52km Ultra

52km | +3,508 m

Race date: Saturday, new race date to be announced

Cut-off time: CP4 (1:00PM) – CP6 (4:30PM) – CP7 (8:00PM) – Finish line (10:00PM)

Start line: Sau Chua Village

Start time: 05:30AM (bus to start from Sapa Square: 04:45AM)

Finish line: Nam Cang (Topas Riverside Lodge)

Qualification: Open to experienced runners at least 18 years old on race day. To run VMM Nam Cang 52km, you must have previously completed at least 1 full marathon (FM) or longer event before the race. Please provide the link to your official qualifying result. If you plan to run a qualifying race between now and VJM, you may send us your qualifying result no later than 24 June 2021.

VMM Nam Cang is the first ultra in Vietnam incorporating a truly high ridge running route. This same section will then be used later in the year for the VMM 100 Miles. 

After beginning in Sapa town you will head onto a trail and climb to the top of the ridge line where (weather permitting) you will have incredible views from above the clouds. 

From here, you will run 100% trail across a series of peaks all the way to the infamous Mount Silverstone. The terrain is varied including runnable sections and fast downhills and also tough, punchy climbs over the peaks. 

This is real mountain running. No roads or villages exist up here – it is just you, your fellow runners and nature.  

After descending off Mount Silverstone, you will run trails through rice terraces and some small villages before a long descent down to a dam river crossing. 

Once over the road, some great climbing on small trails will bring you to the village of Thanh Phu where you’ll meet the 12k runners.  From here you’ll run along a beautiful hidden valley on clay trail used by the villagers and their buffalo. After a paved section you will reach Nam Nhiu village (home of the Red Dao minority).

The next section is breathtaking. The trail and paths run through the middle of the valley of postcard-perfect terraces dotted with bamboo huts. After crossing a small bridge that was built with support from Topas Travel, you climb a steep hill heading to Nam Cang village.

Soon you will reach Nam Cang village and your finish line across a swing bridge to the Riverside Lodge. Relax here with a cold drink and a cool swim in the river!

VMM Nam Cang 52km is a VTS Ultra Point race and a 3-point qualifying race for ITRA.