Explore Hoa Binh's White Stone Pass: Where It Looks Like Snow All Year Long!

Discovering Da Trang Pass (Thung Khe Pass) in Hoa Binh – A breathtaking check-in spot on National Highway 6 that remarkably resembles a snow-capped European peak. Your guide to motorbike adventures, stunning viewpoints, and savoring the pass market's local delicacies.
Da Trang Pass, Hoa Binh – Discover the 'Miniature Nordic Snow Mountain' in the Heart of the Northwest
Youth is always synonymous with travel. While their legs are still strong, young people are eager to venture far and explore new lands. Da Trang Pass is a tourist destination boasting natural scenery as beautiful as the snow-capped mountains of Europe, right here in Vietnam's Northwest region.
Da Trang Pass is located on National Highway 6, connecting Mai Chau and Tan Lac districts in Hoa Binh province, near Thung Khe roadside market. It's approximately 120km northwest of Hanoi. During peak travel season, many tourists often stop here to take photos and admire the majestic beauty of Da Trang Pass before continuing to popular resorts in Mai Chau and Moc Chau.
Mai Chau is less than 30km from the pass, and spending about an hour enjoying the scenery and taking photos here makes Da Trang Pass a logical stop on a longer journey. Every day, hundreds of travelers passing through National Highway 6 pause at this pass to rest and take in the magnificent mountain views.

Da Trang Pass is located on National Highway 6, connecting Mai Chau and Tan Lac districts in Hoa Binh province.
The name 'Da Trang Pass' (White Stone Pass) originated many years ago when the mountains were cut through to build the national highway, aiming to improve infrastructure, serve social welfare, and boost the local economy and tourism. Locals used cranes to carve into the mountains, revealing vast expanses of brilliant white limestone. From a distance, these white patches stand out even more against the deep green of the surrounding forests. To this day, these limestone sections retain their original color, despite enduring countless seasons of sun and rain. The white hues, appearing and disappearing through the mist, with sunlight filtering through layers of clouds and illuminating the limestone dust, create a majestic and impressive natural landscape that captivates many visitors.
Da Trang Pass stands at an elevation of over 1,000m above sea level. From the summit, visitors can gaze out at the endless, overlapping mountain ranges. Below the pass, the Mai Chau hills unfold into a lush green valley, dotted with stilt houses, ripening rice fields, and winding streams – all part of the Buoi Cai community tourism area in Phu Cuong commune, nestled at the foot of the pass.

A unique aspect of Da Trang Pass is that visitors can experience all four seasons in a single day.
A unique aspect of Da Trang Pass is that visitors can experience all four seasons in a single day. Mornings are pleasantly cool. Midday brings a deep blue sky and bright sunshine, yet a refreshing breeze keeps it comfortable, making it the perfect time for expansive views. In the afternoon, the sun's intensity lessens. By late afternoon and early evening, it becomes quite chilly as mist blankets the area. At night, fog can significantly reduce visibility, so vehicles must proceed with extreme caution, especially drivers unfamiliar with the winding mountain roads of the Northwest.
Pham Hong Thai, a visitor from Hanoi, shared: 'That day, our group arrived at the pass around midday. The atmosphere here was incredibly fresh and clean. The clear blue sky combined with the majestic, European-like snowy mountain scenery left everyone in our group in awe. It was truly beautiful and impressive. We took many interesting photos here.'

Da Trang Pass stands at an elevation of over 1,000m above sea level. From the summit, visitors can gaze out at the endless, overlapping mountain ranges.
While not as treacherous and perilous as Ma Pi Leng Pass or Khau Pha Pass, the terrain at Da Trang Pass features obstructed views and relatively winding, challenging roads, making a safe journey here an adventure for exploration enthusiasts. Along the way, travelers will navigate winding mountain passes and peaceful villages where locals reside before reaching Da Trang Pass. Despite the difficult journey, once you arrive, you'll feel that all your efforts were well worth it, not only for the stunning scenery but also for the chance to savor delicious, fresh local dishes prepared by the villagers right at the foot of the pass.
With its European-like snowy mountain scenery, Da Trang Pass is a popular check-in spot that many young travelers recommend visiting when in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh province. Visitors stopping here will feel as if they are standing in a magnificent, icy polar landscape. Many tourists often choose to visit Da Trang Pass between May and July, combining it with a trip to the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant during its flood discharge period. Alternatively, many young people opt to visit Da Trang Pass in conjunction with attending the Chua Tien Festival (Lac Thuy – Hoa Binh), which takes place annually from the 4th to the 6th day of the first lunar month, to experience the local culture and visit attractions like the Mai Chau flagpole and the villages of the Thai and Hmong people.

A small tip for visiting high-altitude mountain destinations, where the climate can be a bit chilly and humid, is to bring warm clothing to stay comfortable.
Nguyen Hoang Nam, an experienced backpacker who has led tours in Hoa Binh, shared: 'Da Trang Pass is an interesting check-in spot that many young people choose to visit by motorbike. However, this route has many steep sections and sudden turns, so it's best for experienced riders who are comfortable with mountain roads. Additionally, you should avoid visiting between July and September, as it's the rainy season and National Highway 6 can experience dangerous landslides. The best times to visit Da Trang Pass are during summer and spring.'
At the foot of the pass, to cater to tourists, locals have set up a small market selling regional specialties. This market is situated on a wide ledge, extending slightly towards the cliff, featuring small palm-roofed stalls with wooden tables and chairs. Dishes visitors can try here include 'com lam' (bamboo-tube rice), grilled corn, boiled sweet potatoes, grilled eggs, smoked wild boar, and grilled pork with 'moc mat' leaves, among others.
Locals also sell regional products for tourists to take home as gifts for family and friends, such as forest honey, 'mac khen' seeds, 'doi' seeds, pickled bamboo shoots, purple sugarcane, and pickled bird's eye chilies. Additionally, you can find precious medicinal herbs, various infused liquors with nourishing ingredients like goji berries, 'dinh lang' root, bear bile, and orchid plants that are decades old.

If you find yourself in Hoa Binh province, you should definitely make a stop at Da Trang Pass to admire its majestic yet uniquely distinct mountain scenery, with its interwoven shades of green and white.
Phu Tho 6671 view
Update day : 21/02/2024
Source : Công luận .VN Affiliate links
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