Vietnam’s World Trail Majors debut is here
Runners from 47 nations are set to run up to 100km through the majestic peaks of Sa Pa this weekend. This marksVietnam Mountain Marathon’s debut as part of World Trail Majors, together with 11 other events around the globe. Elite runners travelling to Vietnam to compete with the local talent include Fuzhao Xiang, Peiquan You, Binbin Xiong and Jiianjian Yang.
The longest-established mountain run in Vietnam, the Vietnam Mountain Marathon presented by Kailas FUGA is set to thrill once again with its 12th edition on this September 20th 2025.
This year, organiser, Topas, will welcome runners from 47 nations, with nearly 2,000 of them taking on ultra distances of 50km to 100km. 21km and 10km races also take place through the majestic peaks of Sa Pa.
First World Trail Majors race in Vietnam
This is a special year for the race, marking its entry into the World Trail Majors, a non-profit group of 12 outstanding, independent races around the world.
Race Director David Lloyd shared: “We applied to join World Trail Majors because the ethos of the collective matches with the spirit of VMM. Like all the other independent races in the series, we aim to provide the very best trail running experience for our runners while also respecting the culture, environment and roots of the sport.”
“Being a part of this group provides VMM with access to a wealth of expert knowledge and support from teams with decades of experience. It gives talented local development runners opportunities to travel to overseas races. It facilitates the promotion of Sapa and Vietnam’s trails worldwide. As a group, World Trail Majors is a young collective, now in its second year. The future is bright and we are proud that Vietnam is part of the team.”
Janet Ng of World Trail Majors and President of ITRA said: “VMM was invited to join the World Trail Majors because it is a beautiful race through stunning scenery which allows runners to discover the landscapes around Sapa – a fascinating and welcoming mountain town in the North of Vietnam.
The races are organised by a passionate team with, for, and by, the local community and proudly support good causes.
The finish location may be the best of any trail race globally and my experience participating in the 2024 edition was an unforgettable adventure”
Two distances are part of the World Trail Majors scoring system – the 50km and the 100km.
Another development is the debut of Kailas FUGA as a presenting partner at an event in Vietnam. Already partnering with races around the world including fellow World Trail Majors, the Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas FUGA, the brand will bring the very best in trail gear to the runners at this year’s event.
The 100km Battle
Known as one of the toughest races in Vietnam to finish, the 100km has high level competition this year.
A top runner to watch in this distance is Peiquan You, one of China’s top talents, who has twice won fellow World Trail Majors event, the Hong Kong 100.
He shared his excitement ahead of the race: “I have never been to Vietnam, so I am very curious about this country, and VMM is a new member of the 2025 World Marathon Majors, which is in line with my sports philosophy. I’ve seen the Vietnam Mountain Marathon race videos and the landscapes of Sapa look amazing for trail running. See you all on the start line!”
Another top 100km contender is Ryan Whelan from the United Kingdom, the champion of Centurion North Downs Way 100 Miles in England.
Nhon Trong, Kailas ambassador and 2022 VMM 100km champion, returns this year after securing third place at the 70km Vietnam Trail Marathon (VTM) 2025. Nhon has been training in Sapa for some weeks, aiming to deliver his best performance on race day.
Nhon shared: “The Vietnam Mountain Marathon is widely recognized as the oldest and most competitive trail race in Vietnam. This year, as the event officially becomes part of the World Trail Majors series, it is expected to attract even more elite runners from around the world.
“Sapa, with its distinctive northern beauty – from golden terraced fields and majestic mountains, to its warm and friendly people – continues to leave a deep impression. After experiencing three editions of the race, I carry unforgettable memories of this place.
“VMM is professionally organized, with excellence in technical operations, race management, and communications. With a large number of participants, the event also serves as a great motivation for a coach like me to accompany, support, and guide Team Kilomet through every challenging stage.”
Henrique Nicolau, last year’s 100km VMM champion, is also back to defend his title.
Nguyen Si Hieu, one of Vietnam’s brightest ultra talents with eight years of trail running experience, recently took the crown at the 70km VTM 2025 and is a serious contender for the 100km race.
From Sapa Ethnic Running Club, two promising athletes will be in the mix: Ngo Van Chinh and Lo A Dao. With deep knowledge of the Sapa mountains and training under the guidance of Ha Thi Hau, both runners are names to watch in this year’s 100km race.
Another potential runner to follow is Le Quang Hoi who took second at VMM 50km 2024 and also at Vietnam Jungle Marathon 50km in the same year.
The top seed on the women’s side is Wenfei Xie (China), who is making her debut in Vietnam with ambitions to climb the World Trail Majors rankings. She has already made a mark with a third place finish at the Grand Raid Pyrenees 165km (WTM 2025). She is having a great year, with a second at Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB 105km also in the bag.
She shared “This is my first time running in Vietnam, so I am excited to explore a new world. I’m feeling very ready after my Grand Raid Pyrenees 165km!”
