#travel adventure travelling river laostourism asia

[namkhanproject-blog]

Luangprabang - One of the most beautiful place in the world.

[indochinavoyages]

Ma Pi Leng Pass – A place for adventure lovers in Vietnam

Ma Pi Leng Pass – A place for adventure lovers in Vietnam https://www.indochinavoyages.com/travel-blog/conquering-ma-pi-leng-pass-hagiang

Vietnam is well-known among travelers around the world for its spectacular sceneries, from white sand beaches to mysterious jungles and caves; and of course, for high and magnificent mountain ranges also. For those who love a little discovery for their Vietnam tours, they should put Ma Pi Leng Pass into their schedule. A visit to Ma Pi Leng Pass in the northern part will definitely become one of the best road trips in one’s travel life.

  [caption id="attachment_16795" align="alignnone" width="960"] Ma Pi Leng, one of the top 4 passes in Vietnam[/caption]

Ma Pi Leng Pass map

The North of Vietnam offers travelers with various astonishing attractions such as Hanoi – the capital; Halong Bay – one of the world’s 7 Wonders; or Ninh Binh – a romantic countryside site. Besides these, the North can welcome you to visit plenty of mountainous areas and experience the authentic nature and village life of the minorities. The Ma Pi Leng Pass belongs to Ha Giang Vietnam, connecting Dong Van plateau and Meo Vac towns. It is close to the border between Vietnam and China. It sits on the altitude of approximately 1500m above the sea level.

Ma Pi Leng is considered one of the top 4 passes in Vietnam which are beautiful but also dangerous to travel. Its name, in Vietnamese meaning (to be more accurate, the name is coined according to H’mong language), means “the bridge of a horse’s nose” that describes the shape of it.  Some people compare it to The Great Wall of Vietnam. Though the pass’s length is only about 20 kilometers, it can challenge any first-time driver here.

  [caption id="attachment_16796" align="alignnone" width="960"] The winding road of Ma Pi Leng Pass[/caption]

What to see in Ma Pi Leng Pass

There is not really a certain attraction to pay the entrance fee to visit while you are riding through the pass. All you can see are endless limestone mountain ranges and a stunning view of the sky. Moreover, you can look down the Tu San Canyon and the stream of Nho Que River from high above. While you are driving through the pass, you might have to stop several times just because you will feel the urge to capture the views in front of your eyes which are like a fairytale.

  [caption id="attachment_16797" align="alignnone" width="960"] The road is winding but quite smooth to go[/caption]

Endless limestone mountain ranges

From the moment you enter on the winding road, mountain ranges will get higher and higher with different shapes. Some of the mountain ranges are undulating and some of them are pointed like they can breach the sky. Some of the mountain peaks are covered with dark grey color and some with the bright green color of the trees. You will be led to this surprise to another one and be amazed by the tremendousness of nature. You feel yourself so small standing there.

Tu San Canyon and Nho Que River

From above, you can also have the chance to see the Tu San Canyon lying beyond the creek and the “sleeping beauty” Nho Que River. The river actually originates from Van Nam province, China and it goes a long way to Dong Van and Meo Vac towns in Ha Giang Vietnam. The river calmly flows and bends through the foot of mountain ranges. It seems to add more roman to the picture of the scenery of Ma Pi Leng Pass. If you are lucky, you can catch the sight of the locals slowly riding a boat through the stream of Nho Que River. Continue to drive until the end of the pass, near Meo Vac town, you will reach Trang Huong Bridge, from which you can find the way to approach Nho Que boat station. Here, you can enjoy the boat riding or do kayaking on the river.

  [caption id="attachment_16799" align="alignnone" width="960"] A part of Nho Que River from high above[/caption]

How to get to Ma Pi Leng pass

The most obvious way to admire the fullest beauty on Ma Pi Leng pass is to ride a motorbike on your own; as you can stop and jump down of the motorbike whenever and at whatever spot you like. If you are an expert in riding in Vietnam or in Southeast Asia, needless to say, you can hire a motorbike from Hanoi, or in Ha Giang town for your journey. If you are not well acquainted with riding a motorbike, you have a few options below.

