Transparent pricing
One-way, with driver
1.400.000 ₫
Round-trip, with driver
2.500.000 ₫
Da Nang to Hue is Vietnam's most scenic short drive — 95 km along QL1A over the Hai Van Pass, past Lang Co Beach, and into the Perfume River valley. Two route options: the Hai Van Pass itself (21 km of coastal switchbacks with photo stops, 45 extra minutes) or the Hai Van Tunnel (6.3 km straight-through, 10 minutes, opened 2005 bypassing the pass).
Most tourist travelers opt for the Hai Van Pass for the scenery — Top Gear once called it "a deserved pilgrimage for any motorist." Locals use the tunnel because it's fast and safer in bad weather. Our drivers will do either at your preference; recommend Pass on the way up, Tunnel on the way back to see the view once but not waste time twice.
Travel time: Hai Van Pass route = 2.5h with photo stops; Tunnel route = 2h. From Hoi An add 45 min (110 km instead of 95).
Recommended itinerary
Scenic Hai Van Pass route (2.5 hours + stops):
- 0:00 — Depart Da Nang hotel / DAD airport.
- 0:30 — Onto QL1A heading north.
- 1:00 — Approach Hai Van Pass — the dramatic coastal climb begins. Photo stops at the summit (watchtower, panoramic views).
- 1:45 — Descend into Lang Co Beach area. Optional stop for lunch (fresh seafood lunches, ~USD 10 per person).
- 2:15 — Cross into Thua Thien Hue Province.
- 2:30 — Arrival in Hue city center.
Tunnel route: same start, skip 45 minutes of pass → arrive in 2 hours.
What to see along the way
Between Da Nang and Hue:
- Hai Van Pass summit (elevation 496m) — 360° views of Da Nang Bay, Lang Co, forests.
- Lang Co Beach — pristine white-sand beach, often less crowded than Da Nang's My Khe.
- Lap An Lagoon — oyster-farming lagoon, photography goldmine at low tide.
- Elephant Springs (Suoi Voi) — swimming hole 30 min west of Lang Co. Small detour.
- Hue Imperial Citadel (at destination) — start 2-3 hour visit immediately upon arrival.
Road conditions & driving notes
Hai Van Pass driving:
- Pass conditions — 21 km, 80 km/h limit but 30-40 km/h realistic. Switchbacks, tourist buses, motorbike tours.
- Fog at summit can be heavy — sometimes visibility drops to 50m. Tunnel is safer in these conditions.
- Photo stops — summit viewing platform has free parking. Bathroom + small refreshments available.
- Lang Co Bay viewpoint — 10 km north of summit, one of Vietnam's most photographed coastlines.
- Tunnel closed periodically for maintenance — check advisories.
Alternative transport options
Train (Da Nang → Hue, local train): 100-300K VND, 2.5h, slower but scenic. Doesn't go through the pass (goes around).
Public bus: USD 6-10, 3-4h. Tourist shuttles are cleaner than local buses.
Flight: none for this short distance (no Hue airport most days).
Private car with driver: USD 58 one-way (sedan), USD 82 (7-seater). Best value for photo stops + luggage + time control.
Best time to travel
Hai Van Pass year-round but weather-dependent:
- Dec-Apr: best visibility. Clear days give full coastal views.
- May-Aug: hot but clear. Afternoon fog/haze increases.
- Sep-Nov: wet + foggy. Pass can close briefly during typhoons. Tunnel always open.
Explore Da Nang & Hue
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners legally drive in Vietnam?+
Yes, foreigners can legally drive in Vietnam with an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention plus your original home-country driver's license. Both documents must be carried while driving.
IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention (common in the US, Canada, Australia) are technically not recognized by Vietnamese law, but are accepted in practice by most police checkpoints and rental companies for short-term visitors. If you're staying more than 3 months, you should convert to a Vietnamese license.
