Road or trail? Your first trail race in Vietnam

Vietnam’s trail season runs through the cooler, drier months, and it is just getting started. Between now and January there are five races worth a look, from the volcanic plateau of the Central Highlands to the limestone mountains of the far north. Every one of them has a distance short enough for a road runner trying trail for the first time.

Five races at a glance

Race	Dates	Where	Distances	Best first distance
Gia Lai City Trail	30 Oct – 1 Nov	Pleiku, Central Highlands	50K · 70K · [shorter: confirm]	The shortest offered (check eligibility)
Lam Dong Trail	6–8 Nov	Da Lat, Valley of Love	15K · 25K · 55K · 85K	15K or 25K
Ultra Trail Cao Bang	27–29 Nov	Cao Bang, far north	10K · 25K · 42K · 70K · 100K · 160K	10K or 25K
Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths	26–27 Dec	Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh	10K · 25K · 42K · 75K · 100K	10K or 25K
Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB	7–10 Jan 2027 (race day Sat 9 Jan)	Da Lat, Lam Vien Square	10K · 20K · 50K · 100K	10K or 20K

Gia Lai City Trail · 30 Oct – 1 Nov

A mix of quiet roads and dirt tracks on red basalt soil around Pleiku’s crater lake, pine rows and tea hills. The longer courses climb roughly 1,600 m (50K) and 2,650 m (70K). One caution: the 2025 race was open to Vietnamese citizens and to foreigners living in Vietnam. If you are flying in, confirm you can enter before booking.

Lam Dong Trail · 6–8 Nov

The most beginner-friendly terrain of the five: mostly runnable trails through pine forest at around 1,500 m, starting from the Valley of Love just outside Da Lat. The 85K is a serious day, with about 4,050 m of climbing and a 03:00 start, but the 15K and 25K are a gentle introduction. It is a points race in the Asia Trail Master series, so expect some strong local runners at the front.

Ultra Trail Cao Bang · 27–29 Nov

Remote mountains near the Chinese border: forest, rivers, single track and some mud. The 160K starts on Friday morning and the shorter races follow over the weekend. Getting there takes time, so treat it as a trip, not a weekend. Registration closes 26 Nov.

Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths · 26–27 Dec

Vietnam’s oldest national park, about two hours south of Hanoi, with trails crossing into three provinces through limestone rainforest. The race is run with a conservation message. The 100K and 75K start on Saturday evening and run through the night; the 10K has only about 200 m of climbing and is a lovely first trail. There has previously been a race pack collection in Hanoi’s Old Quarter on the Wednesday before, which is handy if you are staying in the city.

Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB · 7–10 Jan 2027

Vietnam’s race in the UTMB World Series, based in Da Lat. Four distances on Sat 9 Jan: 100K Langbiang (03:00), 50K Elephant (05:00), 20K Pinhatt (07:30) and 10K Tuyen Lam (09:00). Entries close on 25 Dec at 23:59 Vietnam time, or earlier if a distance sells out. At check-in you will need photo ID and a mandatory gear inspection certificate, so read the gear list before you fly. Late-phase entry fees run from US$71.5 (10K) to US$231 (100K).

Moving from road to trail: six things to know

Choose by time, not distance. Climbing slows everyone down. A 25K with 1,000 m of climbing can take as long as a road half marathon or longer. Plan by time on your feet.
Read the mandatory kit list first. Many trail races check your gear before giving you a bib. Typical items include a phone, a waterproof jacket, a headlamp and water.
Expect dark starts. Lam Dong 85K and the UTMB 100K both start at 03:00. A good headlamp is not optional.
Pack for cold. Da Lat and the northern mountains can be cold before sunrise in winter. See Racing in Vietnam 101.
Book flexibly. In 2025 storms postponed Lam Dong Trail and cancelled Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail. Read each race’s postponement and refund policy, and choose changeable flights.
Check your insurance covers trail. Some policies exclude mountain or altitude running unless you add it on. See Racing in Vietnam 101.

Thinking bigger later? Several of these races award UTMB Index, ITRA or Asia Trail Master points, which help if you plan to enter larger international trail races.

Racing this weekend? See This weekend in Vietnam: 30 Oct – 1 Nov. Questions about trail running in Vietnam? Ask in our runner group.

Sources

This is an independent guide for international runners. It is not produced by, or affiliated with, the race organisers. Details change; the organiser’s own channels are always the authority. See our Disclosure.