Ma Pi Leng Pass is located at an altitude of 1,200 m, belonging to the Dong Van rock plateau, a place recognized by UNESCO as a global geopark in 2010. Seen from a distance, the pass is like a "thread" squeezed in the middle of the hills and mountains, creating a majestic scene of the rocky mountain plateau. This pass has a length of about 20 km, located on Hanh Phuc road connecting Dong Van - Meo Vac.
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Ma Pi Leng or Ma Pi Leng, Ma Pi Leng both mean "the bridge of the horse's nose" in the language of the Mong people. However, there are also research documents that this name was not originally given to the top of the mountain or pass, but was the name of a local Mong village when people first opened the road here. On the pass, visitors will be fascinated when they see Tu San Alley located under the ravine that forms the Nho Que River.
The Nho Que River flows into Vietnam from the territory of Seo Lung village, Lung Cu commune, Dong Van, passes through Tu San gorge and then runs along Ma Pi Leng pass. Arriving at Meo Vac, the separated water flows in an east-southeast direction into Cao Bang territory, finally pouring water into the Gam River. Many points on this route visitors can stop to see and take pictures.
Photo: Pham Hoang Cuong
Historical documents record that the pass was worked by tens of thousands of volunteer youth of 16 ethnic groups of 8 northern provinces in 6 years (1959-1965) with over 2 million working days. In particular, the section of the Ma Pi Leng crossing was hung by the young men in the suicide team on the cliff encroaching on every centimeter to do for 11 months.
Although Ma Pi Leng Pass is not the longest pass, it is a roundabout road, the most dangerous of the four peaks of the Northern Pass. For young people who are passionate about backpacking, they can choose to travel by motorbike, but the road up the pass is quite dangerous, so it requires you to choose the right car and the driver must have a hard steering wheel to ensure safety during the trip. Don't forget to bring extra gasoline and repair kits because the road up the pass is very high and steep, when the car has a problem, it is difficult to find a place to fix it.
Photo: Lam Linh
Along the way to the top of the pass, you will have the opportunity to see the majestic natural scenery of the Northeast mountains and forests, rolling mountain ranges, terraced fields, small houses on the side of the road or encounter Mong children carrying them on their backs along the road, an idyllic but beautiful scene in the eyes of tourists.
Photo: Pham Hoang Cuong
Ma Pi Leng Pass is always in the top of the most beautiful roads in Vietnam and you must visit it at least once in your life.
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