“Four great mountain passes” is probably the most mentioned phrase when tourists join Vietnam Private Tours to explore the high mountains of Northern Vietnam. So what are the four great peaks of Vietnam’s pass?
The Four great mountain passes include: Ma Pi Leng Pass, O Quy Ho Pass, Khau Pha Pass and Pha Din Pass. These are the 4 highest and most dangerous passes in Vietnam, and at the same time they possess majestic natural beauty that makes visitors admire them.
Ma Pi Leng Pass (Ha Giang)
Ma Pi Leng Pass is 1,200m high and is located on Highway 4C in Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province. This is a rugged pass road about 20 km long, it is part of the road named “Happiness Road” connecting Ha Giang, Dong Van and Meo Vac towns. Ma Pi Leng means “horse nose bridge” in the language of the Mong people. They refer to the most dangerous mountain peak, where the slope is so high that the horse passing through has to die, or the mountain peak stands like the bridge of a horse’s nose.
(Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang, Vietnam)
This road is called “Happiness” because they were made by the hands of the Vietnamese people during the war. Tens of thousands of young volunteers from 16 ethnic groups in 8 northern provinces of Vietnam worked for 6 years (1959 – 1965). In particular, the section of Ma Pi Leng pass was made by young people in the suicide team hanging on the cliff for 11 months. That is why this pass is likened to the Great Wall of Vietnam or the Pyramid of the Mong people.
(Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang, Vietnam)
O Quy Ho Pass is the highest pass in Lao Cai, with an altitude of about 2000m above sea level. Located on the 4D National Highway crossing the Hoang Lien Son range, the O Quy Ho pass is more than 40 km long and is the boundary connecting the two provinces of Lai Chau and Lao Cai. O Quy Ho is known as the “King of the Northwest Pass” – one of the longest, most dangerous and majestic passes in the northern mountains of Vietnam.
(O Quy Ho Pass in Lao Cai, Vietnam)
From O Quy Ho, visitors can see the roof of Indochina – the top of Fansipan mountain between heaven and earth and the most beautiful Silver waterfall of Lao Cai. The winding road, craggy on the cliff side will be adventurous challenges for backpackers with the divine downhill and crab cutting phases. Currently, the pass route has been well upgraded, becoming a busy traffic route and a challenge for those who want to explore the majesty of Hoang Lien Son mountain range.
(O Quy Ho Pass in Lao Cai, Vietnam)
More specifically, O Quy Ho pass also becomes a wall separating the two weather conditions of two neighboring provinces: on the Lao Cai side- the fog spreads, and on the Lai Chau side- the sun is warm and sunny (The summer is often covered with clouds, the winter is snowy) very popular with domestic and foreign tourists.
3. Khau Pha Pass (Yen Bai)
Khau Pha Pass has a length of about 30km, an altitude of 1,200-1,500m above sea level, belonging to Highway 32 connecting Van Chan and Mu Cang Chai districts of Yen Bai province. The Thai people named Khau Pha pass with the meaning “horn of the sky“, because the top of the pass looks like a horn rising to the sky. As for the H’Mong, they consider Khau Pha pass to be a sacred place that can connect with heaven, so whenever something bad happens or a crop fails, they come here to pray for good things to return to the village.
(Khau Pha Pass in Yen Bai, Vietnam)
The scenery of Khau Pha is often covered with clouds and there are years when it is too cold, covered with snow and ice on the top of the pass. Khau Pha is most beautiful around September- October, when the terraced fields of the Mong and Thai ethnic groups in the ripe rice season are brilliantly golden. In addition to the terraced fields stretching endlessly, located on the winding pass road of Khau Pha, there are also old forests with bold features that preserve many rare and precious animals and plants.
4. Pha Din Pass (Dien Bien)
Pha Din Pass is located on National Highway 6 running along the Northwest provinces connecting Son La and Dien Bien provinces. Pha Din Pass is 32 km long with the highest point located at an altitude of 1,648m, the terrain is very dangerous with one side is a steep cliff, the other is a deep abyss. The zigzag road with 8 turns is very dangerous, traveling in the rainy season is very difficult. The name Pha Din pass originally comes from the Thai people, meaning “Heaven and Earth“, meaning that this place is the confluence between heaven and earth.
(Pha Din Pass in Dien Bien, Vietnam)
From the pass located on the Dien Bien side, visitors can admire the vastness of Muong Chai valley in Vietnam Private Tours. March is probably the most beautiful period of Pha Din Pass, because at that time the ban flowers are in full bloom in the Northwest region, on this occasion visitors will have a close-up view of the strange beauty of the mountains.
(Pha Din Pass in Dien Bien, Vietnam)
During the resistance war against the French, Pha Din Pass was one of the important routes to supply weapons, ammunition and food for the Dien Bien Phu campaign, which suffered the fierce battles of the French air force. This has made Pha Din pass a symbol of the brave spirit of the Northwest soldiers.
Ma Pi Leng, O Quy Ho Khau Pha and Pha Din pass are the four landmarks of the Four great mountain passes. The journey to conquer the Four great mountain passes of the North is also a journey to overcome your limitations and enjoy the majestic beauty of Vietnam’s nature. If you are a travel enthusiast and love to explore, join Vietnam Customized Tours to conquer one of these most beautiful passes in Vietnam.
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