Lovers of rock climbing had a great time competing at Rocktober 2024, held in HCM City on October 19 and 20. — VNS Photo Việt Dũng

HCM CITY — Around 150 rock-climbing lovers partook in Rocktober 2024, Việt Nam’s largest annual “rock-climbing festival”, in HCM City on October 19 and 20.

The event, held for the sixth time, is organised at Crescent Wall in District 7, Việt Nam’s largest indoor climbing gym.

It features a rock-climbing competition for participants of varied skill levels, with the categories being divided into three main divisions: Bouldering, Top Rope and Lead Climbing.

The first day of the event was very lively, with competitors of various ages, sexes and nationalities eagerly pushing themselves to their limits to overcome tough rock climbing challenges, all while being cheered on by friends and families.

Anatole Roy, an expat from France, told Việt Nam News that there were a lot of very good climbers, and while it is a bit challenging, he was very excited, and people were happy to be here.

Paul Massad, founder of Push Climbing, Việt Nam’s largest climbing gym network, and CEO of Crescent Wall, said that the annual event aims to give lovers of the sport something to look forward to and to compare their skills.

"Rocktober is for everybody who thinks climbing is for them. It’s for everybody who wants to discover a new sport, a new form of staying healthy, a new form of how to release stress, how to do exercise. Rocktober is really just a festival to celebrate rock climbing, the sport and the community at large."

While winners of the competition receive trophies, Crescent Wall memberships and cool prizes from sponsors, many set their eyes on something bigger: invitations to the first ever HCMC Indoor Climbing Championship to be held in November.

Vietnamese winners of the competition will be invited to the HCMC Indoor Climbing Championship in November. — Photo courtesy of Crescent Wall - Push Climbing

Rocktober 2024 seeks to set a foundation for a national team to represent Việt Nam in the international arena, Paul said.

"It is still a fringe sport, but we have made huge strides in getting rock climbing to be top of mind awareness of people," he said.

Nguyễn Thụy Vy, a Thủ Đức City resident, shared that she has been rock climbing for around two to three years, and she practises around three times a week to train her endurance.

"Winners of this competition get to compete in the championship in November. I'm very excited for this and I hope I win!", Vy said. — VNS