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16/10/2026 13:08 (GMT+07:00)

Vietnam's Tham Ma Pass: The mountain road that once tested horses

With its spectacular hairpin bends, Tham Ma Pass is a highlight of northern Vietnam's Dong Van Karst Plateau. Behind its dramatic scenery lies an old highland tradition that gave the mountain road its unusual name.

W-at12345ưè.jpg — Tham Ma Pass, commonly understood to mean "horse-testing slope," lies at the gateway to the former Dong Van District in Ha Giang, now part of Pho Cao Commune in Tuyen Quang Province.
According to a story passed down by local elders, the name comes from a practice closely tied to the lives of highland communities. When travel was difficult and roads were scarce, horses were an essential means of transporting goods. To test their strength, villagers would load them with cargo and make them climb from the foot of the slope to the summit. Those that managed the ascent were kept for transport and agricultural work.

To reach Tham Ma Pass, travelers follow National Highway 4C, also known as the Happiness Road, from the former center of Ha Giang into the Dong Van Karst Plateau. The pass is about 105 kilometers from the Kilometer Zero landmark in the former Ha Giang City, a journey of more than three hours.

tham ma pass.jpg — Tham Ma Pass, commonly understood to mean "horse-testing slope," lies at the gateway to the former Dong Van District in Ha Giang, now part of Pho Cao Commune in Tuyen Quang Province.
According to a story passed down by local elders, the name comes from a practice closely tied to the lives of highland communities. When travel was difficult and roads were scarce, horses were an essential means of transporting goods. To test their strength, villagers would load them with cargo and make them climb from the foot of the slope to the summit. Those that managed the ascent were kept for transport and agricultural work.

To reach Tham Ma Pass, travelers follow National Highway 4C, also known as the Happiness Road, from the former center of Ha Giang into the Dong Van Karst Plateau. The pass is about 105 kilometers from the Kilometer Zero landmark in the former Ha Giang City, a journey of more than three hours.

W-at12345ưè_24.jpg — The road is known for its succession of sharp hairpin bends winding between rocky mountains and hillsides covered with green cornfields. Seen from above, its sweeping curves trace the mountainside, making it one of the most striking stretches of road on a journey through the Dong Van Karst Plateau.

W-at12345ưè_3.jpg — Tham Ma Pass, like the wider Dong Van Karst Plateau, attracts visitors throughout the year. Each season brings a different character to the landscape, offering its own reasons to explore.

W-at12345ưè_21.jpg — From the top of the pass, visitors can take in sweeping views of overlapping mountain ranges and the winding road below. The summit has become a popular stop for travelers heading from Ha Giang to Dong Van.

https://static-images.vnncdn.net/vps_images_publish/000001/000003/2026/10/13/w-at12345ue-12-2040.jpg — For many, crossing Tham Ma Pass is more than a chance to conquer a famous mountain road. It is also an opportunity to experience a distinctive part of the Dong Van Karst Plateau. Stops near the summit offer time to rest, take photographs and capture memories of the landscape and local people.

https://static-images.vnncdn.net/vps_images_publish/000001/000003/2026/10/13/w-at12345ue-25-2041.jpg — For many, crossing Tham Ma Pass is more than a chance to conquer a famous mountain road. It is also an opportunity to experience a distinctive part of the Dong Van Karst Plateau. Stops near the summit offer time to rest, take photographs and capture memories of the landscape and local people.

W-at12345ưè_27.jpg — One of the most memorable sights at the summit is the photo spot where local children appear with baskets and wreaths of buckwheat flowers and mustard blossoms, adding a colorful touch to the mountain setting.

https://static-images.vnncdn.net/vps_images_publish/000001/000003/2026/10/13/w-at12345ue-5-2045.jpg — On days when the weather is favorable, the summit becomes a lively gathering place. Visitors often linger to enjoy the highland atmosphere, chat with one another and take photographs against the backdrop of the winding road.

https://static-images.vnncdn.net/vps_images_publish/000001/000003/2026/10/13/w-at12345ue-14-2046.jpg — On days when the weather is favorable, the summit becomes a lively gathering place. Visitors often linger to enjoy the highland atmosphere, chat with one another and take photographs against the backdrop of the winding road.

https://static-images.vnncdn.net/vps_images_publish/000001/000003/2026/10/13/w-at12345ue-13-2048.jpg

https://static-images.vnncdn.net/vps_images_publish/000001/000003/2026/10/13/w-at12345ue-1-2049.jpg

W-at12345ưè_15.jpg — In recent years, Tham Ma Pass has remained a highlight of journeys across the Dong Van Karst Plateau. Vehicles make their way through its bends as travelers stop to take photographs, rest and continue their journeys, bringing a lively rhythm to a mountain road long associated with the history and everyday lives of highland communities.

Vu Mung

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