Distance: 21.4km | Elevation gain 1,150m
Bib collection: 9:00-21:00 Friday at Sapa Park. Please note, you must pick up your own bib.
Start time: 6:00, Saturday, 20/9/2025
21km Wave Starts: There will be 3 wave starts for 21KM. 06:00 – 06:10 – 06:20 If you are a fast runner, make sure you arrive early and get near the front of wave 1 at 06:00.
Start location: Sapa Park (next to Sapa Square – Google maps)
Finish location: Topas Ecolodge – Google maps
CUT-OFF: 15:00 at CP M3 – 20:00 at FINISH
Age restriction: 21km entrants must be at least 18 years old on race day
FINISH BAG
01 bag/runner
Handing in your bag: at the START LINE
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.
Picking up your bag after the race: at the FINISH
*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
The race starts in Sapa town and heads directly up Ham Rong Mountain. As you climb higher on the single track trail, you will get great views of Sapa town below and the surrounding mountains to the east.
After you reach the highest point of the course at around 1,900m, you will emerge into the other side of the mountain, with views of Mount Fansipan (3,143m) to your right and the magnificent Muong Hoa valley spread before you. An awesome, largely runnable downhill trail section here is one of the highlights of the course.
The descent brings you to your first checkpoint in the village of Hang Da.
Next, single track trails lead along the mountainside with expansive views of the Muong Hoa valley, with its majestic rice terraces and many ethnic villages.
After a small climb, the majority of the next section is descending, with around 550m of elevation loss bringing you down to a checkpoint in the Hmong ethnic village of Hoa Su Pan.
You will then run through a series of small Hmong villages and past rice terraces where water buffalo roam. A beautiful forest trail section then ascends the infamous Mount Silverstone climb.
When you emerge from the forest at the top, yet another incredible vista opens up, with stunning views from the small mountain top village of Lech Mong. Our local flute players here add some extra magic to your experience.
A long runnable downhill, then a final flat section brings you to one of the most beautiful, friendly finish line parties in the world, at the hilltop Topas Ecolodge.
People hang out here long after they finish to enjoy music, free finisher food and beer, and maybe a well earned dip on one of the two mountaintop infinity pools!
MANDATORY KIT 21KM
VMM 21km is a 1-point qualifying race for ITRA, an ITRA National League race, and a 20K UTMB Index race.
- Read more about the Sapa Travel Packages
- Read more about the Topas Ecolodge Travel Packages
- Run Only Program