Where to trail run near Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is flat and urban, so serious trail running means a short trip out. The good news: within two to three hours there's real climbing, forest and single­track. Here's where locals go.

Núi Bà Đen (Tây Ninh) — ~100 km

The highest peak in the south at 986 m, rising straight out of the plain. Steep, rocky trails to the summit make it the go-to for vertical training near Saigon.

Núi Chứa Chan / Gia Lào (Đồng Nai) — ~110 km

The second-highest in the southeast (837 m). A punchy climb through forest and a pilgrimage trail — a favourite weekend hill for HCMC runners.

Núi Dinh (Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu) — ~90 km

A forested massif above Bà Rịa dotted with pagodas, streams and waterfalls, laced with runnable trails and stone steps. Cooler under the canopy and quieter than Bà Đen — a great half-day of climbing.

Chùa Châu Thới — the "monkey pagoda" (Bình Dương) — ~25 km

The closest hill to the city: a small peak (~82 m) crowned by a temple, with resident monkeys. A ~220-step staircase climbs one side and a paved road the other — so you can loop your reps (run up the road, down the steps). Perfect for an early-morning session without leaving town for long.

Hồ Đá — the stone lakes (Thủ Đức / Dĩ An) — ~20 km

Old quarry lakes on the edge of the city, by the National University campus. Flat, with small dirt paths winding around the water — an easy, close-to-home trail-style loop for when you can't leave town. (The lakes are deep: stay on the paths, don't swim.)

Nam Cát Tiên & Đồng Nai forests — ~150 km

Flatter but wild: jungle tracks, wildlife and humidity. Better for long, rhythmic runs than for climbing.

Getting there — weekend shuttle buses

For Núi Bà Đen and Núi Dinh, Activ Store and Trail Station run shuttle buses every Saturday and Sunday: departure around 4:30 am from the store, return around 2–3 pm. An easy, car-free way to fit in a weekend mountain session.

Training inside the city

For midweek vertical, runners repeat the stairs at Landmark 81, high-rise car parks, or the bridges along the river. It's not pretty, but it builds the legs for the hills.

Races to aim for

Southern trail races are fewer than in the north, so many Saigon runners travel to Đà Lạt or further. See what's coming up below, or browse the full calendar.