Vietnam Trail Marathon 2027

Vietnam Trail Marathon 2027 is the ninth edition of Topas Travel's Moc Chau trail festival and part of the Vietnam Trail Series, which began in 2013. Race day is Saturday 16 January 2027, with five distances from a family-friendly 5K through to a technical 70K ultra. The courses cross blossom-filled orchards, tea plantations, jungle, mountain singletrack, valleys and ethnic minority villages around Moc Chau.

The headline 70K is an actual 67.2 km with about 2,800 m of elevation gain. It starts at 05:00 from Muong Thanh Moc Chau Hotel and has a 23:30 finish cut-off. The new-for-2027 50K is 50.2 km with about 2,000 m of climbing, starts at 07:00 and has a 21:00 finish cut-off. The 21K is 21.6 km with about 1,000 m of climbing and starts at 08:00. The 10K and 5K begin at 09:00 from their separate start areas. All routes finish at the Heart-shaped Tea Hill, one of Moc Chau's best-known tea landscapes.

The longer races require prior trail experience. The 50K requires a previous chip-timed trail race of at least 20 km with significant elevation, while the 70K requires a chip-timed mountain race of at least 40 km. Qualifying results must be supplied no later than 30 days before race day. The 70K is an ITRA three-point race, an ITRA National League event, an Asia Trail Master Championship Points and Grandmaster Quest race, and a 100K UTMB Index race. The 50K is also an ITRA and UTMB Index race.

The advertised Early Bird period ended on 13 October 2026 and should not be treated as the current price tier. The official booking page is still linked by the organiser, but runners should check current prices and remaining places before paying. The organiser's 2027 FAQ states that registration closes one month before race day (around 16 December 2026), or earlier if sold out. The Early Bird fees displayed in ARC are historical and may be superseded. Runners must collect their own race kit and show photo identification, with a signed indemnity form also required. The organiser provides runner transport to the 5K and 10K starts and return transport from the finish for all distances. Water is available at checkpoints, but runners must carry their own bottles or hydration bladders. The official 2027 FAQ advises that GPX files will become available around one week before the race; 5K entrants under 16 must run with a separately registered parent or guardian. January in Moc Chau can be cold, wet and changeable, so mountain-weather clothing and the published mandatory equipment are important.