Athletes participate in the Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2018. Photo courtesy of the organizers.

Athletes will compete in several different races, ranging from 10km to 160km. Among the competitors, French runner Jean Henri Haniquaut, and two leading Vietnamese runners Quang Tran and Nguyen Tien Hung are to compete in the 160-km ultra-run which features an additional mountain on the course and more rough paths to endure.

The 160km long race is scheduled to start at 4 a.m. on September 9. Participants will run through some of the highest peaks in Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range to reach the finish line by midnight on Saturday.

Originally founded in 2013 by Topas Travel, VMM is one of the largest ultra-marathon events in Asia and represents a landmark event in Southeast Asia.

The event also has a significant charitable focus with thousands of US dollars donated to good causes since 2013. This year, part of the proceeds collected from the registration fees will be donated to local projects operated by Operation Smile, Newborns Vietnam, and Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation.