Hà Giang · Vietnam
Ma Pi Leng Pass
QL4CĐồng Văn to Mèo Vạc
The 'King of Vietnamese Passes', a 22 km edge-of-the-world road across the Dong Van Karst Plateau hanging above the Nho Que River gorge, one of Southeast Asia’s deepest canyons, 800 m below.
Part of the Ha Giang Loop, QL4C carves through near-vertical limestone karst from Dong Van to Meo Vac, the pass crest around 1,250 m giving a vertiginous view into the Tu San canyon where the jade-green Nho Que runs beneath sheer cliffs. Nine hairpins negotiate the steepest section; the road is narrow, largely unguarded, and crosses a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Scenery
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Ma Pi Leng Pass on the map14.7 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 2Elevation
approximateunder 4%4–8%over 8%896 – 1,254.3 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Mã Pí Lèng ViewpointViewpoint14 mi in
- Mã Pí Lèng SkywalkViewpoint5.0 mi in
- Mai Pi Leng PassViewpoint8.7 mi in
Hazards
- Sheer cliff drops of 800 m with minimal barriers
- Hairpin bends
- Fog
- Landslides in the wet season
- Remote location
Sources
“one of the most breathtaking roads in Vietnam and one of the most iconic features of the Dong Van Karst Plateau geopark.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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