Climbing peaks has its thrills, and Southeast Asia has some of the highest peaks around, like Hkakabo Razi in Myanmar, Puncak Jaya in Indonesia, and Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia. It’s especially terrifying when the peak is prone to avalanches and rains that can make the terrain that much harder to trek. Most would be anxious with fear, possibly experiencing vertigo at the thought of the altitude, but Singaporean mountaineer Vincere Zeng is simply built different.
Among Zeng’s achievements is reaching our world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, and most recently, she added a new notch on her belt by reaching one of the deadliest summits in the world—Annapurna in Nepal.
Photo from Vincere Zeng
Zeng did not set out to be a mountaineer at first. Her passion was only sparked when, on her graduation trip in 2015, she climbed up Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa—a 5,895m-high ascent. “I like the way I pushed myself and achieved something. It sparked something in my heart,” she said in an interview. Two years later, she trekked up Nepal’s Mera Peak, which had a height of 6,476m.
As her ambition grew, Zeng continuously pushed her boundaries, eventually becoming the first Singaporean and Southeast Asian woman to reach the top of Mount Everest. This feat was one of speed too, with a whopping 36-hour completion record. She rigorously trained herself by climbing stairs, running on the track, and on trails to help her endurance, as well as technical training of rock climbing against harsh mountain winds, and ascending with minimal stops.
On her way to the top of Everest, Zeng experienced both influenza and COVID-19 before reaching the summit. It was quite a dangerous trek, since going up to higher altitudes meant a higher chance of high-altitude sickness, which affects the lungs and can cause dizziness or worse symptoms. Despite this, Zeng pushed forward as the optimal weather window was closing. In the end, she reached the top in pitch-dark conditions at 3:30 AM on May 18, 2023.
Photo from Vincere Zeng
After her record-breaking ascent, Zeng also made a name for herself as the first Singaporean and Southeast Asian to summit Lhotse and K2—all within one year. With her name firmly set in history, Zeng set out to climb Annapurna in 2025, a mountain known for frequent and dangerous avalanches that take lives. It took 8 days to trek to the top and become the first Singaporean to reach the deadly summit, as Zeng showcased her courage and dedication by being able to pull through the roughest of terrains and highest of peaks.
An avid adventurer, Zeng shares what it feels like to do what she does, saying, “It’s a luxury to discover a passion that makes you feel truly alive. I’m grateful to keep doing what I love.” As she closes another chapter, the world is waiting to see what’s in store for her next adventure.