The Tynecastle faithful were cheering as early as the 18th minute when Andy Kirk put them in front with a delicate lob over keeper Tony Caig.
When de Vries grabbed his first, five minutes from the break, the half-time team-talk must have been a relaxed one with Hearts two goals to the good. Jean-Louis Valois's (pictured) cross was rifled into the roof of the net by de Vries, with the visiting defence appealing in vain for offside.
However, Ian Murray jolted Hearts back into the game as he pulled a goal back in the 51st minute, heading past Antti Niemi from Francisco Luna's cross as Hibs threatened a comeback.
With the game tantalisingly poised, de Vries restored the two goal advantage in the 65th minute as he put in the rebound following Valois's shot.
De Vries completed his hat-trick in injury time then added a fourth as Hearts went nap.
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