The disclosure relates to a method for transmitting a message in a Hierarchical Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (H-L2VPN). A destination MAC address, to which a message is to be forwarded upon receiving the message, is determined by a first peer node of the network. The first peer node determines whether one or more equivalent pseudo wires (PWs) connected thereto form a path to the destination MAC address. When it is determined that more than one equivalent PW forms a path to the destination MAC address, an arbitrary equivalent PW is selected from the more than one equivalent PW by the first peer node. The first peer node sends the message, via the selected equivalent PW, to a second peer node of the network connected to the selected equivalent PW for forwarding to the destination MAC address.