10:49:11 AM | 9/11/2026
The 5th Edition of the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon is elevating the runner experience with a range of highlights, including an art exhibition inspired by the heritage course, a digital assistant supporting runners throughout their race journey, adidas race apparel, the National Record-Breaking Category, and a variety of engaging activities at the Marathon Village.
The race will take place on October 4 under the direction of the Hanoi People’s Committee and the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with the support of Title Sponsor Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) and organizer Sunrise Events Vietnam.
As the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon marks its five-year milestone, the race continues to invest in elevating the runner experience in line with international standards. From race apparel and experiential activities to digital support and the National Record-Breaking Award, this year’s edition introduces a range of notable highlights.
New Experiences Await Runners at the 5th Edition
Marking the race’s five-year milestone, this year’s edition introduces a new experience for runners with the official race apparel from global brand adidas, the race’s Official Apparel Sponsor. Featuring a lightweight and breathable design made from 100% recycled polyester (REC.PET), the apparel is designed to enhance race-day performance and provide runners with greater comfort throughout their race journey.
Alongside this, Khue Van Cac, a symbol of Hanoi and Vietnam’s longstanding tradition of learning, continues to feature on the race bib and other race items, contributing to the distinctive identity of the 5th Edition. The image is also envisioned as a long-term element of the race’s visual identity, connecting the development journey of the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon with the Capital’s distinctive cultural values.
This year, the Marathon Village has been expanded in scale and enhanced with greater convenience, ready to welcome 14,000 domestic and international runners. More than just a race kit collection point, it will serve as an experiential space showcasing Techcombank’s comprehensive financial ecosystem and its broader ecosystem, with the participation of the Techcombank OneU loyalty program, Techcom Life, Techcom Insurance, and other event partners. Here, runners will have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of products and services, take part in interactive activities, and receive attractive gifts throughout the event.
To further enhance the runner experience, the Organizing Committee is introducing SEV RunConcierge for the first time, an AI-powered digital assistant on the Neurun platform. Beyond providing access to race information and course guidance, the platform also recommends tourism, cultural, and dining destinations across Hanoi, making it easier for runners and their companions to explore the city throughout the event week.
In addition, KIDS RUN presented by Techcom Life will take place on October 3 at Vinhomes Riverside Long Bien, Hanoi. The event will continue to provide an active sporting playground for children aged 5 to 14, featuring two distances of 1.5 km and 3 km, helping nurture a love for sport and a spirit of pushing beyond one’s limits from an early age.
From young runners to seasoned athletes, every participant contributes to the diverse and connected community that defines the 5th Edition of the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon.
Experience the Beauty of Hanoi with Every Step
After five years, the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon is steadily shaping a distinctive identity closely connected with the Capital. Beyond a race where runners pursue personal performance milestones, the event has also become a journey to discover Hanoi’s cultural, historical, and human values.
This year, runners will once again experience a course that passes through 37 landmarks and sites of cultural and historical significance across the city. From long-established streets to modern urban spaces, each stretch of the course offers a different perspective on Hanoi.
One of the key highlights of this year’s edition is the “One Hanoi. Millions of Steps Forward” art exhibition, taking place from September 26 to October 18 in the Hoan Kiem Lake area, the heart of the Capital. Organized by Techcombank with the endorsement and support of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the exhibition draws inspiration from the footsteps along the heritage course, portraying a Hanoi rich in historical and cultural depth yet vibrant and modern, through the perspectives of the running community and Vietnamese and international photographers.
Through moments capturing runners as they make their way past landmarks and architectural sites that reflect the Capital’s cultural and historical heritage, the exhibition offers an intimate and evocative perspective on Hanoi. Open not only to runners but also to residents and visitors, the exhibition provides an opportunity to discover the city’s beauty from a new perspective, where sport serves as a bridge connecting the community with Hanoi’s cultural and heritage values.
According to the Organizing Committee, every runner participating in the race also becomes a “heritage ambassador,” helping share the story of Hanoi with domestic and international communities through every step along the course.
