VJM 25KM Trail Run
IMPORTANT: Read the RACE RULES HERE.
Distance: 25.1km
Elevation gain: 530m
Start time: 07:00, Saturday, 18-10-2025
Start and Finish location: VJM Race Village, Lang Leo, next to Ban Don (where much of Pu Luong’s accommodation is)
CUT OFF TIMES: 13:00 at CP7 – 15:30 at CP8 – 20:00 at the FINISH
Age Restriction: Open to experienced runners at least 18 years old on race day
Course description
With a convenient start and finish location right in the heart of our VJM race village, just a few hours from Hanoi, this stunning route offers a high percentage of runnable trail through much of Pu Luong Nature Reserve’s most breathtaking scenery.
From the start line, a fast downhill through beautiful rice terraces leads to the first climb. The cooling shade of the lush jungle canopy together with the sounds of nature and a fairly gentle gradient make this a beautiful uphill section.
Over the top of the climb, you’ll be rewarded with an awesome downhill through the forest. Breaks in the trees offer magical views of a broad rice valley, surrounded by lofty, deep green mountains and dotted with picturesque villages. This section is dreamlike territory for trail lovers.
Next, you’ll run a flatter section through an ethnic village, before the route turns off the small road and onto a long, verdant green trail.
Entering an expansive rice valley, your first checkpoint awaits. A small village path then leads to a scenic riverside trail, featuring a bamboo bridge crossing, followed by more single track and a deep river valley leading to the next checkpoint.
The landscape then changes again, with flatter, runnable trail past old wooden waterwheels. You will hear them creak as they turn slowly in the river, feeding water into bamboo channels which flow into the vibrant rice paddies.
After crossing the valley through a series of small villages, you will pass through the final checkpoint. The trail then ascends the last climb through dense, lush jungle. Under the shade of the tropical trees, this uphill is the longest of the course.
At the top, the trail leads into one of the area’s most expansive rice terrace landscapes. The route guides you through this jaw-dropping scenery, and near the finish line, you will cross a beautiful bamboo bridge specially built for race day.
Back in our race village, you can enjoy music and the delicious finisher buffet feast that VJM has become famous for.
FINISH BAG
You may hand in 1 bag at the start.
Please prepare your own bag.
Bags must be sealed/closed. Please do not include valuables – the organiser cannot be held responsible for any loss.
Attach your luggage tag (given at the race pack collection) to your finish bag before bringing it to the start line bag hand in.
You can then pick up your bag at the same place when you finish.
AGE GROUP AWARDS
Age categories are: Under 30; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70+
The overall top 3 are excluded from the age group awards.
When you finish, you can check your age group ranking on the results page.
Top 3 male/female runners can collect their trophies at a special Age Group Trophy Collection booth at the finish area: Ban Hang Race Village (Saturday). We cannot ship trophies to those who do not come and collect them during this time slot.
Age group runners receive trophies only.
MANDATORY EQUIPMENT
Top 3 VJM Runners will have mandatory kit inspections.
Other kit inspections are carried out at random, including at the start line.
Lack of mandatory kit will result in disqualification (DSQ).
Refusal of kit check = DSQ
Please note we disqualified runners at every event in the past year for lacking kit. Be prepared and carry what you need.
VJM 25km is a 1-point qualifying race for ITRA, an ITRA National League race, and a 20K UTMB Index race.