the pass is located in a famous complex of tourist sites: Lang Co, Hai Van, Lien Chieu and Thuan Phuoc. Tourists can go by land, air, sea or rail to these sites.

Hai Van Pass is a great natural wall preventing strong winds from the north from spreading to the south; therefore, provinces from Da Nang southward enjoy warm climate all the year round.

From 496-metre-high peak of the pass, blue sea, white sand beaches and fishing villages unfold before our eyes.

Just when the building of the tunnel through the pass began, Thua Thien -Hue tourism sector made preparations to serve tourists to visit the pass, particularly mountain-climbing tours, said Mr Vo Phi Hung, director of the provincial tourism department.

Many travel companies have also organised tours to climb the pass and visit the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia.

Lang Co town in southern part of the pass in Thua Thien – Hue province has changed quickly since the Vietnam National Administration for Tourism selected it as one of four national key tourism points.

Only in 2002, VND 600 billion was invested in building tourism infrastructure of the town.

A VND 100 billion road has been completed. A system of hotels has opened to serve tourists. Tens of projects on the infrastructure construction are being carried out in Lang Co. In summer, Lang Co draws more than 1,000 tourists a day.

On the other side of the pass in Da Nang city, Da Nang also prepared to take the best advantage of a chance to develop tourism.

In 2000, the city started the construction of a tourism road named Nguyen Tat Thanh, linking Thuan Phuoc bridge across National Highway 1A with the foot of Hai Van Pass.

Da Nang will have the longest coastline road in Vietnam when a road around the Son Tra peninsular – Dien Ngoc is completed, said Mr Luong Minh Sam, director of the city’s tourism department.

Along the road, restaurants, hotels and entertainment places have been built. Beaches are always kept clean. (Tuoi Tre)