Pha Din, Ma Pi Leng, O Quy Ho, and Khau Pha passes are known by the reputable title – Four Great Mountain Passes. These are the legendary passes for those who have ever traveled in the remote Northern part of Vietnam. They are famous not only for the enchanting beauty, but also for the dangers and difficulties of the majestic northern mountains.
Pha Đin Pass
Pha Din Pass has a length of 32km located on National Highway 6, partly in Phong Lai, Thuan Chau (Son La), and partly in Toa Tinh, Tuan Giao (Dien Bien).
The pass has the highest point at 1,648m above sea level and the terrain is very dangerous with a cliff on one side and a deep abyss on the other. Pha Din is also a pass with a steep slope up to 19%, a zigzag pass with 8 extremely dangerous turns, and a curve radius of less than 15m, in which there are many sections just enough for a car to pass.
The name Pha Din pass is originally from the Thai ethnic minority language. Pha Din, in which Pha means “heaven” and Din means “earth”, meaning this place is the confluence between heaven and earth.
O Quy Ho Pass
O Quy Ho Pass, also known as Hoang Lien Son Pass or May Pass, is located on the 4D National Highway that cuts through the Hoang Lien Son Range. The pass connects the two provinces of Lao Cai and Lai Chau with the top of the pass also being the boundary between the two provinces.
O Quy Ho Pass has a long zigzag pass on National Highway 4D with nearly 50km long and 2000m high above sea level.
Legend has it that in this mountainous area, there was a bird with a melodious call, associated with the legend of the sad love story of a couple. Since then, over time, it was the bird’s sound “O Quy Ho” that was named for this wild pass.
The old O Quy Ho pass, when it was not innovated, was very dangerous, moreover, it contained many scary stories such as the story of the god lake stalking people, so few people dared to go through this place. However, at present, the pass route is well upgraded, becoming a busy traffic road.
Khau Pha Pass
Khau Pha Pass is the longest and most abrupt pass on Highway 32 with a length of over 30km. Located in the bordering area between Van Chan and Mu Cang Chai districts of Yen Bai province, Khau Pha pass passes through many famous landmarks such as La Pan Tan, Mu Cang Chai, Tu Le, Che Cu Nha, Nam Co… at an altitude of 1,200m to 1,500m above sea level.
Because the pass is often covered with fog and the top of the mountain pass seems to rise above the sea of clouds, in the Thai language, Khau Pha means Horn of Heaven (the horn of the mountain rises to the sky), or sometimes also known as Heaven’s Gate. The winding passes between the old forests are still imbued with pristine features and the terraced fields of the Hmong and Thai ethnic groups.
Khau Pha is most beautiful in the ripe rice season, around the end of September to early October. This is also the time when many tourists venture to conquer the pass to enjoy the scenery. The old forests in Khau Pha still preserve many rare plants and animals such as pine needles, cycads and other rare birds and animals.
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang province is a rugged pass about 20km long, passing Ma Pi Leng peak, a mountain peak with an altitude of about 2,000m in the Dong Van Plateau, located on the road named Happy Road connecting the cities Ha Giang, Dong Van and Meo Vac town.
Ma Pi Leng is the name in the Quan Hoa language, which literally means “the horse’s nose bridge”. But figuratively this name refers to the most dangerous of the top of the mountain, where the slope is so high that the horse passing through has to stop breathing, or the mountain peak stands up like the bridge of a horse’s nose.
Coming to this place, visitors on Ha Giang tour not only have the opportunity to admire the majestic scenery of the rocky plateau but also understand more about the history of this majestic pass. This is considered one of the historical passes because, in order to build the Ma Pi Leng pass connecting Ha Giang with the downhill provinces, the builders had to work hard for 6 years to make the road with their own rudimentary tools and without any mechanical support. Although they always face danger and death, with determination the people here have successfully built the “Pyramid of of the Meo people”.
Four Great Mountain Passes will be the ideal destination for tourists when traveling in the North of Vietnam. Travelers who love adventure will be satisfied with their desire to conquer the tops of the passes, and for tourists who want to be satisfied with the scenery and enjoy the fresh air of heaven and earth, these passes are also a great choice for a Vietnam exploring tour.
