Hoàng Nguyên Thanh celebrates winning the Standard Chartered Hà Nội Marathon Heritage Race 2026 on Sunday. — Photos courtesy of organisers

HÀ NỘI — Hoàng Nguyên Thanh won the 42km marathon in the men's category at the Standard Chartered Hà Nội Marathon Heritage Race 2026 on Sunday, finishing in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 13 seconds.

Kenyan runner Agnes Katunge Mutune claimed the women's title in 2 hours, 48 minutes and 20 seconds.

In the half-marathon (21.1km) event, Nguyễn Trung Cường won the men's race in 1:11.04, while Đoàn Thu Hằng took the women's title in 1:24.26.

Nguyễn Hoàng Thịnh finished first in the men's 10km in 33 minutes and eight seconds, while Ly Ngọc Hà won the women's event with a time of 41 minutes and one second.

At 5km, Đồng Minh Hải claimed the men's title in 17 minutes and 22 seconds, with Giàng Thị Lan winning the women's race in 20 minutes and 16 seconds.

The event attracted almost 2,500 international participants from nearly 70 countries.

The event attracted tens of thousands of runners, including almost 2,500 international participants from nearly 70 countries. The routes connected some of Hà Nội's most well-known landmarks and heritage sites, including Hoàn Kiếm Lake, West Lake, the Temple of Literature, the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum and the Old Quarter.

Under the message 'Break Through, Go Further', the race aimed to promote exchanges with the international running community, encourage healthy lifestyles and support community activities.

All sponsorship proceeds from The Leaders Run will go towards community activities. The Donate Old Shoes, Share the Joy programme also collected nearly 500 pairs of shoes to be cleaned and given to people in difficult circumstances.

GREENFEED Việt Nam won the Corporate Cup, held for the first time as part of the event. They will receive a trip to Shanghai to compete in the Standard Chartered Shanghai 10km Run, part of the bank's global marathon series.

Nguyễn Thúy Hạnh, CEO of Standard Chartered Việt Nam, speaks at the awards ceremony.

CEO of Standard Chartered Việt Nam Nguyễn Thúy Hạnh said the bank had sponsored the race for the third consecutive year.

"We are pleased to continue supporting the event and its efforts to encourage an active lifestyle and bring the community together," she added.

Associate Professor Nguyễn Trí, CEO of DHA Việt Nam, said the organising committee has continued to refine race operations over the years, aiming to meet international standards, including those set by World Athletics. 

Relevant authorities and local agencies worked together on security, traffic management and medical services. Bạch Mai Hospital, the race's official medical partner, provided medical support and emergency response along the routes.

Promoting a smoke-free race

Building on its tobacco-free communications campaign at the 2025 event, the 2026 race continued to promote the message 'Smoke-free Race For a Green Hà Nội', in cooperation with the Fund for Disease Prevention under the Ministry of Health.

The campaign highlighted that a healthy lifestyle involves not just physical exercise, but also taking responsibility for protecting one's health and avoiding preventable risks, including those associated with conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other new tobacco products.

With the participation of runners, spectators, volunteers and the wider community, the race was expected to spread the message of health protection beyond the running routes and encourage collective efforts towards a healthy community and a smoke-free sporting environment.

Marathon organisers present awards to the winners.

Dr Trần Khánh Thu, director of the Fund for Disease Prevention, said the race was both an opportunity for runners to challenge themselves over different distances and a chance for the community to work together to build a smoke-free environment and promote healthier lives.

The Standard Chartered Hà Nội Marathon Heritage Race is the 10th event in the bank's global marathon series. It is also part of Abbott World Marathon Majors' age group ranking system.

Results achieved at the race are recognised for qualification purposes for major international marathons, including those in Boston, Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and Sydney. — VNS