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Ma Pi Leng Pass Ha Giang
Ma Pi Leng Pass, a mountain pass located in Ha Giang province, connecting the towns of Dong Van and Meo Vac, is 20 km long and at the altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). This spectacular mountain pass, whose name means "bridge of a horse's nose" in the Hmong language, is one of Four Great Passes in Northwest Vietnam, along with O Quy Ho Pass, Pha Din Pass and Khau Pha Pass.
Ma Pi Leng is a famous destination for travel enthousiasts, especially fans of adventure, for its breath-taking scenery, rugged cliffs and bends almost everywhere along the roads, making it one of the most impressive passes in Vietnam.
How to get to Ma Pi Leng Pass?
There are 3 ways to get to Ma Pi Leng: by motorbike, by bus, and by private car.
By motorbike
Many travelers chose this method to get to the pass for it gives them a sense of freedom to conquer the pass and explore the scenery at their own pace. This can be dangerous and challenging but rewarding nonetheless. There are two ways to reach Ma Pi Leng Pass from Hanoi by motorbike:
- Via Thang Long Bridge and through Viet Tri, Phu Tho then Tuyen Quang.
- Via Trung Ha Bridge then Phong Chau Bridge, through Phu Tho, Doan Hung, then Tuyen Quang and National Route 2.
You can also get to Ha Giang and rent a motorbike, but make sure to drive safely, bring spare gas and repairing gears if needed.
By bus
This is a more economical way to get to Ma Pi Leng, you can take a bus to Ha Giang from My Dinh Bus Station, which is available at 5am or 9pm and the ride usually takes 6-7 hours. Once you get to Ha Giang, you can rent a motorbike, get on a local bus or grab a Xe Om (bike taxi) to visit the pass.
By private car
This is the safest way compared to the other options to get to the pass, because it's not easy catching a bus at early in the morning or late at night, and you might not be well acquainted with a motorbike, especially in this terrain. So hiring trusted local travel agency is reccomemended, to make sure you get there safe and on time.
When to go to Ma Pi Leng Pass?
One of the beaty parts about Ma Pi Leng Pass is that you can visit this place at almost anytime of year and it woud still be breathtakingly beautiful.
- January - March: the season of plum and peach blossoms, it's usually during Tet Holiday so the weather is nice, not too cold
- April: you can stop by Khau Vai love market - a unique market in Ha Giang that only happens once a year, where people find their special someone after years of being apart to rekindle their love for eachother
- September: the best time to visit Ma Pi Leng pass, for it's the season of ripped yellow rice paddies, the terraced rice fields are covered in yellow, and it's early autumn, which means the weather is cooler.
- October - December: its also a great season to travel to Ha Giang, you can admire field after field of purple buckwheat flowers from October to November, and golden rapeseed flowers everywhere along the road during December
We don't advice visiting this pass from May to August for it is raining season in Ha Giang, where rainfall and landslides can hinder your exploration and make riding very dangerous. So visiting this Ma Pi Leng pass during this season might not be the best idea.
What to eat at Ma Pi Leng Pass?
Hungry on the road? Stop by one of the local restaurants and try one of these specialities of the Northwest region, while admiring the picturesque landscape of one of the most impressive passes in Vietnam. Ma Pi Leng Pass is home to a plethora of specialties that highlights the cusine of the mountainous region of Vietnam. The must-tries are:
- Trau gac bep, smoked buffalo meat, meaning "Buffalo meat hung up in upstairs kitchen"
- Thang co, stir-fried horsemeat with local spices
- Banh cuon trung: similar to regular Banh cuon, but they add an egg to the steamed ravioli, and is eaten with hot soup instead of nước mắm.
- Banh tam giac mach: a cake made from buckwheat flower, giving it the distinguished purple color and scent of the flower. This buckwheat cake is flavorful, soft on the inside, and all around delicious.
What are the best things to do at Ma Pi Leng?
While driving, you might have to stop multiple times along the way not just to take a break but also to admire the views infront of you. Great news, there are also a lot of other things you can do at Ma Pi Leng Pass that won't disappoint you.
Take a ride on the Nho Que River
Nho Que River, which flows along the majestic pass, is a must-visit during your trip to Ha Giang. Sitting on a motorboat or a kayak, you will be able to float down the emerald green water, listen to the sound of gurgling water, and admire the majestic mountains and forests. Boat ticket prices range from 100,000 - 120,000 VND/person, each trip lasts 30 - 45 minutes.
Check out the "Ledge of death" (Mom da tu than)
"Mom da tu than" (or "Ledge of death" in English) lies precariously in the middle of the mountainside, below is the majestic Dong Van Stone Plateau and the meandering green Nho Que river. This has become one of tourists' favourite spot to take photos and is definitely worth checking out.
Watch the sunset from the pass
Sunset hunting from the top of a high pass is an interesting activity that you should not miss out on. Sunset is also the time when the whole world is immersed in the last red and yellow rays of sunlight. The scenery is even more impressive when in the distance are green corn fields and steep gray cliffs.
Ha Giang is a destination that never ceases to amaze on the Vietnamese tourist map and for those who like a little bit of challenge, Ma Pi Leng Pass is a place that you cannot ignore. If you are passionate about the beauty of Ha Giang's mountains and forests and dangerous trekking routes, this is the ideal choice for you.
