Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang: the best viewpoint on the loop (2026 season)
Ma Pi Leng Pass is the high point of the Ha Giang loop: a road clinging to the cliff, at about 1,500 m, between Dong Van and Meo Vac, with the Nho Que River far below in a deep canyon. The road is nicknamed the "Happiness Road"; it was cut by hand into the mountain in the 1960s. The best season runs from October to December (buckwheat in bloom, clearer skies); avoid June to August, which are rainy and slippery. The stop takes 30 to 60 minutes, longer with the boat ride. To organise the trip, see the Ha Giang loop from Hanoi.
Highlights
The viewpoint over the canyon
At the bend in the pass you look down on the Nho Que River valley, in a canyon several hundred metres deep. In the morning, clouds can fill the bottom; the sky often clears during the day.
The road over the pass
The road snakes along the cliff for about twenty kilometres according to guides. The bends are tight and the road can be narrow and damp: slow down and keep to the right, especially in fog.
The boat ride on the Nho Que
A ride of about 30 minutes on the river, at the foot of the canyon, leaves from a pier below; one guide quotes about 120,000 VND per person, transfer included (undated guide, to be confirmed).
The buckwheat fields
From October to December the neighbouring plateaus are covered in pink flowers, notably around Lung Cam, about 25 km west of Dong Van. A buckwheat festival is usually held in mid-November; dates change every year.
Practical info
Tips
- The pass is a roadside stop, with no ticket for the road itself; some viewpoints, cafés and ridge paths may ask for a contribution (amounts not confirmed). The simplest way to see it is on a 2 to 4 day trip with a rider-guide ("easy rider"); riding a motorbike yourself in a border area requires a special permit and valid papers (see the loop article). Bring warm layers: mornings are cold and misty at altitude. Do not step near the edge for a photo, and never ride without a helmet.
How to get there
Ma Pi Leng Pass, road between Dong Van and Meo Vac, Ha Giang province. Ha Giang city is about 300 km from Hanoi (about 6 hours by bus); the loop starts there by motorbike or car with driver, and the pass lies further north, around the middle of the route.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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