Event Overview
| Date | Jan 9-10, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Location | Da Lat, Lam Dong, Vietnam |
| Format | Fixed-Distance |
| Terrain | Mountain |
| Region | Asia |
| Distance / duration | 101.5 km |
| Course model | Point-to-point |
| Edition note | 100K entries are open until 11:59 PM (GMT+7) on December 25, 2026, or until full; the 50K and 20K are closed. The homepage and UTMB calendar give the event as January 7–10, 2027, while the entry page and UTMB’s announcement say January 8–10; every race starts on Saturday, January 9. The race header and UTMB Index give 101.5 km, but the race-details table says 104.2 km; both give 5,533 m of climbing. The 100K GPX was last updated on October 19, 2026. UTMB Live had no 2027 page on October 20. |
| Elevation gain | 5,533 m |
| Elevation loss | 5,625 m (race-details table) |
| Cutoff | 29 hours (finish by 8:00 AM Sunday, January 10). The organizer gives a required pace of 16:18 min/km and expects the first finisher after about 12 hours 11 minutes. |
| Start | 3:00 AM Saturday at Lam Vien Square, Da Lat |
| Highlights | First UTMB Race in Vietnam, Langbiang Peak |
Course & Terrain
Point to point from Lam Vien Square in central Da Lat, starting on paved streets before climbing to Langbiang Peak (2,167 m), passing Suoi Vang Lake, the K’Ho village of Gan Reo and its coffee farms, then crossing Elephant Mountain (1,815 m) and Pinhatt Peak (1,600 m) to finish at the Clay Tunnel tourist area by Tuyen Lam Lake. The event also has the 56.4 km 50K Elephant (5:00 AM from Lam Vien Square), the 24.1 km 20K Pinhatt and the 11.3 km 10K Tuyen Lam, all on Saturday, January 9.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Langbiang Peak, the highest point of Lam Dong Province
- Suoi Vang Lake
- Gan Reo K’Ho village
- Pinhatt Peak above Tuyen Lam Lake
The organizer splits the 100K into 30% singletrack, 48% dirt road or double track and 12% tarmac. Expect technical jungle trail in Bidoup–Nui Ba National Park and on Elephant Mountain.
The organizer warns that January in the Lam Dong highlands can be very hot (over 35°C) or cold (down to 5°C, feeling colder at night in high humidity), with heavy rain, wind and fog.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | No UTMB Index or qualifying race is required for the 100K, but runners need a UTMB account and must be 18 on race day. Index holders had priority entry from June 9, 2026, and general entry opened June 11. The 100K fee is US$231.0 in the late period (October 1 to December 25), after US$161.7 early and US$201.3 regular. |
| Support model | Aid stations carry electrolyte drink, water, fruit, bakery goods, hot drinks, soup and hot meals, with first aid and toilets at each. The event is cupless, so runners carry their own cup or hydration pack. Prize money goes to the overall top three men and women. |
| Crew / pacers | Crews may help only at AS1 Pine Forest, AS2 Langbiang, AS3 Suoi Vang Lake, AS4 Da Nghit, AS5 Hoa Son, AS6 Maple Leaf, AS7 Lam Ha Basecamp and the WS point at Gan Reo K’Ho Village, and may not run with runners more than 100 m from an aid station. Pacers are not allowed in the 100K. |
| Drop bags | One mid-race drop bag at AS5 Hoa Son and one finish-line bag. Both are left at the start area at Lam Vien Square on race morning. |
| Logistics note | Domestic flights land at Lien Khuong Airport, a taxi or shuttle ride from Lam Vien Square. International runners usually fly into Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and connect by air or travel 6 to 7 hours by road. Race-kit collection and check-in run 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Friday, January 8, at the Lam Vien Square expo; there is no race-morning check-in. |
Why This Race Matters
Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB debuts in January 2027 as the UTMB World Series’ first event in Vietnam. The 100K Langbiang is its longest race and the only one that crosses all three of Langbiang, Elephant Mountain and Pinhatt. It is a World Series 100K event worth 3 Running Stones, and the top three men and women qualify for the corresponding 2027 UTMB World Series Finals race (direct entry, but the entry fee is still paid). A non-UTMB Vietnam Highlands Trail held an Elephant 50 on January 10, 2026, according to the UTMB Index; the 100K is new.
Preparing for a Race Like Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB
The fixed-distance race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
- Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
- Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
- Tapering for ultramarathons: Plan the taper and race week around your own recovery.
Best Fit
- Runners after a new UTMB 100K in Southeast Asia
- Runners comfortable with a 3:00 AM start and a long day in the highlands
Planning Notes
- Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
- The 3:00 AM start means the climb toward Langbiang begins in darkness.
- A GPS device loaded with the official GPX is mandatory, and gear checks happen at aid stations rather than at check-in.
- Some sections cross private land or paid tourist sites; the organizer discourages running the route outside the race.
Event FAQs
When is Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB?
The organizer’s schedule runs from check-in on Friday, January 8, 2027, to the awards on Sunday, January 10, in Da Lat, with all four races on Saturday, January 9. The 100K Langbiang starts at 3:00 AM from Lam Vien Square and closes at 8:00 AM on Sunday, January 10.
Is Vietnam Highlands Trail the first UTMB race in Vietnam?
Yes. UTMB’s announcement describes it as the arrival of the UTMB World Series in Vietnam, with the first edition in January 2027. The 100K Langbiang earns 3 Running Stones.
Do I need a UTMB Index to run the Vietnam Highlands 100K?
No. The race rules say no UTMB Index is required for the 100K, though you need a UTMB account and must be at least 18. Entries stay open until December 25, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Are pacers allowed at the Vietnam Highlands 100K?
No. Crews may help at seven aid stations and at the WS point in Gan Reo K’Ho Village, but pacers are not allowed in the 100K.
Related Preparation
- Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official 100K Langbiang race page — https://vietnamhighlands.utmb.world/races/100Klangbiang
- Official event homepage with race list and registration status — https://vietnamhighlands.utmb.world/
- Official entry and registration information — https://vietnamhighlands.utmb.world/runners/entry-info
- Official event schedule — https://vietnamhighlands.utmb.world/runners/event-schedule
- Official race rules — https://vietnamhighlands.utmb.world/runners/racerules
- Official mandatory gear and weather warning — https://vietnamhighlands.utmb.world/runners/mandatory-gear
- Official travel information — https://vietnamhighlands.utmb.world/destination/how-to-get-there
- Official course overview — https://vietnamhighlands.utmb.world/overview
- UTMB announcement of Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB — https://utmb.world/news/new-vietnam
- UTMB Index: 2027 100K Langbiang race page — https://utmb.world/utmb-index/races/62692.vietnamhighlandstrailbyutmb100klangbiang.2027
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.