Participants sign up and receive shirts for the 2023Salonpas HCMC Marathon. – VNS Photo Việt Dũng

HCM CITY – The Salonpas HCMC Marathon will be run on Sunday in the Phú Mỹ Hưng Urban Area with 10,000 local and foreign runners in four categories: 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km.

Ronny Dash, a running competition for children, was also launched at the marathon's opening ceremony on Saturday, with 500 children aged three to 10 in two categories: 1.5km and 500m.

The marathon is organised by the HCM City Athletics Federation and Pulse Active, a sports-tourism and lifestyle-entertainment company, along with the Department of Culture and Sports.

Japanese pharmaceutical company Hisamitsu (producer of the pain relief patch Salonpas) is the main sponsor.

HCMC Marathon is one of Việt Nam’s largest marathons, and it has been held annually since 2013.

Nguyễn Nam Nhân, deputy director of the department, said at the opening ceremony that the marathon aims to encourage more people to take part in sports activities.

This year’s prizes total up to over VNĐ700 million (US$29,800)

Over the years the marathon has steadily been gaining popularity so much so that the number of runners this year has doubled from inaugural one in 2013.

An exhibition of health and sports products is also held alongside the marathon. – VNS

HCMC Marathon 2022. This year’s race has attracted around 10,000 runners. – Photo courtesy of HCMC Marathon