Ma Pi Leng Pass is currently an extremely popular tourist destination this year. Standing on this pass, visitors can admire the majestic natural beauty of the Dong Van stone plateau and the winding green Nho Que river. If you are planning to visit this place, don't miss this article from HoaBinh Tourist!
The name Ma Pi Leng Pass means "horse's nose bridge" in the language of the H'mong people. The historical story of Ma Pi Leng Pass, famous for its rugged terrain and many vertical slopes, is always an interesting topic that many tour guides tell tourists.
The winding road leading to the pass was built from the efforts of 1,300 young volunteers and 1,000 civil servants of 16 mountainous ethnic groups in our country since the 60s.
After 11 years of hardship, Happiness Road was inaugurated on June 15, 1965. There were even 17 young men who faced danger, hanging on steep cliffs to build the pass through Ma Pi Leng for 11 long months. To have a beautiful pass like today, many heroic people had to sacrifice blood, sweat, and tears.
This is the most dangerous pass in Vietnam, with an altitude of 1,500m above sea level and a quite steep slope. Currently, there are safety measures that have been applied, such as arranging protective barriers, installing light tunnel systems and tempered glass walls, improving grip and reinforcing the road surface, and helping to reduce the risk of accidents.
However, there are still many people who have accidents on this road due to many reasons, such as inexperienced drivers, incorrect driving speed, failure to comply with traffic rules, or harsh weather and terrain conditions at this pass.
Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang is located on Highway 4C, in Pa Vi and Pai Lung communes, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province. The pass connects Dong Van town and Meo Vac town. To get here, visitors can travel along two routes.
First, starting from the capital Hanoi, you follow the direction of Thang Long Bridge, turn to Viet Tri (Phu Tho), and then pass through the Tuyen Quang area to reach Ha Giang. In addition, there is another way for tourists to stay near Son Tay. You go from Trung Ha bridge; when you see Co Tiet, turn right and go all the way to Phong Chau bridge.
Coming to Phu Tho town, Doan Hung, you continue along National Highway 2 to Tuyen Quang. The destination of Ha Giang is right before your eyes.
If you travel to Ma Pi Leng Pass, you don't need to worry too much about which season is the most beautiful of the year. Because, at any given time, Ma Pi Leng has its own unique and poetic beauty. If you want to take photos in the plum or peach garden, come here in the first days of the year, from January to March. The garden filled with flowers will be a great "million-like" background for you.
In April, experience Ha Giang, famous for its exciting Khau Vai love market that only takes place once a year. Coming here, you will immerse yourself in the lively festival atmosphere and learn more about the traditional beauty of couples in the Highlands.
By May, the Nho Que River turns beautiful jade green, bringing you a wonderful experience. If you love the brilliant, ripe rice fields, go to Ma Pi Leng Pass in September, October and November are the months of Ha Giang buckwheat flowers, and December is the season of yellow mustard flowers.
There are many means of transportation to Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang, one of which is a passenger car. This is a choice loved by many tourists because of its convenience and affordable price. The bus departs from My Dinh bus station from about 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
You can flexibly choose a reasonable time frame. Ticket prices range from 150,000 VND to 220,000 VND per person, depending on the vehicle type and company. Passenger cars are suitable for small groups with little luggage. You just need to get in the car, take a nap, and when you open your eyes, you'll have arrived at your destination without having to worry about finding your way or driving.
The disadvantage of taking a bus is that you have to depend on the bus schedule and cannot stop along the way to admire or enjoy the scenery.
Motorbikes are also the means of choice for many young people when traveling to Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang. In particular, those who are passionate about traveling in Ha Giang love motorbikes even more because of their convenience and flexibility.
You can depart at any time and stop anywhere. However, motorbikes are only for those who have a steady handle because the mountain pass is very difficult and there are many large vehicles that are quite dangerous.
If your group going to Ma Pi Leng Pass is crowded, choose a car. Riding a car can carry a lot of luggage and gives you the same initiative as riding a motorcycle. Not only that, this vehicle is also safer and can provide sun and rain protection, making it extremely convenient for children and the elderly.
When traveling to Ha Giang at Ma Pi Leng Pass, you should prioritize lightweight clothing suitable for weather conditions. If it's the sunny season, prepare a thin jacket in case the dew falls in the evening, which can be quite cold. At the same time, don't forget to wear long-sleeved clothes because Ha Giang has many insects.
In addition, you should prioritize sports shoes with good friction and anti-slip properties and absolutely not wear high heels or flat sandals because you will have to move a lot. If you come here in winter, prepare warm clothes to retain heat and block the wind. In particular, don't forget to fully equip gloves, boots, and scarves because the temperature at high altitude is very cold and gets lower at night.
Along the Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang, there are no shops like in the city. Therefore, bring some fast food, candy, bread, and drinks in case you get hungry. This is something you definitely cannot lack when you want to travel independently in Ha Giang.
Besides clothing and food, which are two basic elements, medicine is also something you need to prepare for a complete and safe trip around Ha Giang. Prepare stomachache medicine, fever reducer, allergy medicine, headache medicine, medical cotton, gauze bandages, antiseptic alcohol, insect repellent cream, etc.
Some other items when traveling to Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang are identification documents, a driver's license (if you drive yourself), protective gear for backpacking, reserve gasoline, etc. At the same time, don't forget to bring along temporary car repair items such as glue, a spare tire, a pump, and a patch because there is no car repair shop along the road.
If you stand from Ma Pi Leng Pass and look down and see that the Nho Que River in Ha Giang is 10 times more beautiful, then when you take a boat along the river, you will see that this place is 100, 1000 times more beautiful. The Nho Que River curves softly like a silk strip surrounding the majestic mountain. Sitting on the boat and drifting along the river, you will see the beautiful Tu San Alley, the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia.
