What is trail running? A beginner's guide
Trails, elevation gain (D+) and how mountain running differs from the road — the essentials before your first race.
Trail running is running off-road — on mountain paths, forest singletrack, dirt farm tracks and ridgelines — instead of on tarmac. In Vietnam it means terraced rice valleys, limestone karsts, pine forest and jungle. It's less about pace and more about terrain, climbing and the landscape you move through.
D+ : the number that matters most
On the road, distance is everything. On trail, the defining number is D+ (elevation gain) — the total metres you climb over a course. A flat 42K road marathon and a 42K mountain race with 2,200 m of D+ are completely different efforts. That's why every race and every distance in this directory shows its elevation profile: the climb is the story.
Common distances
- Under 21K — a great first taste; a few hundred metres of climbing.
- 21–42K — half to full mountain marathon; a real day out.
- 42–80K — ultra territory, often with several big climbs.
- 80K and up — long ultras, sometimes overnight, 3,000 m+ of D+.
What you need to start
Trail shoes with grip, a soft flask or small vest for water, and a willingness to hike the steep bits — even elite runners walk the climbs. Start with a short race, respect the cut-off times, and build from there.
Where to run in Vietnam
The north (Sa Pa, Mộc Châu, Ba Vì) has the biggest mountains; the central highlands around Đà Lạt offer runnable pine forest; the south has standout spots like Núi Bà Đen and the Tà Năng–Phan Dũng route. Browse every event on the races page.
Frequently asked
What does D+ mean? +
D+ is the total elevation gain — the sum of all the climbing on a course, in metres. It's the single best measure of how hard a trail race is.
Is trail running harder than road running? +
It's a different effort. You'll run slower for the same distance because of the climbing and terrain, but it's usually gentler on the body and far more scenic.