Tham Ma Pass in Ha Giang

Tham Ma pass is a rugged part of Highway 4C that tourists will go through on the way from Ha Giang to Dong Van. The mountain pass is about 5 km long at an altitude of 1500 meters and has a sharp zigzagging road. The pass is located 10 km from Yen Minh between the villages of Lung Thau and Van Chai.

The Tham Ma pass is an iconic s-shaped mountain pass in the mountain region of Ha Giang. It is part of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark and one of the most impressive mountain passes in Vietnam.

Famous for its 9 tight curves, Tham Ma certainly has more twists and turns than your life!. It is a dream for riders all over the world. It looks like a python sleeping under the fog blanket. Tham Ma slope is easier to deal with on sunny days but it looks even more mysterious and beguiling without the sunshine. It should be fine for even amateur scooter riders if they ride slowly and attentively. Good front lights and horns will come in handy on foggy days.

Make sure you bring a flycam to capture the whole view from above. You might take pictures of the local children to add unique touches of mountain life to your photos. Tham Ma pass would thrill any adventurous riders and enchant photographers.

Along this pass there are many interesting geosites, of impressive cliffs and rocks. The Hmong hill tribe, an ethnic minority, have completely adapted to the area. Because it is a rocky area, they know how to optimally use the small amount of soil for agriculture, such as corn, beans and other crops. The stones are used for certain tools and for the houses and they only have livestock suitable for this climate.

There is a good vantage point at the top of the pass where you can take pictures of the winding s-shaped road up. Children of ethnic minorities often walk around here with flowers.

In the past the Tham Ma Pass used by the locals to test their horses. They took their horses up the mountain pass with heavy loads to measure how strong their horses are. If a horse reaches the top of the stride and looks good, they will keep that horse. Otherwise, the horse is slaughtered for Thang Co, a special dish that you can find at every farmer’s market in Ha Giang; it is not recommended to try it.

How do you get there?

The Tham Ma Pass is located between Yen Minh and Dong Van. The most beautiful and exciting way to see this mountain pass is by motorcycle; drive yourself or go on the back of a motorbike of an Easyrider. You can also do the Ha Giang loop by car or minibus, stopping at different viewpoints.

Best time to travel

You can visit Tham Ma Pass all year round, however if you have the space, try to plan this pass when it is not raining or foggy. Because you are very high, it often happens that this mountain pass is completely covered in clouds, so you have no view. In the winter months from December to February it can be very cold. In the summer months you have more chance of rain. The best time to travel is often during the autumn and spring.