A private transfer from Hanoi

It is highly recommended that you contact a local travel agency in advance to set up for a private car to Ha Giang. A travel expert will make sure that an experienced driver will be arranged for your trip. This way can be the most expensive, but you can also have the flexibility as well as safety.

Taking a bus from Hanoi

This is a more economical way to travel to Ha Giang. It is not difficult to purchase a bus ticket departing in the early morning or in the evening from Hanoi to Ha Giang. You are advised to contact a local travel agency or your hotel in Hanoi for a reliable bus company. Once you get to Ha Giang town, you can hire your own motorbike, use local bus or hire the motorbike service (or also called “Xe Om”) to explore the Ma Pi Leng pass.

The best time to visit Ma Pi Leng Pass

Ha Giang is beautiful all year round but each season in the year, it is not the same.

From January to March, in spring, usually during or after the Lunar New Year, the weather is not so cold. There is drizzle during the day but not considerably affect. This is the best season for apricot flowers, plum flowers, and yellow rapeseed flowers.

  [caption id="attachment_16800" align="alignnone" width="960"] Spring arrives in Ha Giang with plum flowers blooming[/caption]

If you travel to Ha Giang in April, the weather is getting warmer as it is in the early summer. It hardly rains. Therefore, you will have the change to take part in the Khau Vai Love market and to know more about the culture of local people.

During June and August, the weather is hotter with constant sunshine. The sky can be blue and clear, but you might encounter showers in the day.

September comes, the rice paddle fields are getting ripped. The mountains are covered with stunning yellow color. In September, the weather is cooler as autumn is coming.

From October to December, the weather is cold but no rain; and you can also see the buckwheat flowers blooming.

In general, the best time to visit Ha Giang and make the drive through Ma Pi Leng Pass is September. Also meaning that it is the most crowded time. Otherwise, you can visit Ma Pi Leng Pass in other months, except for summertime (from June to August). It is because you might catch the rain and it is not safe for driving.

  [caption id="attachment_16801" align="alignnone" width="960"] The yellow paddle fields of Ha Giang in September[/caption]

Suggested Ha Giang tours from Hanoi

Explore Unfold Ha Giang 5 Days

Spirit Of Northeast Vietnam Adventure 7 Days

  Ma Pi Leng Pass is a symbol of Ha Giang province. It is also a great highlight in the north of Vietnam. You will not regret if you decide to take a trip here. Surely it will be one of the best sceneries you have traveled to in the world.

  Minh Vu - Travel Specialist

#Indochinavoyages #Indochinatours #Timlee #Vietnamtours #Myanmartours #Cambodiatours #Laostours #Thailand tours

[indochinavoyages]

Ban Gioc Waterfall – an off beaten track destination

Ban Gioc Waterfall – an off beaten track destination https://www.indochinavoyages.com/travel-blog/ban-gioc-waterfall

Vietnam has many beautiful natural landscapes from mountain to sea, which attracts a big number of travelers visiting the last few years. For those who love green and mountain, North Vietnam is a must-visit place during your trip. Therefore, Ban Gioc waterfall should be in your wishlist for Vietnam tours if you are looking for a unique experience.

  [caption id="attachment_16482" align="alignnone" width="960"] Ban Gioc waterfall is one of the best well-known in Vietnam[/caption]

Ban Gioc Waterfall facts

Located in Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang province, Ban Gioc Waterfall is about 360 km from Hanoi.

With 30m height and 300m width, Ban Gioc waterfall is the widest waterfall in Vietnam. It is also the largest waterfall in Asia and the fourth largest waterfall in the world along the national border. The waterfall lies in Quay Son River which is on the international border between Vietnam and China, thus, half of the waterfall belongs to Vietnam and half belongs to China. The fall is so huge with two levels of rock setting, white mist blowing up, while riverbed is green, creating a poetry scene.

