HCM City (VNA) – The VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City opened on February 21, attracting an unprecedented 12,000 runners from 50 countries and territories.
The event, with race to officially begin on early February 23, marks the opening of the 2025 VnExpress Marathon season and commemorates the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - 2025). It features a lineup of elite athletes, including three sub-2:30 marathoners from Africa who will compete against Vietnamese champions like Dan Quyet, Huynh Anh Khoi, Truong Van Tam, Hong Le, Tra Giang and My Duyen.
Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Nam Nhan said the third edition in HCM City demonstrates the growing appeal of the tournament, given the record-breaking registration of 12,000 participants, including 600 international runners.
Starting from Truong Dinh street, runners will traverse a scenic route passing iconic landmarks including Tao Dan Park, Independence Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Bach Dang Wharf, before crossing the finish line on Le Duan Street The course’s four distances of 5 km, 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km were certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Race. Times recorded in this race can be used to qualify runners for prestigious international marathons, including Chicago, Tokyo, and Boston.
Participants can contribute to tree planting efforts by donating 30,000 VND (1.18 USD) and placing their race bibs on the prosperity forest wall at the finish line. All proceeds will go to the TreeBank fund, which finances tree-planting initiatives in Tay Ninh and Thanh Hoa provinces.
VPBank's Southern Director of Individual Customer Division Tran Phong Lanh said that beyond promoting physical fitness, this marathon aims to boost HCM City's night economy and establish running as a distinctive cultural, sporting, and tourism activity, ultimately enhancing the city's appeal to both domestic and international visitors./.
