Khau Pha Pass – The Best Place for Paragliding in Vietnam

Khau Pha Pass is a scenic mountain pass in the northwest of Vietnam, offering the rugged terrain as the highest peak of Mu Cang Chai area. This place has been ranked highly as the best place to do paragliding in Vietnam, and it is worth the high ranking for sure. The Paragliding Festival 2017 did kick off at this Pass.

The Best of Khau Pha Pass (the Heaven’s Gate)

Khau Pha Pass belongs to Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province, Vietnam. This is the most well-known paragliding destination in Vietnam, situated on the National Highway 32 on the route to Mu Cang Chai area. The Pass is around 1,200 meters above the sea level and has the length of over 30km. On an annual basis, from September to October, the domestic and international pilots are likely to gather at this Pass to perform the skillful paragliding and enjoy the majestic view of the yellow terraced rice fields during the harvest season. Every year, the festival named “Fly on the Golden Season” is held there by VietWings Hanoi Group, which attracts the pilots all over the world to share the sky via the exciting paragliding activities and competitions.

Khau Pha Pass is also a must-stop in the photo tour to the North of Vietnam

This destination owns the highlights of the panoramic view from the Pass which enchants the photographers, pilots, and nature lovers who altogether assemble to cherish the extensively dramatic yellow scenes of the terraced rice fields. The valuable terraces are the results of the hard-working ethnic farmers of Hmong and Thai groups who spend years and efforts to establish such the wonderful masterpieces. Also, the natural surroundings of mountains, pine forests, and underground rivers make up the perfect pictures of Nature. In some moments, the top of the Pass is engulfed by the thick fog, looking so heavenly for sightseeing that can mesmerize the audiences standing on almost every angle. Of course, paragliding provides the greatest panorama of the terraced rice paddies in the Khau Pha and Mu Cang Chai areas.

Paragliding Festival in Khau Pha Pass 2017

On May 13, 2017, the paragliding festival was held up at Khau Pha Pass of Mu Cang Chai District, attracting more than 100 paragliders from the domestic and foreign areas. This festival was a part of the Lao Cai – Northwest National Tourism 2017 and co-organized by the Mu Cang Chai People’s Committee and the Hanoi VietWings Club.

The event did happen successfully in which all of the paragliders enjoyed the breathtaking panorama of the heavenly terraced rice paddies carpeted in yellow. More interestingly, the paragliding event in Khau Pha 2017 also gave donations to the local ethnic groups who suffered much from the storm and flooding disasters. The Khau Pha Paragliding Festival 2017 was dedicated to honoring the values of the terraced rice paddies and the ethnic culture. According to the paragliders, the bird-eye view of the golden fields is peerless and incomparable. The extensive fields amidst the mountains, pine forests, rivers, and ethnic houses provide the perfect sightseeing experiences. The moments when the festival was kicked off, the audiences all enjoyed the colorful kites on the blue sky. The skillful movements of the paragliders made the event highly professional.

Khau Pha Pass – The most well-known paragliding destination in Vietnam

All in all, Khau Pha is one of the four best passes in the north of Vietnam (together with O Quy Ho, Ma Pi Leng, and Pa Din), and the not-to-miss destination for the backpackers and holidaymakers who want to travel to Mu Cang Chai. For the pilots, this Pass is the most impressive site for paragliding in Vietnam thanks to the grandeur and beauty of the mountains, forests, and terraced rice fields. Also, the advantageous weather and fresh air stimulate people to fly over the Pass as well as the Mu Cang Chai Terraced Rice Fields.