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The Hải Vân Pass translates to ocean cloud pass and is between Hội An and Huế (just north of Đà Nẵng).

The pass is a great driving road and was made famous in the Top Gear Vietnam special. We hired scooters to drive the route with our big bags sent along (a lot) later behind us.

This route is not for the faint-hearted. Riding a scooter is dangerous and this is particularly true in South East Asia. Large vehicles are driven by idiots who think they own the road because they have a horn and the roads themselves can be very poor and hazardous.

The scooter may be very dodgy too. Only one of the three scooters I rode had a working speedometer and that was in Cambodia. You will also see lots of tourists with injuries from crashing a scooter or motorbike. You have been warned.

If you decide to go ahead then here are some ideas for stops, going North:

• Marble Mountains (between Hội An and Đà Nẵng)
• Dragon Bridge (Đà Nẵng)
• Hải Vân Pass (the main event)
• Seafood lunch at the beach
• Elephant Springs (very dodgy road and entrance fee)

Don’t spend too long at each stop or you will run out of time before the end. Driving at night is not much fun, even if your lights work (which doesn’t always appear to be the case).

It’s best to travel light with a small pack. Here are some things you should take:

• First aid kit (see warning above)
• Water
• Cash
• Phone
• Swim kit and towel (for springs)
• Sunglasses (and clear safety glasses if riding at night)
• Sun cream

It will take about a tank and a half of fuel so you’ll need to fill up again after lunch.