Ma Pi Leng - The king of mountain passes

At an altitude of nearly 1,600m above sea level, Ma Pi Leng peak is known as the “king of the passes”. However, few people know that this place is not only famous for its treacherous roads and breathtaking beauty, but also has many legends associated with blood, bones, will, and the sacredness of the rocks and people.

One of the most poignant stories told about Ma Pi Leng is that of the youth volunteer teams who “clung to rocks to open the road, hung themselves to carve through the mountains.” Due to the perilous terrain, construction machinery was unusable. The young workers had to tie ropes around their bodies, suspend themselves between sheer cliffs, and use drills and explosives to cut through the rock. Every centimeter of the road was paid for with sweat, blood. Locals have since called it “the road of blood and flowers.”

In the Mong language, “Ma Pi Leng” means “horse’s nose” - a name that evokes the image of slopes so steep even horses struggle to breathe. According to legend, long ago, a heavenly horse traversed the mountain carrying medicine to save the villagers. Upon reaching the summit, exhausted, it collapsed; its blood seeped into the rocks, staining the mountain red. Since then, the peak has been called Ma Pi Leng - the place where the horse’s back became the mountain.

Today, Ma Pi Leng is a renowned tourist destination, celebrated for its breathtaking beauty. But behind the grandeur lies a tapestry of legends - stories of courage, faith, and an unyielding desire to conquer the mountains and unite the country. These sacred tales continue to be passed down, so that with every step across this sky-high road, one can still hear the echoes of a time etched in memory.

Hai Yen