The price for one boat rental is from 100,000 to 150,000 VND per person per trip. Each car can carry from 4 to 8 guests at a time, so if divided per person, this is an extremely cheap price. However, you should contact us to book a rental in advance to avoid waiting and running out of boats during the peak tourist season.
In addition to self-driving boats, you can also experience kayaking on the very unique Nho Que River. Kayak rental prices range on average from 100,000 - 150,000 VND per person. You will be able to comfortably row for 30 minutes. This will definitely be an interesting experience that you can hardly find anywhere else.
When mentioning Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang, how can we ignore the winding slopes and dangerous, steep cliffs? The pass includes nine bends with steep cliffs. Along the way, you will see mountains on one side and a deep abyss on the other. Don't forget to stop and take photos to check in with Hanh Phuc curve, 9 Khoanh slope, Tham Ma slope, Bac Sum slope, and Quan Ba Heaven Gate slope.
Conquering Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang, you will set foot in the villages of the Northwest Highlands. Once you arrive, you'll see how unique and interesting the culture here is. From costumes to house architecture to how to walk and talk to spiritual life, there are many interesting things. You will enjoy the specialties of the people, such as buffalo skin soup, cham cheo, bamboo-tube rice, and deep chit wine.
Not only that, visitors coming here can also wear traditional costumes of mountainous people, hats, scarves, or sparkling silver jewelry. At the end of the day, you will gather around the warm kitchen fire and enjoy the cloud dance of the H'mong girls.
Crossing the dangerous Ma Pi Leng Pass, you will admire countless majestic and beautiful scenes of the Northwest region. They are the Lung Cu flagpole, the King's Palace - Cat King, Dong Van Old Town, Pao Ha Giang's house,... Each location is associated with a meaningful historical story, not only for the people but also for the whole country.
Besides, Ma Pi Leng Pass is also famous for the many beautiful places bestowed by nature. Don't forget to stop at the rocky outcrop between the cliffs or immerse yourself in the golden terraced fields of the ripe rice season when you come here.
Each season, Ha Giang is brilliant with different flowers. If you like the fresh yellow color, come here in the last months of the year, from November to December. If you want to immerse yourself in the pure white of plum and peach blossoms, don't miss the beginning of the year. Standing in the middle of a garden filled with flowers, you will definitely have beautiful virtual photos without the need for additional effects.
To get here, you will have to pass Ma Pi Leng Pass, a famous and challenging pass with sharp turns and vertical slopes. However, when you overcome those difficulties, the feeling of excitement and satisfaction will make you forget all the difficulties you have gone through.
Death Cliff is a high hill covered with large rocks, shaped like small mountains. The beautiful and wild scene of this place makes anyone who comes here unable to hide their surprise and excitement. From the top of the hill, you can see a panoramic view of the valley, blue rivers, and ripe fields. A feeling of airiness and quiet pervades the space, allowing you to relax and enjoy the feeling of peace.
Not only does it have beautiful scenery, but Death Cliff is also a place for you to experience exciting activities such as climbing, conquering the rocks, or simply exploring on foot. When you come to it, you will not only experience the wild beauty and challenges of Ma Pi Leng Pass but also feel the spirit of adventure and discovery of a backpacker.
With prime coordinates on Ma Pi Leng Pass, Panorama Cafe gives visitors a panoramic view of one of the most beautiful passes in Vietnam. From there, you can see mountain ranges covered with clouds and wind blowing through, creating a vast and wild space.
Panorama Coffee Shop also has a unique design with ethnic wooden architecture and large terraces. Choose a seat on the terrace to enjoy the cool air of the high mountains of Ha Giang with a hot cup of black coffee.
The coffee at the shop has a rich, delicious taste and is prepared properly. In particular, the price is also very reasonable. In addition, the shop also has other drinks such as tea, fruit juice, and snacks for customers to enjoy.
You will have a wonderful experience sailing on the Nho Que River in Ha Giang, where you can admire the panoramic view of the mountainous land of Ha Giang. The river water is clear and cool, along with the green hills and mountains that seem to have no end, creating a feeling of relaxation and peace unprecedented in this crowded, bustling city.
Taking a boat on the Nho Que River and reaching Ma Pi Leng Pass, you will feel the connection between people and nature. The boats drift slowly on the vast river, only hearing the sound of gently flowing water and the gentle wind blowing. The feeling of living in a beautiful natural space makes you unable to help but love its sophistication and serenity.
From the boat, you can clearly see the towering and immense mountain peak. White waterfalls pour down from above, creating beautiful natural pictures. Surely you will never forget the emotions of seeing all those things from a small boat.
Coming to Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang, you must definitely enjoy some specialties. Surely this is something that many tourists are curious to know.
If you have the opportunity to come here, you should definitely not miss Ha Giang's specialty dishes such as thang co, kitchen buffalo meat, sausage, five-color sticky rice, grilled moss, egg rolls, au tau porridge, won amaranth, and cakes circuit triangle.
Along the Ma Pi Leng Pass, there are not too many restaurants for you to choose from. However, below are some addresses that have received good reviews from many tourists:
If you want to fully admire the beauty of Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang and immerse yourself in the nature here, you should spend a night staying at homestays or hotels. Some addresses you can refer to are:
Hopefully, this article has helped you gain more useful information about Ma Pi Leng Pass, Ha Giang. Our country's nature is very beautiful; take the time to come here at least once to enjoy the poetic and majestic scenery of the Northwest mountains and forests. HoaBinh Tourist wishes you and your family a fun and happy trip together! For any information you need advice on, please contact our hotline at 0939.311.911 - 0913.311.911 for 24/7 support.
