Vietnam Mountain Marathon

Next Race

September 18, 2026

163

days to go

The Vietnam Mountain Marathon is a World Trail Majors race that winds through the terraced rice paddies and remote Hmong villages of the northern Vietnamese highlands near the Chinese border. Starting and finishing in the misty mountain town of Sa Pa, runners navigate steep muddy trails, bamboo bridges, river crossings, and ancient footpaths connecting ethnic minority communities in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range beneath Fansipan — Indochina's highest peak.

ITRA 4 Endurance Points

Est.

2013

Distance

100km / 62mi

Course

Loop

Surface

Mixed Trail

Elev. Gain

4500m

Elev. Loss

4500m

Field Size

~4,000

When

September

Time Limit

28h

THE COURSE

Gain

+4500m

Loss

-4500m

MI 0

KM 0

Sa Pa Town Start

Runners depart from the bustling market town of Sa Pa at 1,500 meters elevation, surrounded by swirling clouds and the dramatic peaks of the Hoang Lien Son range. The famous stone church and lively night market provide a festive pre-race atmosphere.

ELEV: 1500ft

MI 10

KM 16

Terraced Rice Paddies of Muong Hoa

The descent into the Muong Hoa Valley reveals one of Vietnam's most iconic landscapes — cascading terraced rice paddies carved into steep mountainsides over centuries by Hmong and Dao communities. Runners navigate narrow paddy walls and slippery clay trails.

ELEV: 900ft

MI 25

KM 40

Ta Van & Hmong Village Trails

The course passes through traditional Hmong and Giay minority villages including Ta Van, where runners cross bamboo bridges and follow ancient trading paths between remote communities. Village children and elders offer encouragement from their doorsteps.

ELEV: 700ft

MI 40

KM 65

Tram Ton Pass

The brutal climb to Tram Ton Pass — Vietnam's highest road pass at 1,900 meters — tests runners with steep, technical ascents through bamboo forests and cloud forest. The exposed ridgeline offers views of Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak at 3,143 meters.

ELEV: 1900ft

MI 60

KM 97

Cat Cat Waterfall & Sa Pa Finish

The final section descends past the thundering Cat Cat waterfall through the eponymous Cat Cat village before climbing back into Sa Pa. Runners are cheered home by locals and fellow competitors in the town square finish.

ELEV: 1500ft