Located in the “Four great passes" of the Northwest, Khau Pha Pass (Yen Bai) is also a name chosen by many backpackers as a destination to conquer their limits. Don’t forget to refer to Impress Travel’s article below to have a smooth discovery journey!
Khau Pha pass is a famous pass in Yen Bai province, located on national highway 32. This place is on the border between two districts, Van Chan district and Mu Cang Chai district. The reason the pass is called Khau Pha is because it passes the peak of Khau Pha mountain – the highest mountain in Mu Cang Chai. According to the ethnic language, this mountain peak means “heaven’s horn" (the mountain’s horn rising to the sky). All year round, fog always covers the top of the pass, looking from a distance, it looks like a horn rising in the middle of a sea of clouds.
Some details about Khau Pha pass
Located at an average altitude of about 1200 to 1500m above sea level, during the journey to conquer Khau Pha pass, you will admire the majestic mountain scenery and see a miniature Mu Cang Chai from above.
Khau Pha, with a length of 30 km, is known as one of the “four great passes," one of the most winding and steep roads in Vietnam, so it is easy to understand why it still attracts backpackers from all over to conquer, especially photography enthusiasts who want to record magnificent and breathtaking landscapes.
Khau Pha pass is beautiful in every season, visitors can even feel the beauty of 4 seasons in one day at Khau Pha.
Spring (March – May): Spring is the time when natural scenery becomes the freshest and most lively. Flowers bloom on the green steppes, creating a colorful and very interesting picture for those who love natural beauty.
Summer (June – August): Summer often brings cool and pleasant air, making it an ideal time to participate in outdoor activities. The lush green landscape of the mountains and sparkling waterfalls will make your trip interesting and memorable.
Fall (September – November): Fall brings pleasant air, cool breezes, and clear skies, creating ideal conditions for exploration. The scene of the leaves turning red and yellow creates an enchanting, romantic picture.
Ripe rice season around September to October
Winter (December – February): Winter can get quite cold and windy, but it also brings its own special beauty. This will be a great opportunity to experience an impressive winter landscape painting.
Khau Pha pass has distinct beauty in each season of the year, creating different experiences for visitors. However, Khau Pha pass’s most beautiful time is during the ripe rice season, around September to October every year. Coming to Khau Pha pass this season, you will see the shiny golden rice fields, feel the beauty of color and fragrance, along with the green of the Northwest mountains and forests, creating a wonderful picture!
At Khau Pha pass, there are many interesting and unique activities that visitors can experience to explore the beauty of the Northwest mountains of Vietnam. Here are some activities you should try when you come here:
If it has arrived at Yen Bai tourism, take the time to explore the most dangerous road in the Northwest – something that every backpacker seems to experience at least once. Although it is only 30 km, it is a place where you can fully admire the beautiful natural scenery, but remember to go at a slow pace, enjoying the scenery as you go. That feeling you will never forget for the rest of your life!
Participate in skydiving activities
For those who love adventure, the extremely exciting experience of skydiving cannot be missed at Khau Pha pass. Currently, super attractive skydiving services are provided here. Even if you have no experience, don’t hesitate to try because there will be a very safe guide accompanying you. But if you are weak in heart and in poor health, consider carefully.
Coming to Yen Bai and not once conquering Mu Cang Chai peak would be a pity. Mu Cang Chai terraced fields were voted as one of the 10 most beautiful terraced fields in the world. This place has more than 700 hectares of terraced fields stretching across the hillsides and valleys, creating a majestic, eye-catching but equally poetic and lyrical natural scene. All are unforgettable experiences on your journey.
Participate in traditional cultural activities such as xoe dancing, folk singing, and experience amateur music by ethnic minorities. This will be a great opportunity to understand more about the history, culture, and traditions of the mountain people.
If you don’t know what to eat at Khau Pha pass, you can refer to a few suggestions below. There will be many delicious, strange, and attractive dishes that you should try at least once:
Grilled wild boar: Pork is made from free-grazing black pigs, so it has a unique, seductive aroma. The meat is cut into pieces, marinated with distinct mountain spices, and then grilled over charcoal. When eaten, dip it with a little salt, and wild vegetables.
Tu Le five-color sticky rice: Sticky rice, made from sticky rice grown in terraced fields, has the characteristics of being fragrant and not as boring to eat as other common types of sticky rice.
Tu Le five-color sticky rice
Roasted crab with salt: Stream crabs live in rock holes, their meat is firm, fragrant, and delicious. It can be processed into many different dishes, but the most delicious is still salt-roasted crab. This dish is very simple to prepare, just roast it with oil, garlic, fried onions, and salt, eat it with a few vegetables, and sip it with a cup of wine, there’s nothing better than it.
Mu Cang Chai sausage: Different from the type of sausage you’ve ever eaten, the sausage here is prepared with a unique recipe. The main ingredients include pork belly, honey, white wine, pepper, etc., marinated with spices to create an irresistible dish.
And yet, in Yen Bai specialties, there are also roasted grasshoppers, salmon and sturgeon, cat apples, Tam Hoa plums, Tu Le nuggets, etc.
On the journey of conquest of Khau Pha pass, you can also visit the following destinations, which are all places with famous nature and beautiful terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai.
Lim Mong village
Lim Mong village is located at the foot of Khau Pha pass, a place with beautiful terraced fields, fresh air, poetic and peaceful nature. Coming here, you will experience the working and living life of the ethnic community here. Looking down from Khau Pha pass, Lim Mong village looks like a picture delicately carved by mother nature.
Tu Le valley, not far from Khau Pha pass, is a viewing spot for terraced fields. Coming here during the ripe rice season, visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the sweet fragrance of the famous Tu Le sticky rice fields from near and far.
Finally, the Thai village is located at the foot of the pass, where there are houses of the Thai ethnic group. Thai village is one of the places with vibrant community activities taking place in Mu Cang Chai. At the same time, the natural scenery, terraced fields, and hospitality of the people here always impress visitors.
Experience conquering Khau Pha pass
Khau Pha pass is not only an attractive destination for nature-loving tourists but also a place that preserves many historical and cultural values of the Vietnamese people. This will be a memorable experience in life, let’s explore and experience the majesty and wilderness of this place on a journey with Impress Travel!
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What’s included in this trip:
What’s excluded in this trip:
3 STAR HOTELS & CRUISES IN VIETNAM SELECTED
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Destination |
Room Type |
HOTEL NAME, ROOM TYPE & WEBSITE |
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Sapa 3 -star Hotels |
Deluxe |
Homestay in Nghia Lo & Mu Cang Chai. Optional to have a preference for a stay in Hotel as your request. |
The hotels and cruise are subject to change to similar category in case of fully booked
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
Truly beautiful and breathtaking scenery from terraced rice fields, mountains, hills and streams, The suitable place for study ethnic people, Amazing experiences for trekking, taking photograph, joying homestay
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