Hai Van Gate has been meticulously restored to match the original design of the Nguyen Dynasty. The main gate is constructed using vo bricks, a type of brick made from clay fired at a relatively low temperature. Hai Van Gate is encircled by stone walls.
In the middle of the gate, the name Hai Van Gate is inscribed in Sino-Vietnamese characters.
Inside the main gate lies the main office. Both the main office and the three-room armory have been restored based on archaeological traces and photos. These buildings have brick walls, wooden pillars with stone bases, and tiled roofs.
The armory and the main office once stored weapons for the royal court and provided accommodation for the soldiers stationed there.
According to Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, Director of Da Nang Museum, the main gate, the highest watchtower, the main office, the armory, and various fortifications and pathways have been completed.
Additional features, including retaining walls, drainage systems, secondary gates, watchtowers, and railings, are also near completion.
A side gate within the citadel.
During a trip to central Vietnam in late June via Hai Van Pass, Minh Nhat, 26, from Hai Duong Province, was surprised to see the renovation finished. However, he expressed regret that the site was not yet open for interior visits.
From the main office looking out to the main gate, the site remains closed due to unresolved management and exploitation plans between Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue.
Tour guide Thuan Loi also expressed disappointment, noting that both domestic and international tourists request this site on their Hue-Da Nang tour itineraries. He believes that opening Hai Van Gate would make it an attractive tourist destination.
The pathway through the secondary gate to the highest watchtower features an arched roof and brick construction, surrounded by stone walls.
From this point, one can see Da Nang to the south, including Tien Sa Port and Son Tra Peninsula. Tien Sa Port serves as a deep-water seaport for trade and tourism, while the nearby Son Tra Peninsula is notable for its biodiversity.
To the north lies Lang Co Bay in Thua Thien Hue Province, with its coastal roads and beaches, making it a popular spot for relaxation and outdoor activities.
A corner of Hai Van Gate overlooks Lang Co Bay. Hai Van Gate acted as a defensive fortress during the Nguyen Dynasty. Today, it remains an ideal spot for sightseeing, earning the title "First Grand Gate of the World" as bestowed by King Le Thanh Tong.
King Le Thanh Tong, who reigned from 1460 to 1497, is known for his focus on education, military successes, cultural support, and economic growth, making him one of Vietnam's greatest emperors.
Representatives from the Hue Monuments Conservation Center indicated that efforts are underway to find management and conservation solutions. They aim to open the site to visitors by the third quarter of this year.
