Ma Pi Leng Pass

Ma Pi Leng Pass is a 20-kilometre mountain pass on National Highway 4C between Dong Van and Meo Vac in Tuyen Quang Province (formerly Ha Giang). At about 1,500 metres elevation, it is one of Vietnam's four great mountain passes. It overlooks the Nho Que River and Tu San Canyon and lies within the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, renowned for dramatic limestone peaks and deep valleys.

Visitors can expect a winding mountain road with multiple paved viewpoints and observation platforms overlooking sheer limestone cliffs, the Nho Que River and Tu San Canyon below. The landscape is characterized by rugged karst mountains, deep gorges and terraced valleys. Areas to explore include the main Ma Pi Leng viewpoint, the Ma Pi Leng Panorama station, and walking paths along the ridge. Activities centre on sightseeing, photography and viewing the river gorge from above.

Constructed as part of the Happiness Road (Con Duong Hanh Phuc) between 1959 and 1965 by more than 1,300 youth volunteers from 16 ethnic groups. The road was built to connect Ha Giang City with Dong Van and Meo Vac districts, with Ma Pi Leng being the most difficult and dangerous section carved through limestone cliffs.

Located within the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, the pass is culturally significant for local Hmong and other ethnic minority communities and is a symbol of human perseverance in the northern mountainous region. It is a major landmark for domestic tourism and geotourism.