  [caption id="attachment_16483" align="alignnone" width="960"] It is also the largest waterfall in Asia and the fourth largest waterfall in the world along the national border[/caption]

Things to do in Ban Gioc Waterfall

In order to visit Ban Gioc waterfall, you will need to pay a fee of 45,000 VND per person.

  [caption id="attachment_16484" align="alignnone" width="960"] Get closer to Ban Gioc waterfall by bamboo raft[/caption]

Hop on a bamboo raft and getting a closer look at Ban Gioc Waterfall is a fun and interesting experience. Do expect to get wet from spraying curtains of water so you need to be careful with your cameras. To experience bamboo rafting, you will need to pay an extra 50,000 VND/per person.

Our company recently visited the area last September and it was a wonderful experience for us to get on a bike trip, discovering the lush beauty of rice fields and villages. We biked along the rivers with blue water, countryside landscape dotted with limestone hills, and especially, you could not stop taking pictures of golden rice fields.

Located just about 3 kilometers from Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave is a must-see spot during your visit to the area. The cave was discovered in 1921 by local people and opened to travelers since 1996. The length of the cave reaches to 2144m, though, only 900 m of total length was exploited. You will be totally amazed when seeing that cave as it looks like a luxury palace with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, bright crystals. There are many big and beautiful formations which evoke your imagination.

Best time to go to Ban Gioc Waterfall

The ideal time to visit Ban Gioc Waterfall is around September to October when the rain is less, water gets cleaner and you can get closer to the waterfall. Also, September and October is rice harvest season and you can see beautiful golden rice fields in the area. From June to August, the heavy downpours feed a large amount of water to Quay Son rivers, making waterfall at its widest merge. However, you could not get closer to the fall as the area can be flooded and the water looks very muddy.

  [caption id="attachment_16485" align="alignnone" width="960"] Visiting countryside along the Quay Son River[/caption]

How to get to Ban Gioc Waterfall from Hanoi

Public transport

From My Dinh Bus station in Hanoi, there is a bus departing almost every hour to Cao Bang city. If you want to save time and one night staying in Cao Bang, an overnight sleeping bus is a perfect choice. The drive normally takes for about 6 to 8 hours so you may expect it is not always comfortable to stay on such a long time on the bus.

From Cao Bang city, you can take another bus ride for 2 hours to the waterfall. Buses depart every 30 minutes from morning till afternoon. The most convenient way is to arrange a day trip with your accommodation. You can either rent a private car with a driver or some even arrange motorbike tours.

Arranging a private tour from Hanoi

If your budget allows and you want to have a free stress holiday, arrange a tour with a private tour guide and a driver is the best way. Not only you will be taken care of during the trip, but you also have more knowledge about the area through tour guide explanation. The drive from Hanoi to Cao Bang – Ban Gioc is very beautiful and if you want to stop for any pictures, the private driver would be very happy to stop at a safe point for you.

Suggested itinerary to visit Ban Gioc Waterfall

To explore Ban Gioc and the area in the best way, I would suggest at least 3 days to visit the area. The visit to Ban Gioc Waterfall would be more interesting when combining with Ba Be Lake. Here below is a suggested itinerary.

  [caption id="attachment_16486" align="alignnone" width="960"] Discovering Nguom Ngao Cave[/caption]

Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be lake (5 hours driving from Hanoi). You can enjoy a boat trip to Ba Be Lake – the biggest freshwater lake in Vietnam.

Day 2: Ba Be Lake – drive to Ban Gioc waterfall (6 hours driving). You can discover the a handicraft village called Phuoc Sen village a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmithing to meet and interact with Nung people. Continue to drive to Ban Gioc, discovering Ban Gioc Waterfall.

Day 3: Exploring Nguom Ngao Cave and then drive back to Hanoi.

Also, your expenditure to Ban Gioc waterfall can be combined with Halong Bay cruise in a northeast loop. Here is our sample tour - Adventure The Northeast Vietnam 6 Days

I wish you have a beautiful trip to Ban Gioc Waterfall.

  Van Do - Travel Specialist

#Indochinavoyages #Indochinatours #Timlee #Vietnamtours #Myanmartours #Cambodiatours #Laostours #Thailand tours