Dong Van > Ma Pi Leng Pass > Bao Lac

One of the most common breakfasts in Ha Giang is Bánh cuốn, a rice roll filled with minced meat and or diced mushrooms. Together with the broth, every mouthful is delicious. We had a simple and enjoyable local breakfast.

As it was not Sunday, the market was quite empty. The locals crowd along the main street, selling their harvest. Live stocks and live grasshoppers are among the fascinating stuff we saw.

At the old town square, we enjoyed our hot coffee, tea, and the fresh cốm bought from the market.

We hiked at the nearby trail. The landscape was extra stunning. Most villagers were at the paddy field to harvest. We are lucky to witness a group of villagers harvesting their crops. Along the route, villagers on motorbikes would ride past us. Most kids are in school. We were the only one along the path. Enjoy the peacefulness with the astonishing sight. After 5km of hike, the main street of Dong Van town appeared from afar.

Ma Pi Leng Pass, located between Dong Van and Meo Vac, is the king of the mountain pass. The breathtaking landscape along the mountainside winding roads attract many tourists to the area to witness the panoramic scenery.

It lies along the Happiness Road. Local ethnic people from different provinces helped in the road construction. The completion of the Happiness Road gave light to the villagers. With the accessibility of electricity and healthcare, their living environment was gradually improved. A Youth Monument was built in 2017 to appreciate those youths who helped in the construction.

The next hike was known as the Skywalk, where the starting point is from the Happiness Road Museum. The terrain is different from the earlier hike. Mostly rocky mountains along the trekking path. The view is breathtaking.
As the pathway is narrow, the hike seems like walking along the edge of the mountains.

There is a viewpoint at the top of the rocky cliff for adventure seekers. Along the route, we were accompanied by butterflies that flew around the small blooming white flower. The last portion of our trek is a narrow zig-zag path that leads us to the main road.

We had BBQ street food for lunch. What an unique experience. We placed the order, and the food was cooked over the charcoal in front of us. You can even chit-chat with the stall’s owner over the lunch.

Continue our journey on the road with the panoramic landscape. Another adventure was the drive down to the riverside. The steep and narrow road with sharp bends required certain skill of driving.

We took a boat along the Nho Que River and sailed through the Tu San Canyon, which is 1.7km long, 700-800m tall, and 70- 80 degrees steep. It is one of the deepest canyons in Vietnam. The ride alongside the towering cliffs was relaxing and enjoyable.

There was no street light along the winding road. Driving in the dark needs to be extra cautious as sometimes we spot villagers walking at the side of the road.

Finally, we arrived at the town where we had dinner. Relax over dinner after the stressful journey in the dark. Soon after, we went to the hotel as the staff had been waiting for us.

Overnight at Duc Tai Hotel – Bao Lac