Hậu Hà

About

Hậu Hà (Hà Thị Hậu) is a Vietnamese trail runner from Sapa, Lào Cai who has become one of Asia's most admired ultrarunners through a story of reinvention as remarkable as any in the sport. Born in the mountainous Van Son village in Northern Vietnam, she was refused entry to university when she applied to study physical education — falling two centimetres below the required height of 155cm. She moved to Sapa to work, and it was there, after a decade, a divorce, and a period of struggling with her weight, that she discovered trail running. Her debut race — the 21km Vietnam Mountain Marathon in September 2020 — she won by 26 minutes over the male champion. She has not slowed since. In 2023 she became the first Southeast Asian athlete, male or female, to finish in the top 10 at UTMB Mont-Blanc, placing 9th — a milestone that made her a national hero in Vietnam. Her 2025 season was outstanding: wins at the Vietnam Mountain Marathon 75km and the Tsaigu Trail 105km, and a 6th-place finish at Western States 100. In January 2026 she tied for first at the Hong Kong 100 alongside Slovakia's Veronika Leng, both finishing in 10:43:35 in one of the race's most celebrated moments. At 153cm, she has long since surpassed every expectation that once stood in her way.

Notable Wins

• — UTMB Mont-Blanc 2023 9th (first Southeast Asian top-10)
• — HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB 2025
• — Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2025 75km
• — Tsaigu Trail 2025 105km
• — Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 2026 (co-champion
• — 10:43:35)

Race History