From Vietnam, the local female elite field brings strong contenders who know these trails well.
Giang Thi Linh, is a proud hometown Sapa runner and reigning champion of the VMM 100km who started 2025 with a victory at Vietnam Trail Marathon 70km.
Also from Vietnam, Le Phuong Vy is a seasoned trail runner with numerous wins across Vietnam, Vy’s standout achievement is her victory at the VMM 100 Miles in 2024.
Known for her incredible endurance, having run a marathon every day in 2023, Le Thi Hang has secured multiple podiums including 3rd place at Vietnam Mountain Marathon 100 Miles 2024, 2nd at Amazean Jungle Thailand UTMB 100k 2024, and 2nd at MANTRA116 2025.
Another runner to watch is Nguyen Thi Tra Giang, making her 100km debut at VMM this edition. Giang is known for her speed on the road and has already earned strong trail results, including 1st place at Dalat Ultra Trail 55km 2024 and 2nd at VMM 21km 2024.
The VMM 50km – World Trail Majors Short Series event
The VMM 50km is part of the World Trail Majors Short Series, so it has attracted some star names in trail running.
Jianjian Yang (China), representing the Kailas FUGA team, arrives in Sa Pa in prime form and is poised to claim first provisional place in the World Trail Majors Short Series should he win. His impressive 2025 season includes the title at the ANTA Hong Kong 100 Half 57km (2025) and a strong runner-up finish at at the Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas FUGA 52km (2025).
Ricardo Cherta (Spain), the champion of Cursa Vistabella 28km (2025) and Montipius Skyrace 23km (2024) is coming to Vietnam to make his World Trail Majors debut before heading to Australia for the GPT100 50km with an eye on the Short Series leaderboard.
Ricardo shared: “This will be my first time in Vietnam, and I’m really excited to discover the trails around Sapa and share the experience with the local trail running community.
VMM will be my first race in the World Trail Majors series, and I’ll follow it up with the GPT 50K in Australia to complete my season. I’m looking forward to giving my best in both events and seeing where I can place in the overall ranking.”
Also racing is Minchul Ko (Korea), winner of the 32km Jeju Oreum Trail Run (2025).
Adding to the depth of the field is Vietnam’s top contender Sung A Phu; racing for Sapa Ethnic Running Team, he is one of the country’s highest-ranked trail runners and last year’s 21km VMM champion.
On the female side, Fuzhao Xiang (China) will be the one to beat. One of the world’s top ultra runners, she has scored countless victories, with notable recent wins including the Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships. Fuzhao has also twice placed second at the oldest 100 miler in the world, the USA’s Western States Endurance Run.
With an ITRA score of 817, she is the best female ultra runner ever to race in Vietnam.
Fuzhao joins the VMM 50km as part of the World Trail Majors Short Series, in which she is well placed to take the overall 2025 title if she performs well in Sapa following her win at the Mt.FUJI 100 Asumi40k.
She says: “I am excited to come to Vietnam Mountain Marathon and race the 50km as part of the World Trail Majors. My friend Ha Hau has told me a lot about VMM, so I am very happy to come and take part. I have heard that September is a great time to run in Sapa! I will come before the race to enjoy some running in the area too. I hope many other runners from Asia and around the world will come to VMM this year! I look forward to meeting many runners in Sapa!”
Fuzhao will face strong competition from another notable elite runner from China, Binbin Xiong, a Kailas FUGA athlete who is the champion of the Weihei 100 Ultra 50km (2025).
Two other promising contenders for the podium from Southeast Asia include: Dening Lo (Singapore), winner of the KAR Ultra 60KM (2025) and MANTRA 116 – 68K (2025); and Yupa Saelee (Thailand), champion of the Kheknoi Ultra Trail – Kheknoi40 (2025) and the Pong Yaeng Trail 2024 – RTC 50k (2024).
With such a competitive lineup, the VMM 50km is set to deliver thrilling racing and fierce battles for the podium, further elevating the prestige of this year’s event.
Charity Work
This year the race continues its tradition of supporting good causes through VMM. Last year, the race was postponed due to Typhoon Yagi and VND 1 billion was allocated to the recovery effort in our area. This year the race is contributing a further VND 717,044,000 to the charity fund, which now stands at a total of VND13.5billion. Furthermore, three charities are supported with free entry and expo booths for the race : Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation; Newborns Vietnam; and Operation Smile. All three will all be at the race with teams raising more money for their great work.
Race Schedule
- 100KM Race: Starts at 8 PM, September 19th 2025
- Other Distances (10KM to 70KM): Start on September 20th in Sa Pa Ward, finishing at Topas Ecolodge, Ban Ho Commune.
Closing Ceremony
Join us on September 21st for the Prizing and Closing Ceremony in Sa Pa Square, Sa Pa Ward, attended by local leaders and trail running enthusiasts alike.
For photography and more information, please visit HERE.