The VJM 50K - Ultra Marathon
Distance: 50km | +1,800m gain
START TIME: 5:00AM, Saturday, 21-10-2023
START LOCATION:Bản Leo’s football field (next to bản Đôn, Thanh Lam Commune, Ba Thuoc District) – Google maps
(Our crew will be on hand to advise independent drivers at the start area)
CUT-OFF: 03:30PM at CP5 – 05:30PM at CP6 – 08:00PM at CP7 – 09:30PM at CP8 – 11:59PM at FINISH
FINISH: Ban Hang Race Village (Quan Hoa District) – Google maps
MANDATORY EQUIPEMENT: check HERE for details
QUALIFICATION: Open to experienced runners at least 18 years old on race day. To run VJM 50km, it is highly recommended you have previously completed a full marathon mountain race.
Course description
Our 50km offers an ultra distance route of extreme beauty.
The start area is in beautiful Ban Don village. Runners will first enjoy a loop around the ethnic minority houses here, before heading into great single track trail.
A short jungle section will then lead you to another great descent down to the broad valley dotted with villages.
Once down in the valley floor you will run among paddies and on mixed, runnable paths with amazing views all around.
You will then reach a pretty river crossing and head onto another runnable trail section alongside the river. As the trail rolls with small climbs you will get some more great views, this time of the river valley.
Next, you will race through tiny villages and past waterwheels to the picturesque village of Ban Hieu.
This fairytale settlement features traditional stilt houses which dot the hillside and a turquoise river with rapids and waterfalls which cascades down to the valley floor.
After reaching the top of the climb here, you will enjoy sweeping views of the valley before descending back down and running through a broad rice-filled valley which will hopefully be a magical gold colour during this season.
Along this section you will run through more small ethnic minority villages, crossing the front yards of some houses!
After a climb into the Nature Reserve, you will face a tough jungle section with some narrow, technical trail and a very steep climb we like to call ‘The Spike’, but locally it is called ‘Doc Quyt’.
You will then be rewarded with an utterly spectacular view of a valley ringed with incredibly steep, jungled limestone mountains. This is a big highlight of the course.
During October, the colours of the rice fields are at their very best, so the knockout views of vibrant rice paddies and jungle-clad mountains will make all but the most fiercely competitive stop for a photo opportunity!
Once down in the valley a flat section of beautiful trail leads through the picturesque village of Kho Muong, from where you will face a long final climb before a short hilly tarmac section with yet more awesome views.
After descending back down into the Nature Reserve on ‘wonder trails’, you will reach another small settlement and from here you are on the finishing stretch of trail through a breathtaking valley.
After crossing some bamboo and wood bridges, you will be on the home run to the Ban Hang Race Village where a well deserved meal and the finish party await.
Choose your race distance
| RACE DISTANCE | STANDARD FEE | Combo Entry + Ban Hang Package |
|---|---|---|
| CỰ LY | Phí tiêu chuẩn | Combo vé chạy + gói Bản Hang 3 ngày |
| 10km | VND 1,550,000 (~USD 69) | VND 4,800,000 (~USD 208) |
| 25km | VND 2,950,000 (~USD 129) | VND 6,200,000 (~USD 268) |
| 50km Ultra | VND 3,650,000 (~USD 159) | VND 6,900,000 (~USD 298) |
| 70km Ultra | VND 3,900,000 (~USD 169) | VND 7,150,000 (~USD 308) |
| **Group Registration Discount | Ưu đãi đăng ký nhóm | ||
| 10-49 runners | 10-49 người | 5% | 5% on entry fee only |
| 50+ runners | Từ 50 người trở lên | 10% | 5% on entry fee only |
VJM 50km is a VTS Challenge Point race, 2-point qualifying race for ITRA, an ITRA National League race, and UTMB Index Race.