KOTA KINABALU: A hundred and two women in their 50s summited Mount Kinabalu recently.

The entourage made history as the largest Vietnamese delegation to conquer the highest peak in Southeast Asia at 4,095 metres above sea level recently.

They successfully completed the climb in the early hours of June 10, 2025, after beginning their ascent on June 9.

Led by Nguyen Thi Lanh, founder of Minh Tri Thanh Academy and a respected psychotherapist, the expedition was framed as a journey of inner transformation.

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Participants ranged in age, profession and background, yet were united by a shared goal — to overcome personal limitations, face their fears

and reconnect with their inner strength through the challenge of summiting Mount Kinabalu.

"This was more than just a mountain climb. It was a powerful metaphor for life.

"Through each step, our team confronted their own inner 'mountains' which is fear, self-doubt and limiting beliefs. And at the summit, they found confidence, courage, and clarity," she said in a statement.

Last year, 2,065 Vietnamese tourists visited Sabah. As of March this year, the number of visitors is 790.

In December, AirAsia launched a direct flight between Kota Kinabalu and Ho Chi Minh. The airline is flying three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This year, Sabah is targeting 3.3 million visitor arrival.