Ironman

The eighth IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon will be held on May 12 in Đà Nẵng City. Photos of SEV

ĐÀ NẴNG -- The Southeas Asia’s largest IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon returns to Đà Nẵng, with thousands of athletes and supporters preparing to be “Boundless together” on May 12.

In its eighth edition, nearly 3,000 competitors of all ages from beginners to elite from 52 countries will participate in the multi-sport festival featuring a new swim and spectator-friendly run courses on the sun-drenched shores of Đà Nẵng.

They will have to overcome tough challenges of 1.9km ocean swim, 90km bike and 21km run that will lead them through local famous landmarks.

As many as 3,000 triathletes will compete for world championship slots.

Athletes will have the opportunity to compete for 34 qualifying slots to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupō, New Zealand with additional slots reserved for the top five women in each age group category to compete in the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in France.

This event, organised by Sunrise Events Vietnam (SEV) with the support from the Department of Culture and Sports of Đà Nẵng, has become a major sports tourism festival in the city.

"We are proud to return to the beautiful city of Đà Nẵng to organise the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 Việt Nam, which has become a tradition for many local and foreign triathletes," said Rob Zamacona, new general manager for SEV.

"We are excited by the enthusiasm of our athletes and their supporters. That excitement already has us looking forward to next year’s event when we will celebrate a decade of IRONMAN success in Việt Nam.

"The IRONMAN 70.3 Việt Nam has a justly earned reputation as a world-class race, and we look forward to delivering against that expectation for all participants and promoting sports tourism within Việt Nam."

In addition to the main IRONMAN 70.3 race, there will be the SUNRISE SPRINT Việt Nam, a shorter distance triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) designed for beginners as a great way to challenge them and build skills for longer distances on May 11.

Participants will swim 1.9km, bike 90km and run 21km to be ironmen.

On the same day, the IRONKIDS Việt Nam consists of aquathlon and triathlon events for kids aged 6 to 15, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for the younger generation.

Finally, the Newborns Vietnam Runout is a charity that raises awareness for newborns needing life-saving care.

VinFast, in the 2nd year of its three year collaboration with IRONMAN, is proud to be the race's title sponsor. This partnership aligns with both companies’ goals to promote a green and sustainable lifestyle within the endurance racing community.

"It is not just a sports event, but also a platform for promoting cultural exchange and understanding," said Nguyễn Trọng Thao, deputy director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Đà Nẵng.

We proudly showcase Việt Nam's rich history, traditions, and beauty to athletes and visitors worldwide. We believe that this event will continue to contribute to the growth and development of sports tourism in our country and help to promote Việt Nam as a premier tourist destination for sports and cultural events. VNS