About Tham Ma Pass
Tham Ma Pass is a mountain pass on National Highway 4C in Yen Minh District, Tuyen Quang Province (formerly Ha Giang Province), within the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark. Known for nine sharp bends forming an S-shape on a steep slope, it connects Yen Minh town to Pho Cao and Dong Van. The pass offers panoramic views of limestone karst mountains, valleys and terraced fields and is a popular stop on the Ha Giang Loop for sightseeing and photography.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a winding paved mountain road with nine consecutive hairpin bends viewed from an elevated roadside viewpoint. The setting is a high karst plateau with limestone peaks, deep valleys and scattered Hmong villages. There is a designated viewpoint area at the top of the pass where visitors can stop, photograph the S-shaped road below, and view the surrounding mountains. Small roadside stalls sell local snacks and souvenirs. The area is open and exposed with no large structures.
Key highlights
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Famous nine-bend S-shaped road on a steep mountain slope
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Panoramic viewpoint over Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark
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Key scenic stop on National Highway 4C and the Ha Giang Loop
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Views of limestone karst peaks, valleys and terraced fields
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Popular photography spot for motorbike and road landscape
History of Tham Ma Pass
The name Tham Ma is traditionally explained as a place where horses were tested for strength on the steep slope before being kept or traded, reflecting its past use as a horse-evaluation slope on a mountain route.
Culture & Context
Located within the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, an area inhabited predominantly by Hmong and other ethnic communities, the pass and surrounding landscape reflect traditional highland farming, terraced fields and karst plateau cultural landscapes.
Route
| By road |
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