A step towards discovering wonders

- On December 27th and 28th, the valley of Huu Lien commune will become the focal point for the running community as the "Lang Son Geopark Ultra Trail – Huu Lien 2025" international trail running race is held. To date, coordination and preparation for the event have been implemented by relevant agencies and units in the province, ready to welcome domestic and international athletes to explore the beauty of one of the representative spaces within the UNESCO Global Geopark of Lang Son.

The runners surveyed the race route.

The race takes place in a special context, as Lang Son Geopark was officially recognized by UNESCO as a Global Geopark in April 2025 – a significant milestone affirming the outstanding geological, landscape, and indigenous cultural values ​​of the province. With routes winding through unique heritage sites, the race promises to offer a journey of discovery through magnificent nature and indigenous culture.

A fascinating journey

As the first large-scale trail running event organized in the core area of ​​the UNESCO Global Geopark Lang Son , the Lang Son Geopark Ultra Trail – Huu Lien 2025 carries the message "every step is a journey of discovery of wonders." Mr. Pham Van Manh, Director of Vietnam Expeditions Joint Stock Company - the co-organizer of the event - said: "The running routes are designed as vivid 'geological cross-sections,' taking athletes through the lush green Dong Lam valley, the Huu Lien special-use forest with its rich ecosystem, the peaceful Lan Ty lake, and the magnificent limestone cave system, hundreds of millions of years old, in the characteristic ecosystem of the Northeast region. Interspersed throughout the journey of conquering the terrain are the long-standing living spaces of ethnic minority communities, where the local way of life is still preserved almost intact."

The "Lang Son Geopark Ultra Trail - Huu Lien 2025" international trail running race will be held on December 27th and 28th, 2025 (with the official competition on December 28th). The competition includes four distances: 60km (Ultra Trail), 30km (Trail), 15km (Trail), and 5km (Fun Run).

According to the organizers, the race will include four distances: 60km for professional athletes requiring high endurance and technical skills, 30km and 15km suitable for amateur athletes who enjoy the experience, and a 5km community race for locals, tourists, and athletes to participate and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the event.

Mr. Luu Ba Mac, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province, said: "We have identified this as one of the key tourism products to promote the image of the UNESCO Global Geopark of Lang Son to the world. Therefore, the department has taken the lead in guiding the Organizing Committee of the race and the People's Committee of Huu Lien commune to comply with the regulations of the Law on Physical Education and Sports and related guiding documents; conducting inspections, supervision, and monitoring of the race to ensure compliance with regulations; coordinating and supporting the propaganda and promotion of the race in conjunction with the image of the UNESCO Global Geopark of Lang Son; ensuring that the image of geological heritage, cultural heritage, and tourism is integrated throughout the athletes' journey."

According to the Organizing Committee, as of December 24th, over 500 domestic and international athletes had registered to participate. For the athletes, the appeal of the race lies not only in the physical challenge but also in the unique experience of the landscape and culture. Nguyen Van Nam, an amateur athlete from Hanoi who registered for the 30km distance, shared: "I have participated in many mountain running races before, but this is the first time I've run in a newly recognized global geopark. What I'm most looking forward to is directly experiencing the terrain, the characteristic landscape, and learning about the local culture in Huu Lien."

Ready to welcome guests

To ensure the race is held safely and effectively, on December 21, 2025, the Provincial People's Committee issued a directive instructing relevant departments, agencies, and communes to coordinate closely in organizing the event. Based on this, plans regarding professional matters, security, medical services, and communication have been implemented synchronously by the relevant units.

The owner of Rừng Xanh homestay in Hữu Liên commune is tidying up the rooms in preparation for welcoming guests.

Mr. Khong Hong Minh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Huu Lien commune, said: "The commune government and people are very excited that the race is being held in the commune. We recognize this not only as a sporting event but also as an important opportunity to promote our image to a large number of domestic and international tourists. Therefore, the People's Committee of the commune has proactively developed a specific coordination plan, clearly assigning tasks to each force, each village and hamlet; focusing on ensuring security and order, traffic safety, environmental hygiene, and supporting the Organizing Committee throughout the race. Militia, police, and youth union forces have been mobilized to participate directly at points along the race route and in areas where athletes and tourists gather. At this point, most of the preparations have been completed. The commune government and people are all excited and ready to welcome athletes and tourists to Huu Lien."

The atmosphere of preparation for the competition is also strongly spreading throughout the local community. Ms. Le Thu Phuong, owner of Rung Xanh homestay in Lang Ben village, said: "Rung Xanh homestay consists of 4 bungalows (separate units) and 2 stilt houses that can accommodate about 60 people. At this point, my family's homestay and those of other households in the village have all been fully booked by athletes and tourists. We are currently focusing on renovating the houses, preparing bedding, safe food, and arranging a schedule to welcome guests that matches the competition's timing. We hope that athletes coming to Huu Lien will not only have a place to rest and eat but also experience the hospitality and unique cultural life of the local people."

The Lang Son Geopark Ultra Trail - Huu Lien 2025 race is not only a sporting event but also a strategic step in realizing a sustainable tourism development model linked to heritage preservation. With the synchronized involvement of all levels of government, sectors, businesses, and the people, the race is expected to gradually establish a distinctive adventure sports tourism brand, contributing to making Lang Son an attractive destination on the domestic and international tourism map.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/han-hoan-cung-buoc-chay-kham-pha-dia-chat-5069649.html