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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONVN / RACE GUIDE

Vietnam Trail Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Moc Chau
VN

Bradstokes, CC BY-SA 3.0Viethavvh at vi.wikipedia, Public domain

Race date in 100 days: Jan 16, 2027 Sat
City · Distance: Moc Chau · 42.195km · Trail · Ultra
Entry fee: ₫3,300,000Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSee how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 8, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This is a trail festival held in the mountainous region of northwestern Vietnam.

It is one of the races in the Vietnam Trail Series organised by Topas.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

SophieRan in 2021 · Finish time 8:52

“I knew I was so near the end thought and kept moving forward.”

At the 42km Vietnam Trail Marathon in Moc Chau, the runner struggled with unexpected heat and long climbs, resting in the shade and taking on supplies. They kept moving to finish in 8 hours 52 minutes, then recovered with friends' help.

Read the original on Roamer Trails

Markus GnirckRan in 2020 · Finish time 4:27

“It was a start to finish lead.”

The runner held the lead through the plum blossom valleys and villages of Moc Chau. After the climbs in the second half and technical jungle sections, the runner completed the 42 km in 4 hours 27 minutes.

Read the original on Medium

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Vietnam Trail Marathon 2026 showcases breathtaking trails of Moc Chau

Vietnam News Agency (VNA)

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Half

Entry cost ₫3,300,000

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Ultra

Entry cost ₫4,100,000

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

10K

Entry cost ₫1,900,000

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

5K

Entry cost ₫1,700,000

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 05:00

Event	Start	Time limit
Ultra50.2km	07:00	14h
Half21.6km	08:00	10h
10K11.1km	09:00	6h
5K5km	09:00	4h

City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Muong Thanh Moc Chau Hotel, Moc Chau

FINISH

Heart Tea Hill, Moc Chau

This event has established itself as the third race in the Vietnam Trail Series by Topas,

following the Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) in Sapa and the Vietnam Jungle Marathon (VJM) in Pu Luong.

It takes place in Moc Chau, a highland area northwest of Hanoi.

Moc Chau is a mountainous plateau famous for its flower fields and tea plantations,

and is also known for landscapes covered in apricot and plum blossoms depending on the season.

Course consists mostly of runnable trail,

with multiple distances including 42km (full marathon, approximately 2150m of elevation gain) and 21km (half marathon, approximately 1000m of elevation gain).

The course is characterised by sections linking slash-and-burn fields, tea plantations and ethnic-minority villages accessible only on foot.

More than a simple mountain race, it is often described as a trail event offering an up-close view of life in Vietnam’s northern highlands.

The Vietnam Trail Series organised by Topas is itself well known in Southeast Asia’s trail-running scene,

and VTM is understood to attract a significant proportion of international participants as well as local runners.

Organizer: Top Travel
Typical race-season temperature: around 14°C (57°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers
Series: Vietnam Trail Series by Topas (VMM-Sapa, VJM-Pu Luong, VTM-Moc Chau, in that order)

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Finisher certificate

Bag drop

Finisher T-shirt

Start shuttle

Chip bib

Participant/Finisher T-Shirt

Completed finisher medal

Charitable donation

Shuttle

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Race-pack collection instructions have not yet been announced.
Collection is normally at a designated location in Moc Chau on the day before the race, so check the organiser’s email instructions.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNo train station near Moc Chau; the nearest public-transit hubs are in Hanoi…

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No train station near Moc Chau; the nearest public-transit hubs are in Hanoi (My Dinh or Yen Nghia bus stations, approximately a 4–4.5-hour bus ride to Moc Chau)

21km/50km/70km runners start from the host hotel itself (Muong Thanh Moc Chau Hotel area); 5km/10km runners are picked up nearby and transferred to their start point. Organizer shuttle buses (for package participants) depart from Turtle Lake Brewing Company, 105 Quang Khanh St, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, between 9:30 AM-12:00 PM race weekend.

City confirmed as Moc Chau per DB. 5km and 10km participants take the bus to the starting point behind Muong Thanh Moc Chau Hotel (last stop at 07:30).

There is a shuttle to the hotel after the finals.

Map

Getting to the finish

Muong Thanh Moc Chau Hotel area (same as start hub)

Organizer shuttle buses transfer all runners from the finish line back to Muong Thanh Moc Chau Hotel.

