4,500 Runners Join 2023 Vietnam Mountain Marathon

About 4,500 runners from 51 countries and territories will participate in Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2023, heard a preparatory meeting recently coordinated by the People's Committee of Sa Pa township in northern Lao Cai province.

Specifically, about 4,500 runners from 51 countries and territories around the world will compete in the marathon. Notably, 20% of the runners are foreigners. Especially, at the distance of 21km, there was the participation of Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolai Prytz.

At the meeting to prepare for the 2023 Vietnam Mountain Marathon. Source: Lao Cai newspaper

This year, the race will be held from September 22 to September 24 with five distances (10km, 21km, 50km, 70km and 100km) passing through 12 communes and wards in Sa Pa town.

At this year's event, the organizing board has adjusted the route and running distance to bring a new and challenging experience to the athletes, along with minimizing travel time by means of transportation.

Accordingly, for the distance of 100km this year, it will start at the center of Sa Pa town; the distance of 42km will change to 50km, while the 70km distance is supplemented with more trails and increased altitude for athletes to have more experience.

The two distances that will be temporarily suspended are the 15km and 160km distances. The 160km distance is expected to be held every two years and return at the 2024 edition.

Set amid the mountain peaks of Sapa, this year's route winds past buffalo trails and yellowing rice terraces, passing ethnic minority villages along the way.

The organizer will deduct 50% of the funding contribution from participants running distances of 21km or more for charity work in Sa Pa town and the remaining 50% will cooperate with Newborns Vietnam to purchase equipment for the care of Vietnamese newborns; cooperating with Hanoi-based NGO Blue Dragon supports street children and families in difficult circumstances and Operation Smile Vietnam sponsors surgery for children with cleft lip and cleft palate.

The race, organized by Topas Travel and supported by Topas Ecolodge, is part of the Vietnam Trail Series which has now raised over USD 400,000 for good causes.

The marathon is an activity in a series of events celebrating 120 years of Sa Pa tourism. The organizing board expects the event to become one of the typical activities of promoting and promoting Sapa tourism to Vietnamese and international tourists, contributing to the diversification of Sa Pa's tourism products in particular and Lao Cai province in general.

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