Céline Thanh Nhã is the first Vietnamese woman to complete the Seven Summits challenge. — Photo courtesy of Céline Nha Nguyen

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese climber Céline Thanh Nhã has become the first Vietnamese woman to complete the Seven Summits challenge after successfully conquering North America's highest peak, Denali, in the US.

Thanh Nhã, whose full name is Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã, reached the summit of Denali (also known as Mount McKinley) in Alaska on Saturday. The achievement marked the completion of her journey to climb the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, a milestone known globally as the Seven Summits.

“Climbing Denali was extremely tough, even more difficult than Everest. I feel honoured and humbled to become the first Vietnamese woman to complete the Seven Summits,” she said.

With the Denali ascent, Thanh Nhã completed the full list of peaks: Everest in Asia, Aconcagua in South America, Denali in North America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Vinson in Antarctica, and Puncak Jaya (or Carstensz Pyramid) in Oceania.

Standing at 6,190m, Denali is widely regarded as one of the most challenging climbs among the Seven Summits due to its harsh weather conditions, extreme cold and technical demands. After reaching the snow-covered peak, Thanh Nhã knelt down in gratitude, marking the end of a long and demanding journey she had pursued for nearly a decade.

Reflecting on her achievement, she said the journey was about much more than reaching seven summits.

“What remains is not only the seven mountains, or the fact that I am among around 100 women in the world to complete the Seven Summits. It is also thousands of hours of training, failures, moments of turning back, nights spent in tents during storms, and the people who accompanied me along the way,” she said.

On her personal social media page, she wrote: “The dream that began nearly a decade ago has now come full circle. It has been a journey of discipline, persistence, setbacks and unforgettable memories."

Born in 1987, Thanh Nhã is currently a lawyer based in HCM City. She is the director of Celigal Law Firm and chairwoman of Yeti Capital. She holds two master’s degrees in law from universities in France.

Her passion for mountaineering began while working in Malaysia for the national oil and gas group PETRONAS. After returning to Việt Nam, she decided to pursue climbing more seriously, undergoing intensive physical training and technical preparation under the guidance of experienced experts.

A major milestone in her journey came in 2022 when she became the first Vietnamese woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.

Thanh Nhã’s completion of the Seven Summits is considered a significant achievement for Vietnamese adventure sports, highlighting the growing presence of Vietnamese athletes in extreme and endurance disciplines on the global stage. — VNS