O Quy Ho Pass

O Quy Ho climbs from Sapa over the Hoang Lien Son range to Lai Chau, running about fifty kilometres from end to end and topping out near 2,000 metres, which makes it the longest pass road in Vietnam and one of the four northern passes riders collect. The eastern side is frequently in cloud coming up from Sapa while the western side is clear, so the summit often has one weather in front and another behind - the reason for the viewpoint platforms at the top. Snow falls here in some winters, which is national news when it happens. The Silver and Love waterfalls are on the Sapa side.

What you actually see

• Usually called Vietnam's longest pass - about fifty kilometres, near 2,000 metres.
• Two weathers at the top - cloud on the Sapa side, clear to the west.
• Viewpoint platforms - built at the summit for that reason.
• Occasional snow - which makes national news.

When to go

September to November and March to May. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Cloud sits on the pass a great deal and the view is often nothing at all. Lorries, landslides and fog make the road genuinely dangerous. Riding it in rain is unwise. The viewpoints charge.

Nearby

Sapa and Fansipan are east; Lai Chau and Tam Duong are west.