Last weekend’s Mu Cang Chai Trail saw the two anticipated race winners cross the finish line first, indeed. Hau Ha once more demonstrated her speed and trail skills to take the women’s and overall title, while Trung Nguyen proved that on his day and on his type of terrain he is always a serious podium contender. The leading lady of Vietnamese trail running won for the third time in ATM this season and is now virtually guaranteed of her spot in her country’s national team for the ATM Championship Final in Philippines on 17 December. T8 athlete Trung Nguyen also sees a major boost to his qualification chances for… Team Singapore. Because that’s the passport he is holding.

The 50k race in the stunningly beautiful region of Mu Cang Chai did not go entirely smoothless. Alleged marking sabotage caused issues for plenty a runner, including Hau Ha. As in VMM two weeks ago, she had started and set a solid pace from the gun, but found herself off course quite a bit around the 15km mark. When she got back on the right trail, she had dropped down to fourth place overall. Yet, in no time she was catching up with male race leader Trung Nguyen and decided to stuck with him for the remainder of the race. Trung is indeed known and respected for his meticulous planning and ability to self-navigate using GPS. Some ten minutes behind the lead duo, South Africa’s Timothy Lombard and Nguyễn Đức Tuấn Anh had a battle for second place decided in favour of the foreign athlete. Nguyễn Đức Tuấn Anh is doing a great job for his ATM Vietnam ranking with his third top placing of the season and looks set for a Team Vietnam invitation in the ATM Final! The women’s 50k podium was completed by Vũ Thị Lan Hương and Nguyen Phuong, winner of VMM 100 MIles two weeks ago. In fourth place was Japan’s Harada Tamae.

Hau Ha and Trung Nguyen crossed the finish line together as race winners in Mu Cang Chai

It’s only two weeks after Vietnam Mountain Marathon, but this weekend our eyes are fixed on the country again. Mu Cang Chai Trail is a new entry on our ATM Championship calendar after a successful stint as a Candidate, and it features a 50k main race in a very picturesque region of Northwest Vietnam. Moreover, the fantastic overall winner of the 100k a fortnight ago is already back in action: Hau Ha!

As can be seen on the elevation profile below, the Mu Cang Chai Trail course has roughly nine identifiable hilltops, reminiscent of Jember Hills in Indonesia last month. On these hills, runners will adore astonishing views of rice terraces and the surrounding vegetation. Mu Cang Chai is also the name of the area, which is being promoted as a new adventure tourism destination. The event this weekend is a boutique event with homestay accommodation for participants in the style of Cordillera Mountain Ultra in Philippines, Bukit Lawang Orang Utan Trail in Sumatra and, indeed, Vietnam Jungle Marathon next month.

When she crossed the finish line at VMM, it was quite clear she had not gone to her limit. Already the next morning, Hau Ha told her coach that she feels ‘fine’ and ‘no pain anywhere’. Mu Cang Chai is therefore a go. This weekend, the objective is to collect another 500 ATM points and ensure her qualification for Team Vietnam in the Asia Trail Master Championship Final on 17 December: the Mount Apo Sky Race in Davao, Philippines. While she is of course the sky high race favourite, it is interesting to see Nguyen Phuong also on the MCC start list. Nguyen Phuong is the winner of the … 100 miles race at VMM two weeks ago!

The men’s race is quite open on paper. 2020/21 ATM points leader Trung Nguyen will be competing and has definitely podium potential. Technically Singaporean, Trung can also significantly boost his selection chances for Team Singapore in the ATM Final this weekend. Most likely, we will also get to know some new faces in this race, with local runners grabbing the opportunity to run themselves into the picture.

Ha Hau spent some time exploring the magnificent Mu Cang Chai region this week