Top 10 Mountain Passes in Vietnam Worth Riding

Mountain passes are the roads that built Vietnam's reputation as a world-class motorbike touring destination. They are where the riding is at its most thrilling, the scenery at its most dramatic, and the memories at their most lasting — ribbons of asphalt carved into cliff faces, climbing through the clouds and dropping into valleys that take your breath away. Vietnam has dozens of them, but these ten are the legends: the passes serious riders cross the country to conquer. Here they are, from the far north to the central coast, with what makes each one special.

1. Ma Pi Leng Pass (Ha Giang)

The undisputed king. Ma Pi Leng traces sheer cliffs high above the emerald Nho Que River in the deepest canyon in Vietnam. Narrow, exposed and utterly spectacular, it is the highlight of the Ha Giang Loop and, for many, the single greatest stretch of road in the country.

2. O Quy Ho Pass (Sapa / Lai Chau)

The longest pass in Vietnam at around 50 kilometres, linking Sapa with Lai Chau over the shoulder of the Hoang Lien Son range. Known as the "pass of clouds," its summit often sits in mist with glimpses of Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak.

3. Khau Pha Pass (Yen Bai)

One of the great "four passes" of the Northwest, Khau Pha rises above the famous rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai. In harvest season the views over the golden fields are simply unforgettable.

4. Pha Din Pass (Son La / Dien Bien)

A historic highland crossing on the road to Dien Bien Phu, and another of the legendary four passes. Long, winding and steeped in history, it rewards riders with sweeping valley panoramas.

5. Hai Van Pass (Hue / Da Nang)

The most famous pass in central Vietnam, where the mountains meet the sea between Hue and Da Nang. Made world-famous by television, its coastal curves and ocean views are a must-ride on any trip south.

6. Tham Ma Pass (Ha Giang)

The iconic switchbacks of the Ha Giang Loop, cascading down the mountainside in a perfect zig-zag. One of the most photographed roads in Vietnam — see our dedicated guide (slug: tham-ma-pass-ha-giang).

7. Me Pia Pass (Cao Bang)

The Northeast's answer to the famous passes of the west — 14 tight hairpins stacked up a near-vertical slope near Bao Lac. Remote, dramatic and blissfully uncrowded.

8. Thung Khe Pass (Hoa Binh)

The "white rock" pass on the road into the Northwest, named for the pale limestone that litters its slopes. A popular first taste of mountain riding on the way out of Hanoi.

9. Hon Giao Pass (Nha Trang / Da Lat)

Also called the "cloud-hunting pass," Hon Giao links the coast at Nha Trang with the highlands of Da Lat through dense jungle, waterfalls and some of the greenest riding in the south.

10. Tram Ton Pass (Sapa)

The highest mountain pass in Vietnam, crossing beneath Fansipan on the Sapa–Lai Chau road (part of the O Quy Ho route). Cool, misty and magnificent, it marks a dramatic weather divide between the two sides of the mountain.

Linking the legends

The joy of these passes is stringing them together. A Northwest loop can combine O Quy Ho, Khau Pha, Pha Din and Tram Ton in a single trip; a Ha Giang ride delivers Ma Pi Leng and Tham Ma; and a journey down the spine of the country reaches Hai Van and Hon Giao. For the routes that connect them, see our guides to the Northwest (slug: northwest-vietnam-motorbike-tour-stops) and the Ha Giang Loop (slug: ha-giang-loop-guide).