10km Mountain Run

IMPORTANT: Read the RACE RULES HERE.

MANDATORY KIT 10KM

VMM_Mandatory Equipment_2024 - Google Sheets
VMM 2024 - profile 10k updated new start location
VMM 10K updated. 12 Nov
10 km_CP table 5 - Update 21.11
VMM 2024 - 10km update new route - 9x16
10k Profile 11_VMM 2024
10 km_CP table_ENG

Distance: 10.2km | Elevation gain: 550m

Bib collection: 9:00-21:00 Friday 29/11 at Sapa Park (please see full details here). Please note, you must pick up your own bib.

Departure to start: 7:30 (last bus), from Sapa Park (next to Sapa Square – Google maps)

Start time: 9:00, Saturday, 30-11-2024

Start location: Su Pan Village, Muong Hoa Commune

Finish location: Topas Ecolodge – Google maps 

CUT-OFF: 6.5 hours

Age restriction: 10km entrants must be at least 18 years old on race day

FINISH BAG

01 bag/runner. Hand in/Pick up at the START/FINISH.

Please prepare your own bag. Bags must be sealed/closed. Do not include valuables – 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.

*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. 

On race day, you can check your ranking at FINISH RESULTS here.

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

New for 2024, 10km runners will run on Saturday and experience the beautiful finish line of Topas Ecolodge together with the runners of all other distances.

Beginning with beautiful views of the Muong Hoa valley, the course first gently climbs through the ethnic Hmong area of Su Pan. A single-track trail then traverses the hillside, before you climb the famous Mount Silverstone. This is the last peak of all VMM distances, with incredible mountain views, made more special by the sound of our local flute players.

The climbing is now done. From here it is downhill and flat to the finish line at Topas Ecolodge, where you can celebrate your successful completion of the VMM 10km together with your fellow mountain runners!

Course description

Participate in this year’s biggest public run in Sapa and race against the local Black Hmong, Red Dao and Tay minorities. Maybe you watched your friends and families run the Mountain Marathon on Saturday and now want to show them how to run 10km! Or maybe you just cannot get enough competition and want to combine a Saturday run of 21km, 50km, 70km or 100km, and 100 miles with a 10km run.

VMM 10km start
VMM 10km rice fields

Look out as the local runners are eager to compete with the international competitors! The route starts from central Sapa Town and then heads down the main street, and soon you are out of town. Now run 2.5km down the valley on paved road and drop into the famous Hoang Lien National Park and its beautiful scenery with rice fields, rivers and trails beaten by buffaloes. Save some energy for the final challenge… a climb of 500m just before the finish! It is hard, but beautiful! VMM provide 2 checkpoints.

10km RUNNERS – BE READY FOR A HARD RUN! 

We think this is one of the hardest 10km mass participation courses you can find in the world, so we hope you feel ready! Be sure to know the race profile: the 10km has almost zero flat running, so prepare to do some serious climbing and descending. You should all feel very proud when you get the medal at the finish, particularly if this is your first mountain run. 

NOTE: This race does have a Cut Off Time at CP1. If you do not make the cut off, we will route you straight back to town, cutting out the extra loop in the valley.