On September 24, Sa Pa Town People’s Committee coordinated with Topas Explorer Group to organize the closing ceremony and award prizes to athletes participating in the 2023 Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM 2023).
The 2023 Vietnam Mountain Marathon was held to commemorate the 120th anniversary of tourism in Sa Pa. The tournament began on September 22 and drew over 4,000 athletes from 51 countries and territories throughout the world.
The race was organized with 5 contents: 10km, 21km, 50km, 70km and 100km passing through 12 communes and wards in Sa Pa town (Cau May, Ham Rong, O Quy Ho, Phan Si Pang wards), Sa Pa; communes Ban Ho, Hoang Lien, Muong Hoa, Ta Phin, Ta Van and Thanh Binh).
From the night of September 22, athletes participating in the 100km race started in the dark of Sa Pa. – Photo: VMM
In addition to the 100km content that will start at 9:00 p.m. on September 22; the 21km, 50km, and 70km events will start at dawn on Saturday (September 23) and have the same destination on the top of the hill at Topas Ecolodge. The 10km content starts on Sunday (September 24), athletes will finish at Sa Pa Town Stadium.
Following the VMM route, athletes will run through Dao, Mong, Giay villages and have the opportunity to admire many beautiful sceneries.
VMM’s track stretches across the high mountains of Hoang Lien Son. 100km runners must run an average of more than one continuous day (27 hours) to complete the race. The fastest person can run nearly 13 consecutive hours without eating or sleeping. In return, the athletes get to see the beautiful scenery of the Hoang Lien Son range, with endless mountains. Along the road are green steppes, or trails through villages of ethnic minorities in Sa Pa such as: Su Pan – “fairy tale village in the middle of a sea of clouds”, Lao Chai, Cat Cat before Conquer Cow Hill – the highest peak of the race, at an altitude of nearly 2,300m above sea level.
Run through ethnic minority villages, through bamboo forests – Photo: VMM
Regarding the prize structure, the VMM Organizing Committee will award Age Group Cups to athletes participating in the following contents: 21km, 50km, 70km and 100km. Awarded age groups include: Under 20; 20 – 29; 30 – 39; 40 – 49; 50 – 59; 60 – 69, 70+.
At the end of the tournament, the Organizing Committee awarded age group championships and 10 sets of First, Second, and Third prizes to the athletes.
According to the Organizing Committee, the 2023 Vietnam Mountain Marathon has raised 660 million VND. Of which 330 million VND was given to people affected by natural disasters in Lien Minh commune.
Mr. Do Van Tan, Vice Chairman of Sa Pa Town People’s Committee affirmed: “The successful organization of the Vietnam Mountain Marathon over the past 10 years has affirmed the appeal of the tournament, the prestige of the Organizing Committee and the appeal of nature. nature, climate and people of Sa Pa”.
The organizers hope that through each running route, athletes will feel the love of the people; The uniqueness of indigenous culture; Admire the scenery and nature of Sa Pa. After the race, we hope that the athletes will become a bridge and introduce Sa Pa to many relatives and friends around the world.”
Athlete Nguyen Tien Hung excellently crossed the finish line first and became the men’s 100km champion – Photo: VMM
Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) is the first ultra-distance running race to take place in Vietnam since 2013. The tournament was initiated by the Danish Embassy and operated by Topas Travel. In the 2013 season, only one Vietnamese athlete completed the longest distance of 65km. VMM is one of the largest-scale terrain running tournaments with the most beautiful and fierce running tracks in Vietnam. Most people who love long-distance running, especially off-road running, want to try their hand at VMM’s roads once.
Nguyen Tien Hung won the men’s 100km distance
At the end of the 100km race on September 23, athlete Nguyen Tien Hung (Vietnam) finished first with a time of 12 hours 54 minutes 04 seconds. Previously, Tien Hung was the 160km runner-up at VMM 2022. This worker from Phu Tho is a very famous person in the long-distance running in Vietnam.
The women’s 100km champion belongs to athlete Man Yee Cheung (Hong Kong) with a time of 16 hours 48 minutes 26 seconds.
Athlete Arnie Macaneras (Philippines) won the men’s 70km distance with a record of 8 hours 40 minutes 48 seconds.
Meanwhile, the women’s 70km championship belongs to athlete Akane Nemoto (Japan) with a time of 13 hours 17 minutes 42 seconds.
The Vietnam Mountain Marathon – VMM Sa Pa 2023 is an activity in a series of events celebrating 120 years of Sa Pa tourism. The Organizing Committee expects the event to become one of the typical activities in promoting and promoting Sa Pa tourism to Vietnamese and international tourists, contributing to diversifying tourism products of Sa Pa in particular and Lao Cai province in general./.
Text: Q.Lien, Photos: VMM
