Where to Buy Trail Running Shoes in Vietnam: 7 Shops + Tips

To buy trail running shoes in Vietnam you have three routes: Decathlon for an affordable, durable first pair; specialist running shops such as Supersports, IMSports and Activ Store to compare many brands; or the brands' own stores, adidas, ASICS and HOKA. My advice: try shoes on in a shop to settle the model and size, then wait for a "double day" (9.9, 10.10, 11.11, 12.12…), because many stores run sales on exactly those dates.

Quick summary

• Cheap, tough, beginner-friendly: Decathlon and its Kiprun trail line.
• Most brands, frequent sales: Supersports (HOKA, ASICS, adidas, Columbia…).
• Trail specialists with niche brands: IMSports (Norda, NNormal, Mount to Coast…) and Activ Store (Norda, ASICS, Altra, Dynafit…).
• Straight from the brand: adidas, ASICS and HOKA stores and websites.
• Always try first: go in the afternoon, wear your running socks, leave a thumb's width at the toe, test a descent.
• Watch the double days: pick the model first, buy when the sale hits.

Where to buy trail running shoes in Vietnam

Decathlon: cheap, durable, easy to try

Decathlon opened its first Vietnamese store in 2019 at Vincom Mega Mall Royal City in Hanoi and later added stores in Ho Chi Minh City. Its trail shoes sit under the in-house Kiprun brand (the trail range used to be called Evadict). The big plus is price: for a first pair to run Ba Vì, Núi Dinh or a 10–21K race, it is usually the lightest hit on your wallet while still being solid. The range changes by season, so check the Decathlon Vietnam website or app first, then go and try them on.

Supersports: the widest choice, frequent sales

Supersports belongs to Thailand's Central Retail group and says it is the official distributor of HOKA, Columbia and Under Armour; its site also carries ASICS, adidas, Mizuno, Saucony, On and more. HOKA was sold in Vietnam through Supersports before the brand opened its own stores. A price example from when I checked (October 2026): the Columbia Montrail Trinity FKT lists at 3,990,000 VND (about USD 150).

Supersports brands its sales "Double Day" (in 2026 there were 9.9 and 10.10 events, with a dedicated running section). One detail people miss: according to the policy on its product pages, online orders can be returned within 30 days at full price but only 10 days for discounted items, and that policy does not cover in-store purchases.

IMSports: running and trail specialist

IMSports describes itself as a supplier of shoes and accessories for road and trail running, with brands such as HOKA, Mount to Coast, Norda, On Running, NNormal, Coros and Compressport. It is the place to find niche trail brands you will not see in a shopping mall, such as Norda or NNormal. The shop is in Hanoi; check the address and opening hours on imsports.vn before you go.

Activ Store: specialist running shop in Hanoi and HCMC

Activ Store calls itself a "Specialized Running Store", with shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, selling ASICS, Altra, New Balance, On Running, Norda, Dynafit and plenty of accessories (Compressport, Injinji, Leki, GU, Tailwind…). Its trail shoe section has Norda and ASICS. When I checked (October 2026), the ASICS Metafuji Trail 2 was 5,990,000 VND (about USD 230) and Norda ranged from 7,500,000 to 8,500,000 VND (about USD 285–325). Sign up as a member with your email and you get a 100,000 VND code for a first order above 1,000,000 VND, plus free shipping.

Brand stores: adidas, ASICS, HOKA

• adidas sells online at adidas.com.vn and has stores in the major cities. In May 2026 it opened the Sala Running Store at 72 Nguyễn Cơ Thạch (HCMC), its first store in Vietnam dedicated only to running. Its trail shoes are in the Terrex line.
• ASICS has an official site at asics.com/vn (ASICS Vietnam) with a store finder.
• HOKA opened its first Vietnamese store at Saigon Centre (HCMC), with a 3D foot scanner to suggest models; the Hanoi store, on the third floor of Vincom Bà Triệu, opened on 2 April 2026. HOKA is also stocked by Supersports and IMSports.

Buying from the brand makes sense once you know its fit suits you and you want the newest model in every size.

