While the scariest mountain passes in Vietnam is something intimidating to people who must ply the route for their daily transportation, the travelholics fond of exploring and facing challenges never want to lose out on the chance to know how really dangerous they are. The list here will include Ma Pi Leng Pass, Bac Sum Pass, Pha Din Pass, O Quy Ho Pass, Hai Van Pass, and Sa Mu Pass. Although moving along the roads is frightening, it will pay off because you can peer down at the splendid natural scenery that is not found anywhere else.
Ma Pi Leng Pass – Ha Giang Province
Ma Pi Leng in the language of ethnic people in Vietnam implies danger of the pass on the mountainside which the strongest horses (Ma) also find it difficult to run through. The pass with steep inclines and twisting roads seemingly challenges any driver no matter how excellent their driving skill is; hence, it is not for those who always put safety first. Dubbed the king of passes in Vietnam, Ma Pi Leng, despite being dangerous, gives enthralling and mighty landscapes. The people who succeed in conquering such a challenge deserve to admire the best of natural scenery of the world.
Bac Sum Pass – Ha Giang Province
Just like common kinds of scary mountain pass, major hurdles during the trip on Bac Sum Pass are hairpin bends and long steep inclines, looking like a series of zigzags. A backdrop en route is a phenomenal perspective of green mountains one behind the others, deep valleys, and white clouds naturally put in a harmonious order.
Pha Din Pass
Positioned at the altitude of 1,648 meters above sea level is Pha Din Pass along the border of Son La and Lai Chau Provinces. What makes the pass scary is that it is quite rugged while one side is the abyss and the other is a sheer cliff face. The stretch of the road to the mountain summit is asphalted and has many twisting turns just enough for only one four-wheel vehicle passing. It seems likely that just one little mistake of the driver can make the car go tumbling down the deadly drops at one side.
O Quy Ho Pass
Labeled as “Northwest King Pass”, O Quy Ho stretching for more than 50 kilometers is indeed a challenge for the people loving adventure travel. The pass is constructed to have sheer drops at one side and steep cliffs at the other, but one thing you will be surprised at is that before the road was asphalted and well upgraded, it had been scarier and home to stories which were so horrible that there was nobody enough confident to go through. Nevertheless, nowadays the route is easier to go and you can admire breathtaking mountainous landscapes like the prospect in heaven.
Hai Van Pass
As the frontier of Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue Provinces, this 24-kilometer pass depicted as a series of zigzags really challenges bikers who love exploring scary roads. The pass is asphalted, but the bends are dangerous since each is a 15 per cent uphill slope. Another hurdle during the pass is the condition of heavy fogs in the early morning, so if you would like to gain a clear view and experience a safer drive, it is better to avoid this time.
Sa Mu Pass
Starting from Khe Sanh Town and driving 35 kilometers along Ho Chi Minh Trail to Quang Binh Province, you will hit the foot of Sa Mu Pass – one of the scariest passes in the Middle. It is at the altitude of 1,4000 meters above sea level and next to the border of Vietnam and Laos. The pass is the place of steep cliffs, sheer drops, and dangerous bends, challenging any driver to go through.
