The spontaneous backpacking trip lasted 8 days, 905km, through passes that few people mentioned, routes that only veteran backpackers dare to risk. Not Ma Pi Leng or O Quy Ho is famous, National Highway 279 (QL279) is a mental challenge - the path born to measure who is persistent enough, who can only beat the wind on the drinking table.
sweat, road dust and the first slopes
Road wheels from Hoanh Bo (Quang Ninh), where the road begins. At this time, everyone was still full of energy, the first hundred kilometers passed like a walk. But then the first slopes appeared, sweat began to flow on his forehead, and he gradually smiled. The narrow path, a little heat from the body rises, each leg turn is a hard thigh.
The first day of climbing the slope ended with a simple meal on the roadside. The group ate silently, no one complained of fatigue, but their eyes began to be a bit cautious. Everyone understands - the real game is just getting started.
Deo Ben - The gateway to challenges
De Ben connects National Highway 279 with National Highway 1B, from Chi Lang district to Binh Gia, Van Quan and Bac Son districts, Lang Son province
Den Pass is about 5km long, located at an altitude of 500m above sea level. A pass is not too long but challenging enough with continuous curves and small roads, making the spirit dizzy.
In the morning, the fog covered the pass, the wheels kept cutting through the cold steam lane. It was morning, the whole group was stumbling and listening to the sound of wild birds khuzzling, but no one dared to be subjective. The road is still long, and there are real challenges ahead.
Running through Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, the terrain started to get more severe. The steep slopes are unpredictable, the roads that seem to have reached the top open up a new, longer, more cruel slope.
Khau Pass is dangerous
Khau Ra Pass connects Lang Son and Bac Kan, nearly 5km long, about 470m high. Not the highest pass, but it is where the pain begins to seep into the muscles. Some in front trampled and bowed, while others behind tightened their teeth. No one spoke, only a heavy breath and the sound of the line car.
Sometimes looking down at the clock, the speed was only 5-6km/h, slow like a pedestrian. But stopping means not continuing.
Some complained of fatigue, some fell to the handlebars for a few seconds and then struggled to pull the pedal. This is no longer a story of physical strength, but a test of will.
Khau Co Pass - Where only brave people rush in
If there is any pass that has made the whole group dizzy since it was on the map, it is Khau Co Pass.
Located between Lao Cai and Lai Chau, Khau Co stretches up to 30km, with an altitude of about 1,100m. That is the longest, most majestic and also the most fearsome pass on National Highway 279.
The hand-carved curves are connected like a me me me meon, the long slope has no resting place. When you get up, your calves are stiff and your back is tired. Some people can only stand on the pedals, carry their bodies to pull the car up.
The wind reversed direction, with each kumquat burning the skin, but the vehicle still moved little by little as if being pulled back down. At this time, no one cares about speed anymore. There is only one goal: not letting your legs stop.
One of the group bounced around: Where are you going?. No one answered. Everyone understands: this is their own choice.
When reaching the top, when the Northwest region opened majestically before their eyes, no one said anything. There were only distorted smiles from exhaustion.
Tang Quai - The Land of Silence
Tang Quai Pass is 11km long, located at an altitude of 900m above sea level, connecting Tuan Giao town to Dien Bien Phu city. A pass with a funny name, but not at all comfortable on the main road of National Highway 279.
After all the fierce passes, everyone thought it would be a break, but Tang Quai Pass was a tease-off deception. Not steep, not crooked, but it brings something more frightening: absolute silence.
No wind, no noise of vehicles, no sound other than the sound of wheels pointing onto the road. This silence makes people depressed. It doesn't wear down like Khau Co, but it worsens the spirit, making each pedal turn meaningless.
Some people start playing an old song, some people talk just to fill the void. But everyone understands: we must continue, even though the road ahead is nothing but a quiet sky.
905km and things that cannot be named
Dien Bien Phu appeared after 8 days. 905km, none of the group were intact. His legs were swollen, his hands were stiff because of the prolonged tightening of thunder, his face was as shiny as if he were in the fields.
There are moments when I feel like giving up, but then I keep going. There are times when I don't know what I'm doing, but the wheels still roll.
Those who enter this journey are not to show off or prove anything to anyone. They go only to challenge themselves - to know what the limits are, and whether they can overcome it or not.
National Highway 279 - the path of the dangerous. A journey not for the weak. And what has been gone through, perhaps for the whole life, cannot be forgotten.
