After seasons postponed by weather, the Northwest's biggest trail race will officially return to Mu Cang Chai on October 2–3, 2026 — right at the peak of the golden rice season. And once you're here, there will be one experience no athlete should miss: taking off from the top of Khau Pha Pass to take in the whole valley of ripe rice from above. 👉 Run the trail, then fly over it. Prices, slots and booking are in our guide to paragliding in Mu Cang Chai.
The comeback three years in the making
MCC Ultra Trail (Mucangchai Ultra Trail) is a familiar name in the trail-running community of Vietnam and the region. Two seasons in a row had to be postponed because weather conditions could not guarantee runner safety on the mountain courses — a hard but responsible call by the organizers. This year the race is determined to return: Mu Cang Chai, with terraced-field scenery ranked among the most beautiful in the world, is simply irreplaceable on the trail-running map. Notably, all registrations from previous seasons have been fully preserved with complete benefits for the 2026 edition. The list of Vietnamese and international athletes was already packed before registration even reopened — many have waited three years just to run these trails. That says more about Mu Cang Chai's appeal than any advertisement could.
