Organised since 2013, Vietnam Mountain Marathon is the result of a deep love of trail running and the hills of Sapa. We have grown to become one of the most prestigious trail races in Asia, warmly welcoming over 4,000 runners from up to 50 countries.
Centred around Sapa, our race takes runners high into beautiful mountains, through bamboo forests and deep into rice terraced valleys where water buffalo roam.
The course passes through many small villages of various ethnic groups who welcome runners with smiles and waves.
Prepare for an extraordinary trail and cultural adventure!
Trail Trips is all about you enjoying your trail racing experience. We take the stress out of travelling to amazing events around the world by ensuring you have accommodation, transfers and all the little things taken care of so you can focus on your race and any fun that you want have around that!
So whether that's a pick up from the finish line in the dead of night or just knowing where to find good coffee, Trail Trips are your destination race experts.
And even if you start the tour solo, we guarantee you're going home with new friends. Sharing knowledge, experiences, fun and trail time with likeminded souls! Leaving with your trail tribe strengthened is just another fringe benefit when you choose to travel with Trail Trips! We look forward to welcoming you to the Trail Tribe family!
The run starts with knock out views of Sapa’s Muong Hoa valley, before passing through the ethnic Hmong area of Su Pan.
A single-track trail then climbs up the famed Mount Silverstone. When you reach the top, you’ll meet our flute players who will soundtrack your achievement of conquering the highest point on your course. We’ll also have photographers here to capture you against the awesome mountain backdrop!
From here, you will run downhill to a Red Dao village, then turn right onto a new section of single-track trail which winds through beautiful forest on the way to another small ethnic village.
You’ll emerge from the trail just a few hundred meters from the iconic VMM finish gate. The final stretch from here offers more incredible views of Sapa’s terraced rice fields. You’ll now be able to hear the finish line MC… and soon it will be your name they call.
After you cross the finish line, it’s time to soak up the friendly trail festival vibes and the mountain views all around you. Enjoy a well-earned finisher meal and be sure to head for the ultimate recovery session in one of two mountain top infinity pools or the jacuzzi!
The race starts in Sapa town and heads directly up Ham Rong Mountain. As you climb higher on the single track trail, you will get great views of Sapa town below and the surrounding mountains to the east.
Next, single track trails lead along the mountainside with expansive views of the Muong Hoa valley, with its majestic rice terraces and many ethnic villages.
After a small climb, the majority of the next section is descending, with around 550m of elevation loss bringing you down to a checkpoint in the Hmong ethnic village of Hoa Su Pan.
You will then run through a series of small Hmong villages and past rice terraces where water buffalo roam. A beautiful forest trail section then ascends the infamous Mount Silverstone climb.
When you emerge from the forest at the top, yet another incredible vista opens up, with stunning views from the small mountain top village of Lech Mong. Our local flute players here add some extra magic to your experience.
A long runnable downhill, then a final flat section brings you to one of the most beautiful, friendly finish line parties in the world, at the hilltop Topas Ecolodge.
People hang out here long after they finish to enjoy music, free finisher food and beer, and maybe a well earned dip on one of the two mountaintop infinity pools!
Welcome to our tough, but spectacularly beautiful and rewarding 50km ultra trail. With 2,800m of gain, this is a race for those who truly love the mountains.
The course starts in the middle of Sapa where you can expect a huge atmosphere.
The race kicks off with a short, flat section to Sapa’s lake. You then climb out of town, before dropping down into the hidden valley of Suoi Ho. Despite its proximity to Sapa, very few people ever venture to this beautiful, rugged area of steep rice terraces and Hmong minority villages, CP M1.
You will then begin a long climb, much of it on single track trail, up to the summit of Cow Mountain (Nui Bo) at 2,300m.
The views get better and better the higher you go. This is an alternative route onto the Cow Mountain peak, differing from that used for pre-2023 races.
As you gain altitude, you will pass through a great variety of landscapes, including pine forests and grass fields.
On a clear day at the top, you will have stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including Mount Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak. For us, this is one of the most jaw dropping vistas of the course and indeed, all of Vietnam.
