3 breathtaking, treacherous mountain roads in Hà Giang that rival Mã Pí Lèng
With their soft, silk-ribbon curves that are also full of danger, the winding mountain roads of Hà Giang hold a strange allure for travelers.
If you travel from the former Hà Giang city up to the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau along National Route 4C, in what was Hà Giang province in Vietnam's far north (now part of Tuyên Quang province), you will get the chance to conquer three famous slopes, known not only for how dangerous they are but also for their stunning, unmistakable photo spots.
Bắc Sum Slope
Linking the former Minh Tân commune (Vị Xuyên) with the former Quyết Tiến commune (Quản Bạ), Bắc Sum Slope is one of the most twisting, serpentine roads in the land of the stone plateau. Beyond its graceful, seductive curves, it is also treacherous, with one bend following hard on another.
Bắc Sum Slope has many consecutive bends. (Photo: Le Viet Khanh – Soi Sau)
Notably, this slope leads up to the Heaven's Gate.
This is a route no traveler should miss when visiting the area. People compare Bắc Sum Slope to Pha Đin Pass, one of Vietnam's "four great passes." To conquer it, you climb one steep crest after another and then descend again, leaning low into each bend. Notably, the slope leads to the Heaven's Gate, a special place with cooler, crisper air where you can explore a beautiful landscape.
Chín Khoanh Slope
Chín Khoanh Slope is regarded as one of the most famous slopes in Hà Giang.
This precarious mountain road links the communes of Phố Cáo and Sủng Là in the former Đồng Văn district of the former Hà Giang province. It features a string of winding, fairly steep bends. Chín Khoanh is regarded as one of the most famous slopes in Hà Giang, but it is actually just a "child" of Bắc Sum Slope.
True to its name, Chín Khoanh ("Nine Coils") is extremely treacherous.
Made up of many hairpin turns and U-bends packed close together, Chín Khoanh is, true to its name, extremely treacherous. Yet you do not need a drone flying high above: standing in just one spot, you can fully feel that its dizzying heights are worth the trip.
Thẩm Mã Slope
The second most popular check-in stop after Mã Pí Lèng, Thẩm Mã Slope is well known for its steep stretch with a series of consecutive hairpin bends on the road from Yên Minh (formerly a township, now a commune of Tuyên Quang province) to Phố Cáo.
Climbing Thẩm Mã Slope requires great care.
Although this stretch is very short, it is the second most difficult slope after Chín Khoanh because of its steep gradient and three extremely dangerous hairpin bends, so you need to be very careful when tackling Thẩm Mã. But once you have made it, the view looking down from the top is beautiful and captivating.
The slope got the name Thẩm Mã ("horse test") because in the old days, local people who wanted to check whether their horse was strong or weak simply had it walk from the foot of the slope to the top; any horse that made it up was surely a strong one.
The beauty of Longquan celadon, one of the most traded treasures on the Silk Road
You don't need to be an expert to judge the value of a piece of Longquan porcelain: its glaze tells you much of what you need to know.
Why is bánh chưng eaten with pickled onions? A fun explanation
The harmonious pairing of tangy pickles and rich, fatty flavors is what makes bánh chưng, Vietnam's Tết sticky rice cake, so appealing.
13 bizarre creatures from Vietnam that amazed the internet
From leaf insects and mouse deer to mossy frogs and mudskippers, Vietnam is home to a surprising array of bizarre creatures.
The world's strangest roads
From a bridge that seems to end in midair to a road that plays music, these bizarre roads around the world draw travelers.
20 Survival Skills for When You're Lost in the Forest
Before exploring forests and mountains, learn these 4 preparation steps and survival skills in case you ever get lost deep in the woods.
Inside the Hanoi center conserving Vietnam's rarest lotus varieties
A center in Hanoi grows, studies and conserves nearly 40 rare lotus varieties from across Vietnam and abroad.
