Held only once every two years, the third edition of the 100-Mile (161km) race at the Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) 2026 marks the return of Southeast Asia’s most daunting mountain challenge. Pushing athletes through brutal ascents, technical trails, and overnight weather shifts across the Hoang Lien Son range, this year's contest features a battle of raw grit and strategic endurance.
MEN’S 100-MILES: FORM, SPEED, AND MOUNTAIN MASTERY
The men’s division sets the stage for a clash between scorching international momentum and seasoned local course mastery:
-
Junghyun Lim (South Korea): Arrives in peak form after pulling off back-to-back championship victories at both Geoje 100K and TNF 100 Korea.
-
Yuta Matsuyama (Japan): Renowned for his technical trail prowess, carrying serious momentum from a podium finish at Lampang 100 and a decisive win at Mantra116.
-
Michal Lesniak (Poland): Proved his explosive speed by taking victory at the Vietnam Trail Marathon 21K earlier this year, making his 100-mile debut one of the most intriguing storylines to watch.
-
Nguyen Si Hieu (Vietnam): The seasoned veteran on Sa Pa's trails, aiming to improve on his 2022 performance. Fresh off a 4th-place finish at Rinjani 100, Hieu’s deep familiarity with the Hoang Lien Son terrain and tactical execution make him Vietnam’s frontrunning hope.
-
Nguyen Tien Vo (Vietnam): Reigning Vietnam Jungle Marathon champion, bringing relentless mountain toughness to complete a formidable Vietnamese duo.
WOMEN’S 100-MILES: HONG KONG SENSATION VS. VIETNAMESE TRIO
The women's 100-mile division centers on an international superstar facing off against three of Vietnam's finest ultra runners:
-
Man Yee Cheung (Hong Kong): The undisputed pre-race favorite. Following a dominant victory at the VMM 100km in 2023, she returns with world-class ultra credentials, including major wins at Mt. FUJI 100 miles, GPT100 Miler, and Rinjani 100.
-
The Vietnamese Contenders – Nguyen Thi Tra Giang, Giang Thi Linh & Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh: A powerful local contingent ready to capitalize on home-trail advantage. All eyes will be on Giang Thi Linh, born and raised on the steep mountain slopes of Sa Pa, bringing an intrinsic connection to the terrain that no outsider can easily match.
Who will endure the 161km gauntlet and conquer the mountain throne of Sa Pa?
