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Ma Pi Leng Pass, Ha Giang
This is a dangerous mountain pass about 20km long, crossing the Ma Pi Leng mountain peak at an altitude of 2,000m, connecting Meo Vac with Dong Van. This pass is famous for its winding roads like a snake from one mountain to another.
Ma Pi Leng in Mandarin literally means 'horse's nose'. But figuratively, this name refers to the danger of the mountain peak, where the slope is so steep that a horse passing over it will stop breathing, or the mountain peak is as steep as a horse's nose.
The road running through Ma Pi Leng Pass is called Happiness Road, built by tens of thousands of youth volunteers from 16 ethnic groups of 8 provinces in Northern Vietnam from 1959 to 1965. At the pass, workers had to hang themselves on ropes between cliffs to construct for 11 months.
Since 2009, Ma Pi Leng mountain area has been recognized as a national scenic relic. Accordingly, Ma Pi Leng pass is considered a special heritage area in terms of geology and landscape; the top of the pass is one of the most beautiful panoramic observation points in Vietnam, Nho Que river canyon is one of the unique tectonic valleys in Vietnam.
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O Quy Ho Pass
The pass holds the record for the longest in the Northwest mountains (50km), and is also one of the most dangerous and majestic mountain passes in Vietnam. This pass is located on National Highway 4D, cutting across Hoang Lien Son mountain range, connecting Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces with the peak at an altitude of 2,000m as the border between the two provinces.
The name O Quy Ho comes from the mournful cry of a bird, associated with the legend of a failed love story of a young couple. Besides, O Quy Ho Pass is also called Hoang Lien Pass, because it crosses the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, or May Pass because the top of the pass is covered with clouds all year round.
The height, the ruggedness and the length make O Quy Ho Pass unofficially known as the 'king of passes in the Northwest'. The peak of O Quy Ho Pass, located amidst the immense clouds and mountains, is also known as Heaven's Gate. In cold years, the peak of the pass can be covered in ice and snow.
Not only dangerous, in the past, this pass was also associated with the story of the tigers that preyed on passersby, so very few people dared to cross it. Today, the pass has been upgraded a lot and has become a quite busy road for vehicles.
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Pha Din Pass
Or the mountain pass has a length of 32 km located on National Highway 6, partly in Phong Lai commune, Thuan Chau district, Son La province and partly in Toa Tinh commune, Tuan Giao district, Dien Bien province, with the highest point of 1,648 meters. The original name of Pha Din pass comes from Thai, meaning 'Heaven and Earth', implying that this is the place where heaven and earth meet.
Pha Din Pass is famous for its ruggedness and breathtaking scenery. The middle of the pass is often covered in clouds, and at the foot of the pass are scattered villages. However, when approaching the top of the pass, there are almost no villages to be seen, only the deep blue sky and majestic mountains and forests blending into one.
In recent years, the project to renovate and upgrade National Highway 6, Son La - Tuan Giao section, has been completed. The Pha Din Pass bypass road was built along the mountain slopes of the secondary passes on the left side of the old National Highway 6, with an altitude of about 1,000m (200-400m lower than Pha Din Pass), causing less traffic through the road through Pha Din Pass and the pass is only suitable for adventurous tourists.
During the resistance war against France, Pha Din Pass was one of the important blood vessels supplying weapons, ammunition and food for the Dien Bien Phu campaign of the Viet Minh, and had to endure fierce bombings by the French air force. This made Pha Din Pass a symbol of bravery with more than 8,000 young volunteers 'determined to die for the Fatherland'.
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Khau Pha Pass
This is the longest pass on Highway 32 with a length of over 30km. It is also one of the most winding and steep mountain passes in Vietnam.
The pass is located in the border area between Van Chan district and Mu Cang Chai district of Yen Bai province, passing through many famous places such as La Pan Tan, Mu Cang Chai, Tu Le, Che Cu Nha, Nam Co... at an altitude of 1,200 m to 1,500 m above sea level.
The view from Khau Pha Pass is most beautiful during the rice harvest season (September - October). When the rice on the Tu Le terraced fields turns golden, many tourists venture to conquer the pass to admire this beautiful natural scenery.
In addition to the endless terraced fields, located along the winding mountain pass of Khau Pha, there are also primeval forests, preserving many rare species of flora and fauna.
