Race guide for 6–8 November 2026, Da Lat
Lam Dong Trail 2026
An independent guide for international runners: race week, kit pickup, the start, the course, the weather and where to stay.
Race in 9 days
Updated 29 Oct 2026. Race facts come from the organiser’s athlete page and its ticket partners. Start times and cut-offs are published as expected times, so check your race email in race week.
- Race days
- 7–8 Nov 2026
- Distances
- 85 kmplus 55, 25, 15 and 5 km, and a 5 km kids trail
- 85K cut-off
- 21 hr
- Race base
- Valley of Love, Da Lat
Lam Dong Trail is a pine-forest trail race in the hills around Da Lat, with five distances from 5 km to 85 km and an Asia Trail Master points race on the 85K. The thing to plan around: kit pickup is on Friday 6 November, the long races start in the dark on Saturday, and the 5 km races run on Sunday.
On this page
Race week at a glance
One kit day, two race days. Find your distance first.
Fri 6 Nov
08:00–21:00
Race kit collection for all distances
Valley of Love – TTC World
Sat 7 Nov
From 03:00
85K (03:00), 55K (05:00), 25K (07:00), 15K (08:30). Course closes at midnight.
Valley of Love – TTC World
Sun 8 Nov
07:30
5K and 5K Kids Trail
Valley of Love – TTC World
Three days in Da Lat: kit on Friday, the long races on Saturday, the 5 km races on Sunday. Book your flight for Thursday or early Friday.
For your driver: Thung Lũng Tình Yêu (TTC World), 3, 5, 7 Đường Mai Anh Đào, Phường Lâm Viên, Đà Lạt
Distances, start times and cut-offs
Start times are the organiser’s expected times.
| Race | Day | Start | Cut-off | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85K | Sat 7 Nov | 03:00 | 21 hr (midnight) | 18+ |
| 55K | Sat 7 Nov | 05:00 | See race email | 18+ (check) |
| 25K | Sat 7 Nov | 07:00 | See race email | Check rules |
| 15K | Sat 7 Nov | 08:30 | See race email | Check rules |
| 5K | Sun 8 Nov | 07:30 | 2 hr | 16+ |
| 5K Kids Trail | Sun 8 Nov | 07:30 | 2 hr | 6–15 |
Start on time
Runners who start more than 15 minutes after their wave are not allowed to race.
Over 4,000 m of climbing
The 85K is described as runnable, but it is not flat. Plan on time on feet, not pace.
Kids race with a guardian
A parent or legal guardian collects the kit with the child and brings the birth certificate.
Every finisher within the cut-off receives a finisher medal. Entry includes event and finisher shirts, an e-certificate, a single-use timing chip and drink and food stations.
Collect your race kit
Kit collection is on Friday 6 November, 08:00–21:00, at the race base in the Valley of Love.
Bring two things:
Your passport
Hard copy, copy or photo of your ID document is accepted, according to the organiser’s FAQ.
Your QR code
Sent to you by email with the collection instructions.
The organiser’s race-day schedule also lists a kit slot for 5K and Kids Trail runners on Sunday morning. If you are running the 5K and arrive late on Saturday, check your email to confirm you can use it.
Mandatory gear
Trail races in Vietnam usually require a gear list, and longer distances may check it at kit collection. Read the gear list for your distance on the organiser’s athlete page before you pack. For the 85K and 55K, assume a headtorch, a warm layer, a waterproof jacket and a charged phone.
Getting there
Da Lat sits at about 1,500 m in the Central Highlands.
Fly via Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi
Take a domestic flight to Lien Khuong Airport, then about 30–40 minutes by road into Da Lat.
Or go by road
Six to seven hours by road or sleeper coach from Ho Chi Minh City.
A 03:00 start
The Valley of Love is about 4 km north of the city centre. Book your car the evening before, or stay close to the venue.
Grab and Xanh SM
Both operate in Da Lat, but cars are scarce before dawn on race morning.
The course
Pine forest, hills and fog.
The course runs through the pine forests and grass hills around Da Lat. It is mostly runnable trail, but it turns slippery and technical when wet, and the 85K climbs more than 4,000 m. Course maps and GPX files for each distance are on the organiser’s ticket pages.
Weather and altitude
1,500 maltitude, with cold, foggy starts
Early November is the tail of the rainy season in Da Lat. Mornings are cool and often foggy, roughly mid-teens °C before sunrise, and days can be warm in the sun. Runners on the 85K start in the dark and should expect a big temperature swing and possible rain.
Where to stay
The north side of the city is most convenient for early starts.
The Valley of Love area and the northern side of Da Lat are closest to the race base. Central Da Lat around Xuan Huong Lake is a short ride away and has more choice. Book early: the weekend brings thousands of runners and families to the city.
Rules worth knowing before you travel
Most of these are standard.
Late starters are not allowed
If you start more than 15 minutes after your scheduled start, you cannot race.
Cut-off points may change
The organiser notes that some on-course cut-offs may be adjusted. Check the final race guide email.
Only you can run on your BIB
Use the organiser’s transfer process if you cannot race.
Kids race with a guardian
5K Kids Trail runners must be 6 to 15 and come to kit collection with a parent or guardian.
Still to confirm
Show the four open questions
These details matter to a visiting runner and had not been published in a form we could quote. The organiser’s race email is the authority.
| Open question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Cut-offs for the 55K, 25K and 15K | Decides your pacing plan |
| Final gear list for each distance | Decides what you pack |
| Whether 5K runners can collect kits on Sunday morning | Decides whether you can arrive late on Saturday |
| Age limits for the 25K and 15K | Matters for younger runners |
Sources
Show sources
Race facts come from the organiser’s athlete page and ticket partners. Travel, weather and planning notes are our own.
- Organiser’s athlete page on lamdongtrail.vn — schedule, cut-offs and kit collection
- iRace ticketing page — distances, ages and expected start times
- Ahotu and World’s Marathons listings — start times by distance and kit documents
- Asia Trail Master — 85K timetable, elevation and venue
Keep reading
- Vietnam race calendar, Oct 2026 – Jun 2027
- Dalat Ultra Trail 2027 guide
- Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB 2027 guide
- Racing in Vietnam 101: heat, transport and travel insurance
- All race guides
Racing in Vietnam? Ask the community
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Vietnam Sports Events is an independent guide for international runners. This page is not produced or endorsed by the organiser or the title sponsor. Details change; the race website is always the authority. Read our disclosure.