If you have good legs, the following descent is a sheer joy, especially in the dry; in the wet however, it can be challenging. In the dry, much of it is runnable and the views are incredible. You’ll finish your downhill in Ta Phin village at CP4. From here, the character of the course changes again, with a riverside trail section, then some forest on your way to CP5.
The trail from CP5 (31 Bridge) takes you through Sau Chua village on great quality, but very challenging trail with some seriously steep uphill. On a clear day, the views here will help take the edge off the challenge, we promise!
This is an extremely hard ultra-trail marathon covering all types of landscapes of the Sapa mountain range. Please refer to the elevation chart and cut offs before signing up.
The 70km route begins in Sapa town center. Your route starts with a climb up to Ham Rong mountain above Sapa, before a rolling downhill to CP M2 in the village of Hang Da. The next section descends from the mountain to the bottom of the valley at Lao Chai for CP1.
The climb from CP1 – CP2 is updated, extending it higher up the mountainside. You will pass some remote Hmong villages with panoramic views of the valley.
You will run past rivers, farms and many villages of different ethnic groups.
This is a seriously tough ultra marathon that covers every type of terrain the area has to offer. You need to be an experienced, capable mountain runner to complete this course within the Cut Off Times (COT) – please do refer to the COT before you sign up.
The race begins in Sapa town. This means you can expect crowds to be cheering you at the start line before you run into the night.
The route then continues over Ham Rong Mountain. After CP M2 a new route will bring you along the mountain side with stunning views of the Muong Hoa valley.
You will then climb up a single track route toward Mount Silverstone. This is an alternative to the usual VMM route up to the peak. After Silverstone, the route continues to the next valley of Ban Moi (CP M4), home of the Red Dao people. After crossing this valley, you will race to the checkpoint at Topas Ecolodge.
You will then face the climb back up to Topas Ecolodge Checkpoint.
After a road run section, you will descend steeply down into the valley where you will find a Water Station.
Across the river you will face a very steep climb then onto a traverse to the Red Dao ethnic village of Giang Ta Chai. A stunning rice terrace section will then bring you to CP1 at Lao Chai village.
The climb from CP1 – CP2 is updated, extending it higher up the mountainside. You will pass some remote Hmong villages with panoramic views of the valley.
After CP3 at O Quy Ho you head onto many runners’ favourite part of our course – Cow Mountain (Núi Bò). After an initial climb through farmland, you will emerge onto the rugged ridge line, with single track trail taking you to the peak.
On a clear day at the top, you will have stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including Mount Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest summit. For us, this is one of the most jaw dropping vistas of the course and indeed, all of Vietnam.
If you have good legs, the following descent is a sheer joy, especially in the dry; in the wet however, it can be challenging. In the dry, much of it is runnable and the views are incredible. You’ll finish your downhill in Ta Phin village at CP4. From here, the character of the course changes again, with a riverside trail section, then some forest on your way to CP5.
The trail from CP5 (31 Bridge) takes you through Sau Chua village on great quality, but very challenging trail with some seriously steep uphill. On a clear day, the views here will help take the edge off the challenge, we promise!
From CP6 you will enjoy a net downhill to CP7. You’ll run through lots of small villages as well as some bamboo forest sections.
After CP7 comes the infamous Mount Silverstone climb on steep trail. Your reward at the top is another great view.
From here it’s time for the final section to the finish line and the famous welcome at Topas Ecolodge. Here you can relax and enjoy the feeling of triumph together with your fellow mountain runners.
Topas Ecolodge is a boutique resort situated atop a beautiful hillside deep in the mountains of Hoang Lien National Park, just 45 minutes outside Sapa in Northern Vietnam.
Nominated as one of the best places to stay if you care about the Earth, Topas Ecolodge provides the perfect setting to indulge in guilt-free modern convenience all while protecting the surrounding environment and local cultures.
Our 50 rustic mountain bungalows and villas are designed out of local white granite in a minimalistic chalet-style, providing you with all comforts while letting the main attraction, the magnificent and raw natural beauty of Vietnam, take center stage.
Whether you’re enjoying the view from your private balcony or using us as the perfect base to explore the surrounding areas by foot or bike, Topas Ecolodge is the only place to go in Sapa for those who want the utmost in exclusivity as well as the finest mountains views in all of Vietnam.
Sapa, Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam
