Ma Pi Leng Pass

About

Nestled within Dong Van Global Geopark (Ha Giang province), 1500 meters above sea level,
lies a beautiful gem offering one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the whole of
Vietnam - Ma Pi Leng Pass (Vietnamese name: Mã Pí Lèng pass).

Endless limestone mountains running to the horizon on one side, and on the other you will
find the deepest canyon in South East Asia - Tu Son canyon (Tu Sản canyon). Deep in the
canyon is the majestic Nho Que river (Nho Quế river), one of the most beautiful rivers in
Vietnam. From Ma Pi Leng pass, Nho Que river looks like a long strip of emerald silk.
Standing here, one cannot help but feeling so insignificant in front of the magnificence of
Nature.

Constructed by the H’Mong ethnic group works in the 1960s to connect the towns of Dong
Van and Meo Vac, Ma Pi Leng pass is only 20km long, but it is on top of the list in terms of
beauty, as well as danger. It is a narrow, windy, two-way mountain road, full of sharp turns;
therefore, driving on Ma Pi Leng pass might not be for the faint-hearted.

How to get there & How to get around

The best way to get to Ma Pi Leng pass is travelling from Dong Van town (150km from Ha
Giang town, but only 5km from Ma Pi Leng pass).

From Hanoi, you can take the bus to Ha Giang town, and then take a local bus to Dong
Van. Formerly an ancient town, it has now been adapted to accommodate tourists. Hence,
there are a lot of options for transportation, accommodation, and relevant services.

To best enjoy the view, understandably it would be on a motorbike. But we cannot stress
this enough, that this is a very dangerous pass. Please only choose to drive if you are a
highly experienced driver, and have an understanding of Vietnamese traffic.

Before your ride, please make sure to check the weather forecast. The view is most
beautiful (and safer) on a dry sunny day. If the weather is not looking great (foggy, cloudy,
rainy), we strongly advise to go to the pass on another day, as heavy rains or winds will
make the ride significantly more dangerous.
If you choose not to ride, there are other alternatives. You can book a Xe Ôm Ride
(motorbike taxi) from Dong Van. This means, you can still go to the pass on a motorbike,
but you will be on the backseat of a driver. You can book a taxi/car ride - this would be a
very appropriate choice if you are travelling in a group.

There are also local buses running from Dong Van to Meo Vac, but keep in mind, the bus
will not stop for you to take photos of the view.

To help with booking any transportation, or checking the buses schedule, you can speak to
a member of staff at your accommodation.

Accommodation

In Dong Van, there are plenty of hotels and guest houses to choose from. Decent hotel
rooms are about 300,000VND, and less expensive options are homestays and guest
houses.

What to do

Dong Van ancient town

Surrounded by rocky mountains, in the middle of a valley located a little town, seemingly
forgotten by modernisation. The most beautiful part of town is in the Old Town, where you
can find old clay houses with traditional architecture, dating back to the 19th century. Its
residents are mainly Vietnamese ethnic minority groups (the Mong, Han, Dao, Tay people,
to name a few); hence contributing in diversifying the rich cultures of the small town.

The village market is gathered every Sunday. This would be a great place for you to find
local products, or generally emerging in the different practices and cultures of the different
ethnic tribes.

Ma Pi Leng Pass

Prepare to emerge in the majestic beauty that Nature has to offer.

Enormous limestone mountains, estimated to have existed for 400 millions of years,
covered by dense forestry and plantation, this is a gigantic masterpiece that was colored
by a thousands shades of green.
On the other side of the pass, you will find the steepest - literally - the steepest canyon in
South East Asia, Tu San canyon. With the depth measured at 800m, and the cliff slope of
70-90 degrees, the contrast view of the high mountains and the deep canyon is
breathtaking.

Beyond the canyon lies the panoramic Nho Que river. Covering an impressive 192 km, Nho
Que river started from China, flowing to Ha Giang, Vietnam, where we are so blessed to
have her in the midst of this scenic beauty on Ma Pi Leng. The serene emerald green of the
river truly adds a special touch to the masterpiece, amongst the thousands shades of
green. Occasionally, you can see little boats of the locals floating on the river - from up
here, it looks like a miniature world of its own down there.

The bright sun can only liven up the view even more, bringing it all to life a picturesque
scenery that we thought only existed in fairy tales.

Best time to visit

Ha Giang is beautiful all year round, but every season brings a different beauty.

In Spring ( January - March), Ha Giang is as colorful as ever, as the flowers will have finally
bloomed after the cold winter. The pinky peach blossoms, tiny white plum flowers are like
little snowflakes, and fields of yellow wildflowers are guaranteed to have you fallen in love
with this place. The weather is nice and chilled, with light drizzles.

In the summer months (June - August), it is hot and sunny but with sudden showers.

Autumn/Winter time has got to be the most beautiful time here, when the rainy season
ends. This is the harvest season and also buckwheat blossom season. Green rice paddy
fields magically turn golden brown; and the buckwheat fields are dotted with tiny pink
flowers. Vietnamese as well as foreign travellers flock to Ha Giang especially in September
time. Perhaps, this is the best time to be here, but keep in mind that it means this place
can get a bit busier. Don’t forget to bring warm clothes as it is chilly on the road!