Beautiful photos of Ma Pi Leng Pass - Ha Giang

Published: 10:28 Thursday - September 15, 2011

Ma Pi Leng pass' peak is aptly named Cong Troi (Heaven's Gate), is the best place for tourists in Vietnam travel to enjoy a panoramic view of the valley below.

Ma Pi Leng Pass, located between Meo Vac Commune and Dong Van, is a 15-kilometer canyon road above the Nho Que River, which weaves its way like a silver ribbon through limestone ravines.

The pass' peak is aptly named Cong Troi (Heaven's Gate), and is the best place for tourists in Vietnam travel to enjoy a panoramic view of the valley below, particularly on a late afternoon when you can see a beautiful sunset overlooking the river.

Ma Pi Leng is at the height of nearly 2,000m above sea level.

The construction of Ma Pi Leng (which takes the form of a crouching horse) began in the 1960’s, and was said to be done almost entirely by the H’mong people.

In the beginning, to accomplish their tasks, construction workers had to carry explosives and move along the sides of the mountain by securing themselves to ropes.

The earliest passes were wide enough only for horses pulling carriages and people to walk through. It wasn’t until much later that the authorities allowed the widening of these passes.

Just a few years ago, the paths at Ma Pi Leng were extremely bumpy and riddled with stones. They were also not wide enough for two cars traveling in opposite directions.

Nowhere else in Vietnam is there a place as mighty and wild as Ma Pi Leng

Looking toward the north and northeast, thousands of gray, rocky mountains form layers along the horizon. Right beside the road are deep valleys, at the bottom of which lies the Nho Que River, where cool water flows peacefully

On the mountain pass in Meo Vac, trees are scattered; along with stones, which have been lonely through years and centuries.

Mong aborigines are in favor of living in mountain tops, or at least along the sides of the mountains. They absolutely refuse to move to the plain. Neighbors take a half of day to walk from this mountain to other to visit each other.