Vietnam’s first official international paragliding competition, the Putaleng XC Open, will be held in Tam Duong district in northern mountainous Lai Chau province from November 28 to December 1, aimed at bringing paragliding pilots from all around the world to Vietnam’s mighty Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and its beautiful landscapes.

The competition is being organized by the Vietwings Hanoi Paragliding Club and the provincial and district people’s committees. It is recognized by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI) and the Vietnam Air Sport Association (VASA) as the first paragliding competition at the international level in Vietnam and is on FAI’s tournament list.

It expects to attract 80 pilots from countries and territories such as Russia, Australia, Belgium, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan (China), Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Among the participants are leading paragliders Yosh Pasha from Indonesia, Haqimy Faridil from Malaysia, Ho Nam Chiu from Hong Kong (China), Yong Tae Ahn and Chikyong Ha from South Korea, and Le Hoang Bach and Tran Hoang Kim from Vietnam, providing a good opportunity for local paragliders to meet and exchange experience.

According to the Organizing Board, the best at the Open will then compete at the upcoming Paragliding World Cup.

Tam Duong is located in northwest Vietnam and is separated from other regions by the towering Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range. The site of the competition is surrounded by two high ridges on the two highest peaks in Vietnam - Fansipan and Putaleng. Its beautiful landscapes have been preserved, as the area remains untouched by tourism, and are where many ethnic minorities can be found amid terraced rice fields and tea plantations.

The popular mountain town of Sapa is about 60km away and an ideal spot for competitors to relax. VN Economic Times

Le Diem

Yen Bai Paragliding Festival 2019 in pictures

A paragliding festival opened in Mu Cang Chai district’s Lim Mong village, the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai, on September 21, impressing thousands of visitors.