Halong Bay, August 2, 2026 – Halong Bay Heritage Marathon 2026 Powered by Li-Ning (Giải Marathon Quốc tế Di sản Hạ Long 2026 đồng hành cùng Li-Ning) officially announced its 2026 season plan at an event held at Oakwood Ha Long Hotel. The event marks a new milestone for the race as it continues to maintain the World Athletics Label Road Race, enters a comprehensive partnership with international sports brand Li-Ning, and sets its sights on becoming “The Fastest Race in the Region.”
The 2026 Season Announcement Brings Together Officials, Partners and the Running Community
The 2026 Season Announcement was successfully held with the attendance of
- Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung – Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism
- Mr. Hong Sun – Honorary Chairman of Kocham, Secretary General of the World Korean Business Association, Honorary Chairman of the Korean Sports Association in Vietnam
- Mr. Tran Thanh Bac – Head of the Sports and Physical Training Management Division of Quang Ninh Province
- Together with representatives of sponsors, running clubs, and numerous news and press agencies.
The presence of government authorities, partners, sponsors, the running community and the media at the event marked an important milestone, demonstrating the strong interest in and support for one of Vietnam’s prominent marathon events.
At the event, the Organizing Committee introduced key highlights of the 2026 season, while sharing its direction for further enhancing the race’s sporting standards, operational quality and athlete experience.
Continuing to Affirm Its Position with the World Athletics Label Road Race
One of the most notable highlights of the 2026 season is that Halong Bay Heritage Marathon 2026 Powered by Li-Ning continues to be awarded the World Athletics Label Road Race by World Athletics.
It is the first and only race in Vietnam to receive the World Athletics Label, further affirming the race’s professional standards and organizational quality on the international marathon map.
To maintain these standards, the Organizing Committee continues to comprehensively upgrade its operational systems, from medical and rescue services, race-course safety and anti-doping controls to athlete care and support services.
For runners, this means a more standardized and safer competitive environment, providing better conditions to focus on performance goals.
Aiming for “The Fastest Race in the Region”
The 2025 season marked a special milestone when athlete Kennedy Kiprop Chelimo completed the 42.195km distance in 02:13:57, setting a new race record.
This performance became one of the key foundations for Halong Bay Heritage Marathon to pursue the positioning of “The Fastest Race in the Region.”
Alongside its sporting achievements, the Halong Bay course also offers a unique scenic advantage, having been recognized by Runner’s World UK among the Top 50 most beautiful running courses in the world.
The coastal course is designed and optimized with both directions fully closed to traffic, minimizing intersections and sharp turns. This creates favorable conditions for runners to maintain pace, optimize performance and pursue a personal record (PR) while enjoying the spectacular scenery of Ha Long Bay.
Li-Ning Becomes the Comprehensive Partner of the 2026 Season
Another major highlight announced at the event is the comprehensive partnership between Halong Bay Heritage Marathon and Li-Ning, serving as the Diamond Sponsor and Exclusive Official Apparel Sponsor.
The 2026 season also marks the debut of an exclusive race jersey specially developed for the event. Weighing only 85gsm, the jersey features Microfiber technology, designed to provide breathability and rapid sweat-wicking performance.
In addition to athletes, specialized Li-Ning apparel will also be provided to the Elite athletes, Pacers, Referees, Medical teams and Volunteers, contributing to a consistent and professional image throughout the event.
The 2026 Season Targets 18,000 Runners
Halong Bay Heritage Marathon 2026 is expected to attract approximately 18,000 domestic and international runners, competing across four distances:
- 42.195km – Full Marathon
- 21.0975km – Half Marathon
- 10km
- 5km
The event will take place from November 20 – 22, 2026, with the official race day on Sunday, November 22, 2026.
Start and Finish Venue: Quang Ninh Province Planning, Fair and Exhibition Palace, Tran Quoc Nghien Street.
Taking place in November – a period considered favorable for running activities – together with its distinctive coastal course, the 2026 season is expected to continue establishing itself as a major destination for the domestic and international marathon community.
More Than a Race – A Journey of Sport, Culture and Tourism
Leveraging the advantage of Ha Long Bay, a World Natural Heritage Site, Halong Bay Heritage Marathon 2026 Powered by Li-Ning aims to develop a distinctive sports, tourism and cultural experience that represents the identity of Ha Long.
Tens of thousands of athletes, their families and visitors are expected to gather in the city during the race season, creating further momentum for local accommodation, dining, services and sports tourism.
Notably, at the 2026 Season Announcement, the Organizing Committee also officially introduced the Green Dragon Cup, a competition dedicated to the corporate community, designed to connect employees, build a culture of sports and promote team spirit.
With new advances in sporting standards, organizational quality, international partnerships and athlete experience, Halong Bay Heritage Marathon 2026 Powered by Li-Ning continues to pursue its goal of establishing the Heritage course in Ha Long as a prominent destination on the regional marathon map.
See you in Ha Long from November 20–22, 2026, as we come together to write another memorable chapter on the Heritage course.