How to try on trail shoes in a shop (5 steps)

Trying shoes on is the most important step: the same size 42 fits differently from brand to brand. Here is how I do it:

1. Go in the afternoon. Feet swell over the day, and swell more after hours on a mountain. Morning fittings push you towards shoes that are too tight.
2. Wear your actual running socks (and your own insoles if you use them). Thick versus thin socks can change the feel by half a size.
3. Leave about a thumb's width (roughly 1 cm) between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. On descents your foot slides forward; without that space you get black toenails.
4. Test a descent. If the shop has a test ramp or stairs, walk down them hard a few times. Toes hitting the front means the size or shape is wrong; a heel lifting means you need a heel-lock lacing (use the last eyelet) or a different model.
5. Check the width and jog a little. Your little toe should not be squeezed and the laces should not dig into the top of your foot. Try both feet, walk, then jog a few laps of the shop.

Once you are done, take a photo of the model name and size. If you buy later on sale, you already know which pair fits.

Drop, stack and lugs: matching shoes to Vietnamese terrain

Three specs appear on every product page:

• Drop is the difference in sole height between heel and toe, in mm. Typical road shoes sit around 8–10 mm. If you are used to a high drop, do not jump straight to 0–4 mm: your calves and Achilles need a few weeks to adapt.
• Stack is the total thickness of the sole under your foot. A thick stack is more comfortable over long distances, but you feel the ground less and roll an ankle more easily on jagged rock.
• Lugs are the rubber studs on the outsole. 3–4 mm lugs handle most trails; 5 mm or deeper, widely spaced, grip mud better and shed it faster.

One more detail: a rock plate inside the sole protects the bottom of your foot on long runs over sharp stones.

For example, if you are targeting the Vietnam Mountain Marathon in Sa Pa, plan for rain and mud; the Dalat Ultra Trail is mostly pine-forest singletrack and red earth. Check each race in the trail race calendar.

Budget: how much should you spend?

• Budget: Decathlon (Kiprun) or last season's models on sale in the shops. Fine for beginners and races under 21K.
• Mid-range, roughly 3–6 million VND (about USD 115–230): the main trail lines of the big brands. Examples (October 2026): Columbia Montrail Trinity FKT at 3,990,000 VND at Supersports, ASICS Metafuji Trail 2 at 5,990,000 VND at Activ Store.
• Premium, from about 7.5 million VND (about USD 285): trail specialist brands such as Norda (7,500,000–8,500,000 VND at Activ Store).

The most expensive pair will not make you faster if it does not fit. Spend your effort on finding the right fit first.

Buy on a "double day": 1.1, 2.2… up to 12.12

A "double day" is a date where the day matches the month: 1.1, 2.2, 3.3… 12.12. E-commerce platforms and many retail chains in Vietnam tend to launch promotions on these dates; Tuổi Trẻ newspaper described retail chains and online marketplaces "racing" to run 10-10 deals. Supersports even names its sales "Double Day". Not every shop discounts on every double day, so follow the fan page or join the mailing list of the shops you like.

How to shop the sales without getting burned:

1. Pick the model and size first (tried on in store), so on sale day you just click buy.
2. Compare the final price after shipping and vouchers, not the headline percentage.
3. Read the return policy: discounted items often have a shorter window (10 days instead of 30 at Supersports, for example).
4. Only buy from authorised shops or the brand's official store on a marketplace, to avoid fakes.
5. Stack member perks where the shop allows it, such as Activ Store's 100,000 VND first-order code.

Frequently asked questions

Can you run on roads in trail shoes?

Yes, especially for city trail races with a lot of concrete. The lugs will wear faster, though, and trail shoes are firmer than road shoes, so long road runs feel harsher.

Should trail shoes be bigger than my everyday shoes?

There is no universal rule because every brand's fit differs. Many runners go up half a size from their everyday shoes, but the reliable check is still a thumb's width at the toe plus a descent test.

Are Decathlon trail shoes any good?

For beginners and short to middle distances, Decathlon's Kiprun trail shoes are good value. Once you run longer or more technical terrain, you will know exactly what you need (cushioning, lugs, fit) for an upgrade.

Read more

• What is trail running? A beginner's guide
• Trail running spots near Ho Chi Minh City
• Shops and useful links for trail runners

Sources: Activ Store, IMSports, Supersports: Double Day, Supersports: Columbia Montrail Trinity FKT, Tuoi Tre News: adidas Sala Running Store, Brands Vietnam: HOKA Hanoi, SGI Europe: HOKA Vietnam, CAND: Decathlon Vietnam, ASICS Vietnam, Tuổi Trẻ: double-day 10-10 promotions. Prices and policies checked October 2026 and may change.