The VJM 70K - Ultra Marathon
Distance: 70km | +3,000m gain
START TIME: 4:00AM, 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: 02:00PM at CP4 – 3:30PM 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 70km, you must have previously completed at least 1 full marathon (FM) or longer event before the race. Please provide the link to your official qualifying result. If you plan to run a qualifying race between now and VJM, you may send us your qualifying result no later than 30 days prior to the race day. The race must be an official race, not a virtual race / club run.
Failure to do so less than 30 days prior to race day will result in refusal of entry and no refund.
Course description
Our 70km offers an ultra distance route of extreme beauty.
This is a very challenging ultra-trail Marathon with plenty of climbs and descents and gain of over 3,000m. It will take runners through all of the landscapes that the Nature Reserve has to offer.
Racers will start running with strong headlamps into the darkness from the start area in beautiful Ban Don village.
You will first enjoy a loop around the ethnic minority houses here, before heading onto single track trail down into a broad valley.
Once down in the valley floor you will run among paddies and mixed, runnable paths with amazing views all around. You will then reach an extremely pretty river crossing and head onto another runnable trail section which brings you to the foot of your major climb – Doi Troi, or Heaven Hill… otherwise known as The Beast.
This is a very serious and steep climb which it is not possible to run up. Runners must conserve their energy here!
At the top, the views are incredible – you will be able to see a lot of the course that you will be running later in the day. If you are not running for a fast time, this is a definite spot to take your camera out.
You then take a great downhill trail to a small minority village, followed by a loop around one of the most beautiful rice fields in all of Pu Luong.
You then have a long, runnable descent back down into the 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, 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 - SOLD OUT | HẾT CHỖ | 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 70km is a VTS Challenge Point race, 3-point qualifying race for ITRA, an ITRA National League race, and UTMB Index Race.