For complete safety — especially if your IDP is Geneva-only — we recommend our car-with-driver service, which sidesteps the licensing question entirely.
Is insurance included in the rental price?+
Yes. Every Rocket Car Rentals vehicle includes:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with a maximum deductible of VND 5,000,000 (~USD 200)
- Third-party liability up to VND 150,000,000 (~USD 6,000)
- Passenger accident insurance up to VND 50,000,000 per seat
The policy does not cover: tire damage on sharp objects, undercarriage damage from flooding, damage caused under the influence of alcohol, or damage during unauthorized driver use.
For extra peace of mind, we offer zero-deductible CDW upgrade at USD 5/day.
What is the fuel policy?+
"Same level in, same level out" — you receive the car with a full (or specified) fuel level and return it at the same level. If returned with less fuel, we charge the difference plus a VND 100,000 refuel service fee.
Most of our fleet runs on RON 95 gasoline (~VND 24,000/L). Diesel vehicles are available on request. Electric vehicles (Tesla Model 3, VinFast VF8) are available in HCMC and Hanoi only — charging is included in the rental rate.
Is there a mileage limit?+
Self-drive rentals: 300 km/day included; excess is charged VND 5,000/km (~USD 0.20/km).
With-driver rentals: 80 km/day included within the assigned city; beyond that or for intercity routes, pricing is calculated as a flat route price (see our Routes page or request a quote).
Long-term rentals (7+ days): 2,000 km/week included, excess VND 4,000/km.
Mileage is tracked via odometer photos at pickup and return. No GPS spying — we only check at endpoints.
How much is the security deposit?+
Self-drive deposits (refunded at return):
- Compact sedan: USD 300
- Mid-size SUV: USD 400
- 7-seater / luxury: USD 500
- Electric vehicles: USD 600
Payment methods for deposit:
- Credit card hold (most popular — no cash movement; released automatically at return)
- Bank transfer in VND
- Cash in USD or VND (receipt provided)
With-driver rentals: no deposit required.
What is the cancellation policy?+
- Cancel 24+ hours before pickup: full refund.
- Cancel 12-24 hours before: 50% refund.
- Cancel less than 12 hours before: no refund (we've already blocked the vehicle and driver).
- No-show at pickup: no refund.
Exception: weather emergencies (typhoon, flood closing roads) are handled case-by-case — typically full refund or free reschedule.
Rescheduling within 24 hours is free if the new dates have availability.
What are the age requirements?+
Self-drive: minimum age 21, maximum age 70. Drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of USD 5/day.
With-driver rentals: no passenger age requirement — infants welcome with our provided child seats (complimentary).
Driver must hold: valid IDP (1968 Vienna) + original license held for 1+ year.
What payment methods do you accept?+
We accept:
- Credit/debit card: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex (via PayPal)
- PayPal (USD billing)
- Bank transfer: Vietnamese VND (VCB, Techcombank, BIDV)
- Cash: USD or VND (at branch pickup only)
VAT invoice issued automatically for all payments over USD 100; request specific billing details at booking time.
Are child seats available?+
Yes — child seats and booster seats are complimentary for both self-drive and with-driver rentals. Request them at booking time.
Available types:
- Infant seat (0-9 kg)
- Toddler seat (9-18 kg, 9 months - 4 years)
- Booster seat (18-36 kg, 4-12 years)
All seats comply with ECE R44/04 standards.
Do you provide roadside assistance?+
Yes — 24/7 English-speaking hotline for all rentals. Our network covers the HCMC, Hanoi, Da Nang metro areas directly; for incidents in other provinces, we coordinate with local partners (typically 30-90 minute response time).
Included free:
- Flat tire change
- Dead battery jump-start
- Lock-out assistance (up to 2 per rental)
- Fuel delivery (up to 5L)
Towing to nearest service center is included for mechanical breakdowns; if the fault is driver-caused (crash), towing fees apply.
Ready for the Da Nang → Hue trip?
Book a suv with a professional driver. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.