Hoang Nguyen Thanh eyes 10th title as the “King of Ba Ra mountain climbing”

Having stepped onto the top podium nine times at the National Mountain Running Championship “Conquering the Peak of Ba Ra”, Hoang Nguyen Thanh is firmly establishing his dominance on this extremely demanding course. As the 31st edition of the race in 2026, scheduled to take place on January 4, 2026, approaches, the question arises: will there be any runner capable of stopping the “King of Vietnamese Marathon” from achieving a record 10th title at this prestigious, traditional race held in Phuoc Long Ward, Dong Nai Province?

Nine-time champion

Looking back on more than 10 editions of the tournament, in the men’s elite category, from 2014 to 2017, Hoang Nguyen Thanh of the host province, Dong Nai, delivered an impressive "poker" by winning four consecutive "King of Mountain" titles.

Athlete Hoang Nguyen Thanh actively prepares for the 31st National Mountain Running Championship “Conquering the Peak of Ba Ra,” 2026.

After a hiatus in 2018, the tournament returned in 2019 with significant changes to the course. Athletes no longer tackled steep vertical staircases but instead ran on long, steep slopes halfway up the mountain. As a result, the home-ground advantage of the former Binh Phuoc team (now Dong Nai) diminished. Coupled with the absence of the “undefeated” Hoang Nguyen Thanh, top-tier athletes, many of them national team members from the Military, took the lead. The “King of Mountain” title that year went to Do Quoc Luat, who finished with a time of 33’52’’08, followed by Bui The Anh and Trinh Quoc Luong in second and third places.

By the 2020 edition, when the race returned to its traditional course, considered the signature challenge of Ba Ra, and with Hoang Nguyen Thanh, holder of a "poker" of titles, making his comeback, he immediately reaffirmed that this is the race where he truly reigns supreme. Once again, he outpaced all competitors to finish first with a time of 33’37’’62, claiming his fifth “King of Mountain Climbing” title at the National Ba Ra Mountain Climb Championship.

Over the past five years, except for 2022, when the event was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the men’s race in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025 has witnessed absolute dominance by the “King of Vietnamese Marathon” Hoang Nguyen Thanh. He added four more titles to his collection, bringing his total to nine championships.

Intensive training for the 31st edition

This year, competition in the men’s race continues to come from elite runners representing Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, Ho Chi Minh City, among others. However, achieving a 10th victory in this grueling race on his home turf still seems well within Hoang Nguyen Thanh’s grasp. Only athletes such as Trieu Tien Luyen (Lam Dong), Trinh Quoc Luong (Army), or Le Van Tuan (Ho Chi Minh City) may pose some early challenges in the opening kilometers. Yet it is highly likely that the “King of Vietnamese Marathon” will once again be the first to cross the finish line, completing his historic 10-win milestone.

“For me, conquering the peak of Ba Ra each year is a personal goal, because this is a large-scale race of the province. More importantly, the race has helped me forge the willpower and resilience I have today. That’s why I will strive to win this championship for the 10th time, to leave my own mark and bring glory to provincial sports." 

— Athlete Hoang Nguyen Thanh

Before competing in the 31st National Mountain Running Championship “Conquering the Peak of Ba Ra” in 2026, Hoang Nguyen Thanh had just come off an unsuccessful performance at SEA Games 33, finishing fourth in the men’s marathon and missing the chance to claim a third SEA Games medal. Returning to compete on home ground, Thanh is determined to reclaim the prestigious “King of Mountain” title as a way to make up for the disappointment at the SEA Games, an arena where Vietnam’s “marathon king” once won gold in 2021.

By Nguyen Dinh – Translated by Trieu Ngan, Minho