One race on the calendar this weekend, and it takes you somewhere most visitors to Vietnam never see: the red-earth volcanic plateau around Pleiku, in the Central Highlands.
Gia Lai City Trail
| Dates | 30 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 |
| Where | Bien Ho area, Pleiku, Gia Lai province |
| Distances | 50K (about 1,600 m of climbing) and 70K (about 2,650 m), both on Sat 31 Oct · [shorter distances: confirm] |
| Type | Trail, mixing quiet roads and dirt tracks |
What the course is like. Earlier editions looped around Bien Ho, the crater lake locals call the “eyes of Pleiku”, then through rows of old pine trees, tea hills and past the Chu Dang Ya volcano. The basalt soil is dusty when dry and slick after rain. Average conditions at this time of year run from the low 20s to the high 20s °C, with damp patches on the trails.
Good to know.
- Check that you can enter. The 2025 regulations opened the race to Vietnamese citizens and to foreigners living or working in Vietnam. If you are flying in from abroad, confirm with the organiser before you book.
- Start early, carry a light. In 2024 the longest distance started at 04:00. If your start is before sunrise, pack a headlamp.
- Getting there. Pleiku Airport has direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- 2026 is a busy year in Gia Lai. The province hosts Visit Vietnam Year 2026, so expect more events in town than usual and book your room early.
New to trail? Our comparison of five trail races this season, Road or trail?, explains how to pick a first distance.
Entries still open
- VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight, Sun 29 Nov: registration closes 19 Nov.
- Ultra Trail Cao Bang, 27–29 Nov: registration closes 26 Nov.
- Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB, Da Lat, 7–10 Jan 2027: entries close 25 Dec, or earlier if a distance sells out.
Next weekend
The Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon – Heritage Race on Sun 8 Nov (sold out) and Lam Dong Trail in Da Lat, 6–8 Nov. Our Spotlight on the Hanoi race goes up on Monday.
Racing in Pleiku? Send us a photo from the course. Full season: Race Calendar.
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.