100km Ultra Marathon
IMPORTANT: Read the RACE RULES HERE.
Distance: 101.6km | Elevation gain 5,500m
Bib collection: 9:00-21:00 Friday at Sapa Park. Please note, you must pick up your own bib.
Start time: 20:00, Friday, 19/9/2025
Start location: Sapa Park (next to Sapa Square – Google maps)
Finish location: Topas Ecolodge – Google maps
CUT-OFF: 3:00 at CP Topas Ecolodge – 12:00 at CP3 – 15:00 at CP4 – 17:00 at CP5 – 20:00 at CP6 – 21:30 at CP7 – 00:00 at FINISH
Age restriction: Entrants to 100km must be at least 18 years old on race day.
Qualification: To run VMM 100km, you must have previously completed at least one chip timed 50km+ ultra mountain race with significant elevation. Loop runs / virtual races do not qualify.
On registration, please provide a URL link to your qualifying result (Topas result link, UTMB Index, ITRA Index, or similar). If you plan to complete a qualifying race between now and race day, you must send us your result by 30 days prior to the race date.
Failure to provide evidence of a qualifying past performance will result in refusal of entry and the refund terms stand.
FINISH AND DROP BAGS
You can give us 2 bags:
- 1 Bag = Finish Bag
- 1 Bag = CP2
Handing in your bags: Leave both 2 bags at the START LINE
Please use the designated tag for each bag. Please prepare your own bags. Bags must be sealed/closed.
No valuables should be left in the bags – the organiser cannot be held responsible for any loss.
ATTACH your luggage tag (given at the race pack collection) on your finish bag before bringing it to the start line.
Picking up your bag after the race:
- Finish bags will be at the finish line before the first finisher
- CP2 bags will be moved back to Sapa Expo area – collect Sunday morning
*If you DNF, then you can also pick up your finish bag in Sapa Park (next to Sapa Square) from 7:00-11:00 on Sunday.
Note: no individual requests for bag transfers can be facilitated. ALL bags are moved together.
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.
Top 3 male/female runners can collect their trophies at a special Age Group Trophy Collection booth at the finish area: Topas Ecolodge (Saturday). We cannot ship trophies to those who do not come and collect them during this time slot.
Age group runners receive trophies only.
Age group winners are invited to the Sunday prize giving ceremony on Sunday morning from 09:30. Age group award winners from all distances will be invited to the stage together to honor their achievement.
Course description
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.
MANDATORY KIT 100KM
VMM 100km is a 4-point qualifying race for ITRA, an ITRA National League race, a 100K UTMB Index race, and a Western States 2026 Qualifying Race.
- Read more about the Sapa Travel Packages
- Read more about the Topas Ecolodge Travel Packages
- Run Only Program