#18 of 79 · mountain
Mã Pí Lèng Pass
Đồng Văn, Hà Giang → Mèo Vạc
22 km · Sep – Nov, Mar – May · Challenging
The Nho Quế in a canyon so deep the river looks painted. Twenty-two kilometres of cliff road between Đồng Văn and Mèo Vạc — the reason people ride the Hà Giang loop.
Viewpoints
Mã Pí Lèng viewpoint
The river, the wall, the road you just drove. Stop in the bay.
11 km
1,500 m
Nho Quế lookout
Straight down. Do not lean on the wall if it is wet.
14 km
1,200 m
- Road
- Narrow, patched, often wet. Fog in the morning. Buses and loaded bikes. The drop is unguarded in places. Rain turns the outer edge to grease.
- Permits
- Hà Giang loop is open. Stay on the sealed road; some side tracks are not.
Tips
- 01
This is the pass, not the loop
Hà Giang town to here is a day. This stretch is the postcard.
- 02
Not in a cloud
If you cannot see the river, wait. The drop does not forgive a guess.
From the road
2 notes
Field reports from people who have driven this route.
Driven this road? Join as a driver to leave a note from the road.
Linh T.
Oct 2025
Đồng Văn to Mèo Vạc in a break of cloud. The Nho Quế was a green thread. A loaded Xe ôm took the outside line; I waited. This is not a pass you argue with.
Minh P.
Mar 2026
Fog so thick I could not see the river. Sat at the viewpoint twenty minutes. When it lifted, the wall was the whole reason people do Hà Giang.
