Distance: 161km
Elevation gain: 8,800m
Start: 08:00, Friday 18/09/2026
Start location: Sapa Square
Finish location: Topas Ecolodge – Google maps
Total time limit (COT): 49 hours
Briefing: 16:00, Thursday 17/09/2026
Bib collection: 14:00-15:45 and 17:00-19:00, Thursday 17/09/2026
Age restriction: 18 years old on race day
Qualification: To run VMM 100 miles, you must have previously completed at least one chip timed, official 60km+ trail race with 2,500m+ gain. Loop runs / virtual races do not qualify.
On registration, please provide a URL link to your qualifying result. 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 in order to be able to race. Refund terms follow standard terms.
Course description
Welcome to Vietnam’s original miler! We created this race when there was no 100 miles event in Vietnam to give domestic runners a miler event to target. We are now happy to bring it back for the running community again for 2026.
This is a tough, but also extremely beautiful 100 miles ultra marathon that covers every type of terrain the Sapa area has to offer.
The race begins in the heart of Sapa town and ends at the mountaintop Topas Ecolodge together with all the other race distances.
After a short, fast run to Sapa’s lake, you will climb out of town, then descend on trail into the beautiful rice terraced Suoi Ho valley, home to Black Hmong communities. After a river crossing, the climbing begins to your first checkpoint – CP M1, then up onto a high mountain loop.
This includes plenty of singletrack forest sections and also open grasslands with incredible views of the surrounding range. You will then return to Sapa for your second checkpoint, CP Sapa, right in the heart of town. Here, you will be cheered on by many who come out to support our VMM miler legends!
Next up comes another course highlight: Ham Rong Mountain. Great singletrack trail brings you up to the peak, with stunning views to your left. You’ll see Sapa town below, ringed by mountains.
Up high, an awesome singletrack trail leads along the ridgeline where the stunning Muong Hoa valley comes into view ahead of you, with Mount Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam, to your right. This is some of the best running on the course combined with some of the best vistas.
After CP M2, more singletracks lead you along the valley side. This section has lots of variety, with runnable sections combined with some short steep climbs alongside, plus both fast and some technical descents. You will run through a number of small villages in this section, getting a glimpse into real mountain life.
After CP M3 comes the ascent of Mount Silverstone on singletrack. This is an alternative to the usual VMM route up to the peak. Don’t forget to look behind you as you reach the top for some truly magnificent views.
After Mount Silverstone, the route continues to the next valley of Ban Moi and CP M4, home of the Red Dao people.
This remote mountain territory offers great trails and majestic views of high mountain peaks and rice terraced valleys.
A long climb leads you up to Ban Sai and CP M5 before an awesome trail descent brings you down to Ta Thang Dam – the lowest point of the course.
Next you will head deeper into the mountains and through the villages of Nam Sai and My Son, home to the Tay and Xa Pho ethnic groups. The Tay ethnic group is one of the most well organised and wealthy groups of Vietnam, while the Xa Pho ethnic group is one of the smallest of all Vietnam’s many groups by number.
You will then hit the long climb up to CP Topas Ecolodge where a buffet style feast is prepared by the lodge chefs. The Topas massage team will also welcome you here.
Next up, a road section takes you past Su Pan village, then a steep descent takes you past more homes, then through a bamboo forest to your Water Station at the river.
Across the river you will face a very steep climb then some great trail sections on your way to the Red Dao ethnic village of Giang Ta Chai and on to the CP1 in Lao Chai village.
From Lao Chai you will climb up through rice terraces passing some remote Hmong villages with panoramic views of the valley. Your downhill to the Water Station at Y Linh Ho includes some technical terrain and yet more stunning views. From Y Linh Ho a beautiful uphill brings you through a deep gorge, before you emerge back into the open valley and on to Cat Cat village.
From Cat Cat, you will climb on mixed terrain up to CP3 at O Quy Ho. Next comes what is many runners’ favourite part of our course – Cow Mountain (Đồi Bò). After an initial climb through farmland you will emerge onto the 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. 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 face a mainly downhill section to CP7, running 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.
PACERS
We think pacers can play a great role in helping people complete this hardcore race distance, so we welcome them warmly! Please read the pacer info below to ensure you stay within the rules on race day.
- For the 100 miles race only, pacers (companion runners) are allowed for the final 70km of your run.
- The pacer must have run at least one official TRAIL race of 40km+ with significant elevation to qualify as your pacer.
- Pacers may NOT CARRY any equipment, food or water for you. They are there for moral support and encouragement, not physical help.
- Pacers must wear the special pacer bib that will match your own bib number.
- Pacers are responsible for their own transport to checkpoints.
- Pacers must carry the same mandatory kit as defined for VMM 70km runners.
- You may have 2 pacers, but only one can accompany you at any time. Change over of pacers is permitted at checkpoints only.
- There is NO bag drop provision for pacers.
- There is no t-shirt or other swag for pacers, but they will get a pacer bib.
- The pacer(s) must be present at race pack collection and sign the indemnity form. Pacer’s bib collection:
- 14:00-15:45 and 17:00-19:00, Thursday 17/09/2026
- 09:00-21:00, Friday 18/09/2026
Please send your pacer(s)’ information to info@vietnammountainmarathon.com at least 30 days prior to the race date. No change of pacers is allowed after this date.
- Full name
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Passport / ID number
- Nationality
- Mobile phone
- Link to the qualifying result
FINISH AND DROP BAGS
FINISH AND DROP BAGS
You can give us 3 bags:
- 1 Bag = Finish Bag
- 1 Bag = CP M5
- 1 Bag = CP2
Handing in your bags: Leave 3 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 – we cannot be held responsible for any loss.
Picking up your bag after the race:
- Finish Bags will be at finish line before the first finisher
- CP M5 and CP2 Bags will be moved back to the Sapa Expo area – please collect on Sunday morning, 07:00 – 12:00
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 10:00. Age group award winners from all distances will be invited to the stage together to honor their achievement.
VMM 100 miles is a 6-point qualifying race for ITRA, an ITRA National League race, a 100M UTMB Index race, and a Western States 2027 Qualifying Race.
- Read more about the Sapa Travel Packages
- Read more about the Topas Ecolodge Travel Packages
- Run Only Program