Last weekend’s Ultra Trail Ha Giang has been won by the pre-race favourites Vang A Tung and Nguyen Ngoc Anh in the male and female category, respectively. Both already scored a second place in VTM last January and are almost guaranteed already of qualification for the ATM Championship Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in their home country Vietnam on 3 October.

Vang A Tung completed the scenic, but tough 70km in Ha Giang in. a time of 9h44. That was over half an hour quicker than second-placed Nguyen Hoang Thang. In third place, almost one hour behind Vang A Tung was Truong Anh Dung, narrowly ahead of Duong Cong Bien and former ATM Finalist Do Trung Kien. They all finished ahead of Quang Tran, still on the way back to the front after a few years off the trails. Trung Nguyen did not have the freshest legs after a 100km the week before and finished together with the first female runner in seventh place.

Nguyen Ngoc Anh was almost two hours clear of the next women, showing her dominance in Ha Giang. She came into the finish together with Trung Nguyen , which does show a really strong pace from her part as well! Nguyen Thi Le was second and Ngo Thi Thanh Loan third on the podium.

First ATM race win for Vang A Tung

This weekend the ATM Championship season continues with Ha Giang Ultra Trail in the north of Vietnam, a late sub for the postponed Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths event by the same event management company Race Jungle. On the programme is a 70km race, which automatically is also valid for the Grandmaster Quest. Especially for Vietnamese trail runners, Ha Giang is the last chance to score Championship points within their own country before the Final at Mu Cang Chai in early October.

Ha Giang lies approximately 300km northeast of Hanoi. It’s an area known for its breaktaking landscapes, cultural richness, and the event is recommended by several seasoned trail runners in ATM who have taken part before. In fact, the event offers both trail and road races.

The 70km trail course is quite spicy on paper, though, with an estimated elevation gain of over 5000hm. The race starts at 4am in the morning on Saturday. Expected favourites for victory are Quang Tran, still making his comeback on the trails after a long spell on the road, and rising Vietnamese star Vang A Tung, second in Vietnam Trail Marathon in January. But also Singapore’s Trung Nguyen is on a roll this year, with a race win in Kalaw 100 in Myanmar and a second place in Brah Yang Trail Summit last month. Let’s also pay attention to the performance of Nguyễn Hoàng Thắng, who has been building up a solid competitive reputation as well. The women’s race has Nguyễn Ngọc Anh as potential race winner, also second in VTM this season already. Nguyen Le is also a podium candidate. With 265 runners registered for the 70km, we are certainly bound to discover some new names as well this weekend!

In-form Trung Nguyen already scored a win and a second place in ATM qualifiers this year

Vang A Tung is one of the newcomers in Vietnam’s male elite field. 2nd in VTM in January

We are happy to confirm that Ultra Trail Ha Giang is a new ATM Championship qualifier for the ongoing Season 11 in Vietnam. This last-minute entry follows the cancellation of Lam Dong Trail and Vietnam Ultra Marathon, and the postponement of Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths to Season 12. Ultra Trail Ha Giang is organised by Race Jungle and features a 70km trail race, which means finishers can also score a point for their Grandmaster Quest.

The event is scheduled for the upcoming weekend of 3 to 5 April . Ha Giang lies approximately 300km northeast of Hanoi. It’s an area known for its breaktaking landscapes, and recommended by several seasoned trail runners in ATM who have taken part in the event before. .

As we read on the event’s web page: “Under the theme "Discovery the rocky mountain," the race is not only a test of endurance but also a journey to explore the majestic beauty of Ha Giang's rocky landscapes. The race routes stretch along the historic Hạnh Phúc Road, weaving through deep valleys and steep cliffs, offering a chance to admire breathtaking natural scenery and connect with the culturally rich ethnic villages. “

The event has several distance categories, and even a road ultra as well, but ATM points seekers should focus exclusively on the 70 km. More infornation can be obtained via the website below.