Athletes register to participate in the 5th edition of the Techcombank HCM City International Marathon event that opened on December 9 in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of plo.vn

HCM CITY — The fifth edition of the Techcombank HCM City International Marathon event opened at the Marathon Village in HCM City on December 9.

The event has attracted the participation of 14,000 local and international runners, including professional athletes, celebrities, and business leaders.

The run will take place on December 11, with a series of special activities being organised from December 9 to 11.

It is the largest annual marathon event in Việt Nam and also one of the races that have the highest number of foreign participants, according to the organisers.

The event features four runs: a marathon (42.195 km), a half-marathon (21.1km), a 10km race, and a 5km race. There will also be a kid run.

The route for the marathon begins at the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens on Lê Duẫn Street in District 1 and the finish line for the race is Empire City, a property complex in Thủ Đức City.

Participants will pass by many of the city’s historic and iconic landmarks, including the newly-opened Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the headquarters of the municipal People’s Committee, the Saigon Opera House, and the Nhà Rồng Harbor.

The race is also an official member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lê Trương Hiền Hòa, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Tourism, said there is a growing trend to organise running events to encourage people to embrace a healthy lifestyle.

“I believe that athletes from other provinces in the country or from abroad will have unforgettable experiences of Vietnamese culture in a young, modern city that is always looking ahead to the future but always cherishes and nurtures traditional values,” he said.

The marathon’s organising committee opens Marathon Village from 8:00 a.m. on December 9 to 2:00 p.m. on December 11 to serve the public and attract domestic and foreign tourists.

The event is co-organised by the city’s Department of Culture and Sports, Department of Tourism, the HCM City Athletics Federation, Sunrise Events Vietnam, and Techcombank. — VNS