Map

Start shuttle

Yes — organizer shuttle buses run Hanoi (Turtle Lake Brewing Co., Tay Ho) to Moc Chau for package participants, and separately from finish line back to the host hotel for all runners. Public intercity buses also run Hanoi-Moc Chau via My Dinh/Yen Nghia stations.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Entry fee is updated annually, so the exact amount should be confirmed on the official website.

However, the entry package is reported to include a bib with a built-in timing chip, a participant T-shirt,

a finisher T-shirt for those completing the ultra section, a finisher finisher medal, a donation of part of the entry fee to charity, and shuttle services.

Registration is completed online through the official website.

As the race takes place in a mountainous plateau region, it is advisable to arrange transportation and accommodation between Hanoi and Moc Chau well in advance.

In early January, Moc Chau has a large temperature difference between day and night,

with the characteristic chill of a high-altitude area, so bringing warm gear is recommended.

Times are local to Moc Chau. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Therhouse

Hotel · 3.2km

8.9/10(8)

View on Booking.com

Wyndham Lynn Times Tan Thuỷ Hot Spring & Spa Experience

₫438,234

Vietnam Trail Marathon

About Vietnam Trail Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run

Vietnam Trail Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

See it on video,feel it through their stories.

Vietnam Trail Marathon 2026 showcases breathtaking trails of Moc Chau

How to enter Vietnam Trail Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —start with what fits you.

Half

Ultra

10K

5K

Vietnam Trail Marathon course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

Muong Thanh Moc Chau Hotel, Moc Chau

Heart Tea Hill, Moc Chau

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Finisher certificate

Bag drop

Finisher T-shirt

Start shuttle

Chip bib

Participant/Finisher T-Shirt

Completed finisher medal

Charitable donation

Shuttle

Where and when to collect your Vietnam Trail Marathon race bib

To the start line,step by step.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Getting to the finish

Start shuttle

From race morning to after the finish.

The race is one day,the trip can be longer.

Therhouse

Wyndham Lynn Times Tan Thuỷ Hot Spring & Spa Experience

Hanoi Dine with Locals Vegan Cooking Class & Pagoda Visit

Mai Chau Valley Retreat Day Tour (Departing from Hanoi)

Bazan Home Mộc Châu

Hanoi Incense Village & Massage Private Half-Day Tour

Sheraton Hanoi West Hotel International Buffet

Hotels near the Vietnam Trail Marathon start line in Moc Chau

Hotels that make race morning easy

Therhouse

Bazan Home Mộc Châu

Nhà Nghỉ Ngọc Long

Nhà nghỉ Quang Khải

Tay Bac Hotel

Koi Home 286 Mộc Châu

Nhà khách 705

Time for you, before and after the finish

Wyndham Lynn Times Tan Thuỷ Hot Spring & Spa Experience

Hanoi Incense Village & Massage Private Half-Day Tour

Hanoi Amare Japanese-Style Hot Spring Spa & Jjimjilbang Experience

U Korea Hair Wash & Spa Massage Activities & Experiences in Hanoi

Hanoi Anam QT Spa & Massage

Hanoi Private City Highlights & Massage Experience

Hanoi Orient Spa & Massage

Bestseller: 3-Day 5-Star Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay | Amour Cruises

Halong Bay & Ninh Binh 3-Day UNESCO Heritage Cruise

Hanoi Teeth Whitening & Scaling (BeDental)

Hanoi Car Rental with Driver: Duong Lam Ancient Village

Ha Giang Private Car Charter (from Hanoi)

Hanoi Private Transfer Service: Trang An (Ninh Binh) / Sapa / Ha Long Bay / Hai Phong / Moc Chau / Mai Chau

Hanoi–Nghe An Transfer Service (Nam Quynh Anh)

Hanoi - Sapa Train Ticket (Sleeper Train)

Vietnam VIP Fast Track Immigration (SGN · HAN · PQC · DAD Airports)

Hanoi｜Private Airport Transfer Service to/from Noi Bai International Airport

Hanoi Ba Vi National Park & Duong Lam Ancient Village Day Tour

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Admission Ticket

Hanoi Sky Lotte Observation Deck Ticket

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

To the start line,
step by step.

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

With runners who dream of
the same start line.