Ma Pi Leng: The Legendary Mountain Pass Above the Clouds
PART 2: Northern Vietnam Adventure Series
Route 3: Sky Journey To Pride and Happiness
Bing, this time around started saying “Rất đẹp, now look, beautiful view….” as the Ma Pi Leng Pass appeared.
It was cut from down below by the glass like flowing surface of Nho Que River in pale aquamarine color as it contrasted the bucolic green and ghastly fog that afternoon.
From Meo Vac where we had a brief stop over for a cup of Ca Phe Sua Nang (Hot Coffee with Milk). Right after, we found ourselves navigating a rather challenging path along a mountain pass snaking along a sheer cliff.
Mã Pí Lèng Pass
We then ventured into the third route of the Dong Van Karst Geopark attractions. Our car windows were open to allow our vehicle to climb up steep road sections.
It was both beautiful and dangerous – sharp and blind curves, hairpin switchbacks, and serpentine stretches of roads. Narrow roads that are barely enough for two vehicles.
Moreover, it boasts striking scenery amidst deep chasms. Ma Pi Leng pass lives up to its name of being the most treacherous of the four great mountain passes of Vietnam (alongside Pha Din Pass, O Quy Ho pass and Khau Pha Pass).
Blood, Sweat, Tears
This 20 kilometer long road section of the Happiness Highway, has gone down in their history for the sacrifice of a lot of local minorities. Furthermore, they did it just to pave a road that connects the towns of Meo Vac and Dong Van through the communes of Pai Lung and Pa Vi.
My excitement caught up on me that I had to put down my camera for a few minutes. In that exact moment, I just had to soak up my eyes with the view laid in front of me.
From the Ma Pi Leng Panorama, lies the Tu San Canyon. This is one of the great canyons in the world and also the deepest in southeast Asia at 800 meters deep.
The view from the canyon was definitely one for the books. Clouds seemed to obscure everything in perpetual shrouds of white. Also, the two peaks inside the canyon stood sentinel on both sides as it was cut by the Nho Que River from down below.
Not far from the Ma Pi Leng Panorama is another viewpoint which has a stone marker. This happens to commemorate the hardships done by the locals just to complete the Ma Pi Leng Pass.
Along the Ma Pi Leng Pass, a number of view points are worth a stop. Subsequently, everything about the magical landscape exudes this kind of charm that inspires awe to anyone seeing it the first time.
My photos can’t even justify how beautiful it really is in person, might as well see it for yourself the next time around!
Where is Ma Pi Leng Pass?
Mã Pí Lèng Pass is located in Highway 4C or dubbed as the Happiness Highway. This is a 20km long mountain pass that connects Dong Van and Meo Vac Towns, and is nestled in between Pai Lung and Pa Vi Communes.
<iframe src=”https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m40!1m12!1m3!1d234637.81018250738!2d105.26535816217343!3d23.235233538969354!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m25!3e0!4m5!1s0x36cbe81fbd0477f3%3A0xb8b865a695ad5a84!2zTcOobyBW4bqhYywgTcOobyBW4bqhYyBEaXN0cmljdCwgSGEgR2lhbmcsIFZpZXRuYW0!3m2!1d23.1556005!2d105.41266519999999!4m5!1s0x36cbe77b910dabfd%3A0xcfeb25a7dd0331da!2zTcOjIFDDrSBMw6huZyBQYXNzLCBQ4bqjaSBM4bunbmcsIE3DqG8gVuG6oWMgRGlzdHJpY3QsIEhhIEdpYW5nLCBWaWV0bmFt!3m2!1d23.24!2d105.39999999999999!4m5!1s0x36cbe50059417d2b%3A0xa41a68bf274d46b2!2zxJDhu5NuZyBWxINuLCBIYSBHaWFuZywgVmlldG5hbQ!3m2!1d23.2246718!2d105.2428853!4m5!1s0x36cbe1f68a0c33c7%3A0x302c4d0acbe9911f!2zTHVuZyBDdSBGbGFnIFBvaW50LCDEkMaw4budbmcgbMOqbiBD4buZdCBD4budLCDEkOG7k25nIFbEg24gRGlzdHJpY3QsIEhhIEdpYW5nLCBWaWV0bmFt!3m2!1d23.3637612!2d105.31622229999999!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sph!4v1556509571149!5m2!1sen!2sph” width=”600″ height=”450″ frameborder=”0″ style=”border:0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
Hanoi, Vietnam: Underneath the Nón Lá – located on the eastern Indochinese Peninsula, this was once a French city often dubbed as the “Paris of the East”, a gateway to a plethora of natural wonders, people, culture and amazing food. From rich forests, karst and tectonic landscapes, towering mountain peaks, UNESCO listed sites, ethnic markets, and effusive local hospitality – let us take you into an adventure of a lifetime up into the northern reaches of Vietnam!
This is my third country visited last March 22 to 26, 2019.
Northern Vietnam Adventure Series 2019
The Roof of Indochina: Mt. Fansipan Travel Guide 2019
Ha Giang Loop: A Journey through Vietnam’s Northern Frontier
Ha Giang: A DIY Budget Travel Guide to Vietnam’s Final Frontier
Ha Giang’s Quan Ba Fairy Bosom
Mã Pí Lèng: The Legendary Mountain Pass Above the Clouds
Ha Giang’s Ethnic Rendezvous: Dong Van Sunday Market
Lung Cu Flag Pole: Vietnam’s Last Vestige
Hmong King’s Palace – Vietnam’s Golden Triangle Opium Link
Hanoi, Vietnam: One Night Only in the Charming Old Quarters
Inside the Bay of Dragons: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Have you tried the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam? How was it? Share your awesome stories in the comments section below!
Mã Pí Lèng: The Legendary Mountain Pass Above the Clouds
Updated April 29, 2019
