[Báo tin tức] – Văn Đức
On August 2, in Bai Chay Ward, Quang Ninh Province, the Organizing Committee of the Halong Bay Heritage Marathon held the announcement ceremony for the 2026 season. This year’s race will officially take place from November 20–22, with the official race day on November 22.
This is currently the only road race in Vietnam awarded the World Athletics Label Road Race by World Athletics. This prestigious designation serves as a guarantee of professional operations, standardized multi-layer medical and rescue systems, stringent doping control procedures, and a race course optimized for speed and athlete safety.
This year’s race is expected to attract 18,000 domestic and international athletes, competing across the following distances: 42.195km (Marathon), 21.0975km (Half Marathon), 10km and 5km. The start and finish will be located at the Quang Ninh Provincial Planning, Fair and Exhibition Palace on Tran Quoc Nghien Street. This year’s course will once again be fully closed in both directions and run along the coastal route beside Ha Long Bay — a scenic destination previously recognized by Runner’s World UK among the Top 50 most beautiful running routes in the world.
A major highlight of the 2026 season is the comprehensive partnership with Li-Ning, serving as the Diamond Sponsor and Exclusive Race Apparel Sponsor. The Organizing Committee introduced an exclusive ultra-light race shirt weighing only 85gsm (85 grams/m²), featuring Microfiber technology designed to provide high breathability and ultra-fast moisture wicking. This is the first time this advanced fabric technology has been introduced at a running event in Vietnam. This year also marks the debut of the Green Dragon Cup, a competition dedicated to the business community to foster interaction and promote the spirit of sports.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tri, General Director of DHA Vietnam (the owner and organizer of the race), stated that maintaining the World Athletics Label is a confirmation of the race’s international-standard organizational quality and Vietnam’s position on the global marathon map. The company is committed to developing the race into a world-class sports tourism product, where every step taken by athletes contributes to promoting Vietnam’s heritage and elevating Vietnamese tourism.
In his congratulatory letter, Paco Borao, President of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), praised the quality of the event and affirmed that it possesses all the necessary elements to promote sports tourism in Ha Long, similar to renowned heritage cities around the world such as Paris, Tokyo, Athens and Valencia.
In 2025, the race witnessed a new men’s 42.195km record set by Kennedy Kiprop Chelimo, with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 57 seconds, making the Halong Bay Heritage Marathon the fastest race in the region (“The Fastest Race in the Region”). This achievement further demonstrated that the course meets the standards required for high-speed racing, strongly attracting international athletes to compete and experience the event, while also clearly showcasing the successful combination of sports, culture and tourism in Quang Ninh Province.
