MOUNT Kinabalu saw history being made this week as a group of 102 Vietnamese women, all around the age of 50, became the largest foreign delegation ever recorded to summit the iconic 4,095-metre peak.
Organised by Minh Tri Thanh Academy and brought in by Vietnam Discovery Travel in partnership with local operator Borneo Calling, the women began their ascent on June 9 and completed the climb in the early hours of June 10, 2025.
Mount Kinabalu’s daily carrying capacity is capped at 165 climbers by Sabah Parks, a limit imposed after the 2015 earthquake to ensure environmental sustainability and safety.
The Vietnamese group made up the overwhelming majority of that day’s climbers, marking an unprecedented single-nation contingent.
The climb was led by Nguyen Thi Lanh, a renowned psychotherapist and founder of Minh Tri Thanh Academy.
Framing the expedition as a journey of self-healing and empowerment, she described the climb as more than a physical feat.
“This was more than just a mountain climb,” said Lanh. “It was a powerful metaphor for life. Through each step, our team confronted their own inner mountains—fear, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs. And at the summit, they found confidence, courage, and clarity.”
Participants came from a range of professions and backgrounds but were united in their goal: to challenge themselves emotionally and mentally while embracing the raw natural beauty of Sabah’s most iconic landscape.
Sabah Tourism Board (STB), which hailed the group’s accomplishment, said the climb underscores Sabah’s rising appeal in the realm of transformational travel—a growing global trend where physical journeys intersect with personal breakthroughs.
The record-setting climb also reflects strengthening tourism ties between Sabah and Vietnam, particularly following recent improvements in direct air connectivity. - June 15, 2025
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