VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020, a globally connected race

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 has received a great interest from the running community

Runners competed at four distances: 42km, 21km, 10km, and5 km. For the first time, a large-scale connected marathon was organised in Hanoi's cool autumn weather, creating extremely wonderful emotions and moments for everyone attending the event.

In order to ensure safety amid the pandemic, the start times of different running distances were two hours apart each. The full marathon (42km) started the earliest at 0 am, followed by the half marathon (21km) at 3 am, while the 10km distance began at 4.30 am and the 5km stretch at 8 am.

The 5km run attracted nearly 2,000 people, including many famous personalities such as actors Thanh Son, Xuan Nghi, Mai Phuong Thuy, Miss Lumiere International 2018 Do Thi Thao, Luong Thuy Linh, and Do My Linh.

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 was honoured to receive nearly 1,000 doctors and medical staff from Hanoi’s Bach Mai Hospital, led by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuan.

Nguyen Tieu Phuong, a familiar face in Vietnam’s running community who was named as the “Rose of Steel”, joined the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 for the first time and was excited to taken on the 42km course. For her, this is not only a race but also an opportunity to return to her childhood years, visit small alleyways and narrow streets to enjoy the scent of milk flowers, check every street corner and old trees, jog by the Turtle Tower and Hoan Kiem Lake, and feel the cool beauty of the Hanoi autumn.

Having participated in most of the world’s major marathons, Phuong fervently hopes that one day Vietnam would have a race on the scale of the Berlin Marathon or the New York Marathon because the feeling of running while being cheered along by compatriots is always a great happiness. She has chosen to join VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 because the race is increasingly asserting its scale and professionalism.

While this was not the first time that Duc Tuan ran in Hanoi, it was his first time competing in the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020. He chose the 42km distance to enjoy the charm of Hanoi at night. “I looked at the track map and was fascinated. In just one night, I will be able to pass all the key streets, the most beautiful scenes in Hanoi in perfect autumn weather.”

Although only joining the modest 5km distance, both Mai Phuong Thuy and Miss Lumiere International 2018 Do Thi Thao shared the same opinion, saying that through this race, they hope to inspire people to run more to improve their health, bringing positive energy to the community.

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 has received a great deal of interest from the running community for its diverse prize structure, with the total value of the prizes amounting to nearly VND 500 million ($21,700) despite the tough conditions due to the pandemic.

According to a representative, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 not only attracted thousands of marathoners to compete directly in Hanoi but also received enthusiastic responses from thousands of runners from across Vietnam, from the provinces of Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Nghe An, the city of Danang, the Central Highlands, Nha Trang, Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City all the way to Can Tho, Ca Mau, and Phu Quoc. At the same time, it incited action in many countries around the world such as the US, Germany, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and Malaysia, among others. All started at the same time as the main race in Hanoi, conveying the message of peace, solidarity, and responsiveness.

Also within the framework of the event, Luu Thi Thao, deputy CEO of Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank) – a ROC member, has awarded VND2 billion ($87,000) to support the people of Thua Thien-Hue province who have been struggling with difficulties caused by floods and storms.

With the slogan “Meet the sunrise, Welcome to new normal”, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 is an official event of the ASEAN 2020 Chairmanship, the first night run ever held in Hanoi, and at the same time the first large-scale community event that marks the new normal in Hanoi and Vietnam.