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Ma Pi Leng Pass
Leading the "four great mountain passes" is Ma Pi Leng, one of the most challenging mountain passes in Vietnam. Located in Pa Vi and Pai Lung communes, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province, this pass is also known as Ma Pi Leng or Ma Pi Leng, meaning "horse's nose." At an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level and about 20 kilometers long, Ma Pi Leng winds around the mountains with treacherous curves, creating a mysterious and incredibly majestic landscape.
Ma Pi Leng Pass is approximately 1,200 meters above sea level and about 20 kilometers long.
Conquering Ma Pi Leng Pass is not just a journey, but an adventure to the unexpected heights of Northern Vietnam's landscape. The pass rises like a challenge, winding between towering jagged mountains and deep ravines. With 9 "terrifying" hairpin bends, driving on the narrow road is a thrilling and adventurous experience.
The view from above is breathtaking.
However, drivers will not only conquer the challenging pass but also admire the Nho Que River, its emerald green waters winding like a silken ribbon. The river's color changes with each season, creating a magical scene when viewed from above. Standing at the top of the pass, one can take in the magnificent landscape of a vast area where the sky and earth meet.
O Quy Ho Pass
O Quy Ho Pass is the longest of the four major mountain passes.
Compared to other famous mountain passes like Ma Pi Leng (20 km), Pha Din (32 km), or Khau Pha (40 km), O Quy Ho Pass, with its length of 50 km, is a great source of inspiration for those who love exploration and are passionate about the beauty of the Northwest region. O Quy Ho Pass boasts stunning natural scenery, a harmonious blend of the majestic mountains and forests and the gentle slopes of terraced rice fields.
O Quy Ho Pass is like a place where heaven and earth meet.
Throughout the year, white clouds blanket the pass, creating a mystical and captivating landscape. The winding, treacherous curves of the pass make it uniquely distinctive. Each season brings a different beauty to O Quy Ho Pass. In spring, the pass is covered in lush green vegetation; in summer, the rice fields ripen and wild sunflowers bloom. In autumn, the leaves turn vibrant red and yellow, creating a dreamy scene. And in winter, the pass embraces a gentle, tranquil atmosphere shrouded in mist, creating a mystical ambiance.
Pha Din Pass
In the Thai dialect, "Pha Din" means "Heaven and Earth," a name that encapsulates the essence of this pass – a place where earth and heaven meet, creating a mystical and treacherous landscape. The route begins in Son La city, traversing 66 km to the pass's starting point, and ends in Dien Bien Phu, approximately 84 km away. Pha Din Pass, along with O Quy Ho, Khau Pha, and Ma Pi Leng, forms the legendary "four great mountain passes" of the Northwest highlands.
"Pha Din" - the place where earth and sky meet.
With a length of approximately 32 km and an altitude of about 1,000 m, the highest point of the pass is 1,648 m above sea level. Pha Din Pass is one of the exciting challenges for those who love exploration. With slopes ranging from 10% to 19%, and 125 hairpin bends, including dangerous A-shaped and Z-shaped curves, Pha Din Pass is a challenge for any driver.
Pha Din Pass is a challenge for any driver.
Khau Pha Pass
Khau Pha Pass is not only famous for its winding roads and dangerous hairpin bends, but also for the mystical beauty of its peak known as "Heaven's Horn". The peak rises up to the sky, resembling the curved horn of a wild animal, creating a magnificent landscape with mountain ranges reaching towards the sky amidst layers of white clouds.
The mountain ranges rise majestically amidst layers of white clouds.
Under the sunlight or beneath the white mist, Khau Pha Pass blends seamlessly into the majestic natural landscape. The winding pass, alongside pristine ancient forests, also features the stunning terraced rice fields of the H'Mong and Thai ethnic groups. Every day in Khau Pha experiences all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. September and October are the best months to visit Khau Pha, when the terraced rice fields transform from the vibrant green of young rice plants to the brilliant golden hue of ripening rice.
September and October are the best months to conquer Khau Pha.
Crossing Khau Pha Pass, amidst swirling mountain clouds, and immersing yourself in the majestic beauty of the vast mountains and sky, is a truly fascinating experience. For those with a thirst for exploration, Khau Pha Pass is not just a challenging journey, but also an adventure that awakens passion and love for the mysterious beauty of Northwest Vietnam.
