Nho Que River

The Nho Que River is a scenic river flowing through Meo Vac District in Tuyen Quang Province (formerly Ha Giang), northern Vietnam. It runs at the foot of Ma Pi Leng Pass and through Tu San Canyon, the deepest canyon in Vietnam. Notable for its emerald-green water and dramatic karst limestone cliffs, the river is a central feature of the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark and is primarily visited via boat tours.

Visitors can expect a narrow emerald-green river winding between towering karst cliffs and vertical walls of Tu San Canyon. Access is via a steep road and footpath down to boat stations at Ta Lang or Xin Cai villages. The main experience is a motorboat tour along the river with views of limestone peaks, the Ma Pi Leng Pass above, and photo stops in the canyon. Viewpoints from Ma Pi Leng Pass offer panoramic overlooks of the river below.

The river valley is part of the Dong Van Karst Plateau, formed over 400 million years with significant geological heritage. The Happiness Road (Highway 4C) above the river was constructed in the 1960s connecting the remote northern border region.

The river flows through the homeland of Hmong and other ethnic minority communities of the Dong Van Karst Plateau. It is a central natural landmark within the UNESCO Global Geopark and a culturally important landscape for local communities.