Mr. Pham Xuan Tai, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: “Hanoi is fully prepared with the necessary infrastructure, security, and medical arrangements to support the Organizing Committee throughout the event week. We highly appreciate the way the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon combines the sporting experience with the cultural and historical values of the Capital. From the race course to the image of Khue Van Cac featured across the race items, every runner has an opportunity to experience and discover the city’s cultural and heritage values, thereby helping promote the image of Hanoi to domestic and international communities. After five editions, the race’s continued scale and adherence to international technical standards, including certification from AIMS and the Vietnam Athletics Federation, demonstrate its increasingly systematic and professional organization. The growth in scale and participation also reflects the rising appeal of running, while creating further opportunities to connect sport with tourism, services, and Hanoi’s urban life.”
Sharing her perspective as a runner, Ms. Hanh Nguyen, Sunrise Events Vietnam Ambassador and the overall women’s 10 km winner at the 3rd Edition, said: “Having experienced the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon, I was impressed by how distinctly ‘Hanoi’ the race feels. The course is professionally organized and the race atmosphere is vibrant, but what stands out most is how the character of the Capital can be felt with every step. I have participated in several marathons overseas and found that every major race has its own distinctive identity connected to its host city. At the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon, that identity is reflected throughout the experience, from the course and race items to the event spaces, with the image of Khue Van Cac serving as a recurring symbol of Hanoi’s distinctive cultural values. To me, it is this combination of professional organization and the unique identity of the Capital that truly sets the race apart.”
Building a Sporting and Cultural Legacy that Connects Communities
Notably, in addition to the Organizing Committee’s official prize structure, the National Record-Breaking Award for the Marathon distance (42.195 km), sponsored by Techcom Life and valued at VND 200 million, will be awarded to Vietnamese male and female runners who break the current national records for the distance. The award aims to encourage athletes to continue pursuing new milestones, contributing to stronger performances by Vietnamese marathon runners on both the domestic and international stages.
The positive impact of every step extends beyond the race course and continues to reach the wider community. A clear example is the “Buoc chay vi tuong lai tre em Viet” Virtual Run, initiated by Techcombank and its ecosystem to raise funds for the Cham Yeu Thuong Fund. The program reached its VND 5 billion fundraising target just 11 days after its launch, attracting nearly 32,000 participants nationwide. This achievement not only demonstrates the strength and reach of the running community, but also reinforces how running for better health can create meaningful social impact and contribute to a brighter future for Vietnamese children.
Alongside its distinctive cultural experiences, the 5th Edition continues to elevate its technical standards. For the fifth consecutive year, the race course is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and the Vietnam Athletics Federation. Performances recorded at the race meet the eligibility requirements for registration for races within the Abbott World Marathon Majors series and may be considered for national record recognition in accordance with applicable regulations.
In addition, the Organizing Committee is collaborating with PR SPORT, the Running Community Development Partner, to organize the SUB3 Train. Bringing together runners aiming to complete the marathon in under three hours, the program not only supports runners in improving their performance but also fosters a spirit of camaraderie and mutual support within the running community.
Ms. Anh Vo, General Manager of Sunrise Events Vietnam, shared: “The great marathons of the world are inseparable from the cities they call home. Our ambition is to build that same relationship between this marathon and Hanoi. We want runners to remember not only their finish time, but the city they ran through – its streets, its heritage, its energy and its people. Five years into this journey, we are beginning to see that identity take shape. But this is still only the beginning. Our responsibility is to keep raising the standard of the event while creating an experience that is unmistakably Hanoi – one that Vietnamese runners are proud to call their own and international runners will one day travel here specifically to experience.”
In less than a month, tens of thousands of runners will set off along routes that reflect Hanoi’s distinctive cultural identity. With a range of new experiences being introduced for the first time, the 5th Edition promises to offer more than just a race, it will be a journey to discover the Capital, connect communities, and create positive progress for individuals and society alike.
T.H (Vietnam Business Forum)
