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The Nho Que river in the gorge below Ma Pi Leng

On the Loop

Meo Vac

Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Nho Que River far below.

6 places

Photo: Pham Olivia / Unsplash · Unsplash License

About Meo Vac

The road from Dong Van to Meo Vac crosses Ma Pi Leng Pass, the most famous stretch of the whole trip, with the turquoise Nho Que River in the canyon below. Meo Vac town is a quieter overnight stop and the gateway to the river and the southern way back through Du Gia.

Updated 6 October 2026

Map of the six regions of Ha Giang and the Loop roadMau DueBac Sum PassChieu Lau ThiChin KhoanhDu GiaKhau VaiLo Lo ChaiLung CuLung Khuy CaveLung TamMa Pi Leng PassNam DamPa ViPho BangHeaven GateSung LaTham MaThon ThaTwin MountainsVuong Mansion1Ha Giang Town2Quan Ba3Yen Minh4Dong Van5Meo VacHoang Su Phi & the West
The Loop (1–5: travel order)Off the LoopMap data © OpenStreetMap

Highlights in Meo Vac

Viewpoints & Passes

Sunset over the mountains at Ma Pi Leng Pass

Ma Pi Leng Pass

The most famous stretch of the Ha Giang Loop: a road carved into the cliffs between Dong Van and Meo Vac, high above the turquoise Nho Que River in the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia.

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Ma Pi Leng sky path

A narrow footpath cut along the cliff face below the Ma Pi Leng road, with open drops to the Nho Que canyon. Walk it only in dry, clear weather.

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Villages & Culture

Pa Vi village

A Hmong community-tourism village just below the Ma Pi Leng Pass — a quiet base for riding the pass in the early morning.

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Markets

Khau Vai love market

A once-a-year festival market near Meo Vac, held around the 27th day of the third lunar month — part legend, part reunion, part highland fair.

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The central market building in Meo Vac

Meo Vac weekly market

The weekly Sunday market in Meo Vac town, where Hmong, Lo Lo and other communities from the surrounding highlands come to trade, eat and meet.

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Nature & Hiking

Boats on the green river between steep canyon walls

Nho Que River & Tu San canyon

The turquoise river at the bottom of the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia, reached by a steep side road from Ma Pi Leng Pass.

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Itineraries through Meo Vac

A road winding through a green valley in Ha Giang
4 days

The classic Ha Giang Loop in 4 days

The route most people mean by 'the Loop' — and the one I have ridden more times than I can count. Four days through Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Ma Pi Leng and Meo Vac, returning through the quiet Du Gia valley. Long enough to stop, short enough to keep moving.

~350 km · Moderate · Easy rider (local driver), Car with driver, Self-ride motorbike

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The road towards Dong Van between green mountains
3 days

Ha Giang Loop in 3 days

The Loop’s highlights when you only have three days. It works, but the last day is long — we recommend four days if you can.

~330 km · Challenging · Easy rider (local driver), Car with driver

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The winding road below the Ma Pi Leng ridges
6 days

Slow Ha Giang in 6 days

Our favourite way to see Ha Giang: shorter driving days, a night in the Quan Ba valley, a full day around Dong Van and time to rest in Du Gia.

~380 km · Easy pace · Car with driver, Easy rider (local driver), Self-ride motorbike

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Sunlight streaming into a misty mountain valley near Yen Minh
5 days

Ha Giang by car with kids (5 days)

A gentle car itinerary for families with children or older travellers: short driving days, easy stops and early arrivals.

~360 km · Easy pace · Car with driver

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Local tips

  • Stop only at proper pull-outs on Ma Pi Leng — never on the bends. The pass is busy with trucks and tour groups.