+84 974 265 162

vndiscoverytours@gmail.com

Mountain pass offers stunning panoramic vista of Ha Giang

Mountain pass offers stunning panoramic vista of Ha Giang
 
 
On a cool autumn day, my friend and I were lucky enough to visit Ma Pi Leng Pass, considered the king of all passes in Viet Nam, which locates in Meo Vac district in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang.
 
Passing through: Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of the highest passes in the country.
 
Ma Pi Leng Pass, also called the Great Wall of Viet Nam, is one of the four highest passes in the country, alongside Khau Pha in Yen Bai Province, O Quy Ho in Lao Cai Province and Pha Din in Lai Chau Province.
 
The pass is located in the globally recognised geological park Dong Van. It is not long, only 20km, but dangerously steep cliffs and deep mountainous slopes make the path difficult.
 
The pass's name literally means "nose of the horse". But figuratively, it means the mountain is difficult to access and riddled with obstacles – it's as vertical as a horse's nose.
 
On the way to Ma Pi Leng, we met children walking along the road. They liked watching visitors, and seemed glad when we gave them cakes, candies and scarves.
 
Sometimes on the side of the roads we saw small pubs that brought a wild beauty to the place. Some H'Mong men got tipsy and sat nodding by the roadside.
 
When we took in the view from the peak of Ma Pi Leng, mist covered the whole trail. We had never seen it look so mysterious before. It looked like paradise.
 
The pass's majestic and wild beauty makes it unique.
 
As we looked to the north and northeast, we saw thousands of grey mountains spreading up toward the horizon.
 
Next to the path lied a chasm, and below us the Nho Que River ran like a colourful thread through the cliffs.
 
The H'Mong people's houses, surrounded by stone fences, perched on the edge of the chasm.
 
Some of the houses' walls were made of neohouzeaua, a kind of bamboo, which remained sturdy despite the region's wind and rain.
 
The Ma Pi Leng area was named a national sightseeing by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on November 16, 2009.
 
According to the ministry's decision, Ma Pi Leng Pass is considered a special heritage area.
 
Ma Pi Leng's mountain top is one of the most beautiful observation points in Viet Nam, and Nho Que river's alley is one of the most unique tectonic valleys in Viet Nam.
 
Historical road
 
In addition to beauty, a history of volunteer youths building roads memorialises the Ma Pi Leng area.
 
The 185km road that goes to Ma Pi Leng Pass is called Hanh Phuc (happiness). It runs from Ha Giang City to Meo Vac District. It connects isolated mountainous districts and helps ethnic minorities access the plains.
 
Thousands of young people from 16 ethnic minority groups built the road between 1959 and 1965.
 
They had to string themselves up on the rock cliffs to make it through the dangerous 11-month building process.
 
At the beginning, the pass was only wide enough for pedestrians and horse-drawn carts. Later, it was widened so cars and vans could use it.
 
At the peak of Ma Pi Leng Pass and at the highest point of Hanh Phuc Road, we stopped to take photos of Nho Que river, enjoying a thrilling feeling. We also saw an old stone stele used for marking lengths during the pass's construction.
 
It took the previous generation six years to make Hanh Phuc Road.
 
About 11 months of that time was spent making the 20km pass over Ma Pi Leng. But it took us only one day and one hour to trek across both. A feeling of admiration for the builders overwhelmed us.
 
The road instills happiness in ethnic minorities and visitors who have the chance to go and contemplate the country's boundless beauty.
 
 
Source: VNS

Bài viết liên quan

Jetstar Pacific receives new airbus A320
The 180-seat Airbus aircraft, with a twin-jet engine, has been registered under VN-A560. It was placed in operation on the same day. This is the eighth aircraft of the carrier, which aims to raise its fleet to 10 over the next six months.
VNA to launch direct routes from Phu Quoc to Singapore, Cambodia
The national flag carrier Viet Nam Airlines (VNA) has officially announced that it will launch two new direct routes to Singapore and Cambodia between November 1-30. A new route from Phu Quoc Island to Singapore will operate two flights per week, using A321 aircraft.
Vietnam to open new seaplane tour
The first two Cessna Grand Caravan EX helicopters of Hai Au Airlines arrived in Noi Bai International Airport in the morning of August 21. These are  two most modern aircrafts manufactured by the United State’s Cessna Company, purchased by Hai Au Airlines in 2014.
High-end hotels in HCMC see rise in room occupancy rate
Higher room occupancy rate are being recorded in three-five star hotels in Ho Chi Minh city after a sudden reduction in the number of tourists in May due to the East Sea situation, according to the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Additional flight for HCMC-Bangkok route
The nation's second low-cost carrier, VietJet Air, will add one flight on the Ho Chi Minh city – Bangkok (Thailand) route from September 12, raising the total for the route to two return flights a day.
Quang Binh boasts four top tourist sites in Viet Nam
As many as four tourism sites in the central province of Quang Binh have been listed among the top 50 must-see travel destinations in Viet Nam, according to the Viet Nam Records Organisation (VRO). The rating was made by VRO, travel associations and agencies, experts in tourism field and domestic and...
Hanoi festival to celebrate Mong weaving skills
The best weavers from the Mong community in Pa Co Commune in the northern Hoa Binh province will demonstrate the quintessence of Mong weaving culture this weekend in Hanoi.
Off the beaten tourist track, Quy Nhon is ready to be discovered
Are you looking for a peaceful, non-touristy beach free of pesky vendors, and a decent, affordable hotel near the sea?   Quy Nhon City, once a mainstay of the fishing industry of central Binh Dinh Province, should be on your bucket list if you visit or live in Viet Nam. Though it retains its...
Discoveries of central “beast” cave announced
Excavation findings of Con Moong (beast) Cave in the central province of Thanh Hoa were announced at an international workshop there on October 30.
Vietnam claims Southeast Asia top spot
Vietnam has won the No 1 spot on a list of the Top Hotels in Southeast Asia in the Readers Choice Awards of one of the world's most prestigious magazines, Conde Nast Traveler.

Most popurlar tours

Video

Day & Short Tours