Ma Pi Leng Pass
Đèo Mã Pí Lèng
The first of Vietnam's 'Four Great Passes,' an road of about 20 km clinging to cliffs above the Nho Que River canyon, the most breathtaking stretch of the Ha Giang Loop.
Ma Pi Leng Pass lies between Dong Van and Meo Vac at an elevation of about 1,500 meters. The road is about 20 km long, carved into steep limestone cliffs. Hundreds of meters below lie the emerald Nho Que River (Nho Quế) and the Tu San Canyon (Tu Sản), and Vietnamese call it the first of the 'Four Great Passes.' The road was originally called the 'Happiness Road.' Between 1959 and 1965, young people from various ethnic groups carved it out of the cliffs largely by hand. At the top of the pass there is a memorial and a viewing platform, and cafés line the Mã Pí Lèng Skywalk area. The classic photo spot is the viewing platform overlooking the S-shaped Nho Que canyon and the winding road. The scene is most beautiful with morning clouds or backlit evening light. A pedestrian 'sky walkway' runs along the cliff edge near Mã Pì Lèng Panorama. Bolder visitors can walk out onto rocks jutting over the cliff for photos, but winds are strong and there are no railings, so take care. Getting there: from Dong Van Old Quarter, cycle or hire a car for about 30 minutes to the pass viewing platform. Continuing on, you can descend to the Nho Que pier and take a boat. Admission: the road itself is free, and some private viewing platforms charge a small fee.
Opening hours
All day (daytime passage recommended)
Nearby sights
- Nho Que River & Tu San Canyon
- Dong Van Old Quarter
- Meo Vac Market
- Khau Vai Love Market
- Vuong Family Palace
- Lung Cu Flag Tower
- Lo Lo Chai Village
- Lung Cam Cultural Village