News Release: Some 10,000 Runners to Compete in VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022

 

HANOI, 20 September (DHA Vietnam) – The VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022, Vietnam’s leading professional race and also Hanoi's official international marathon, has attracted more than 10,000 runners.

The marathon scheduled for October 16, 2022 has the largest number of runners registered to compete in the 42-km distance in the country.

This year's marathon carries the message “Light up Vietnam” as an exciting greeting from Hanoi to Vietnamese and foreign friends. Of the total marathoners who have signed up, 3,000 runners will conquer the 42-km distance, the largest FM runner number in the country.

At the same time, the turnaround of more than 1,000 runners from regional countries shows the attraction of a professionally organized marathon according to international standards. The race promises to be an explosive sporting event, arousing the spirit of sportsmanship, solidarity, overcoming oneself to reach spiritual prosperous values.

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022 has announced the National Record Breaking Prize, including cash and the “Golden Running Step” cup to one man and one woman runner for breaking the national records at the 42.195-km distance (Full Marathon, or FM).

By now, the organization plan and professional work on the running track as well as the plan to ensure safety have basically been agreed with the municipal authorities.

This month, in order to have the track meet international standards, Fung Wang Tak, a course measurer from the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), has arrived in Vietnam at the invitation of the Race Organizing Committee to make final inspection and measurement. The marathon covers four distances, namely 4.22 km, 10 km, 21 km and 42 km.

Fung Wang Tak, AIMS-World Athletics Course Measurer, checks and measures for the last time the VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022' running track.

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022 brings with it the expectation of the country's revival and economic growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the global economy. Vietnam, however, has overcome a tough period, highlighting the image of a country capable of dealing with crises, effectively preventing diseases to become a safe destination.

Vietnam's economy in the first half of 2022 grew 6.42 percent from a year ago, the fastest pace in three years. The country is making great efforts to recover comprehensively in terms of consumption, exports, tourism and services. In this context sports make an important foundation and factor in helping improve the health of individuals and communities.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tri, General Director of DHA Vietnam Company, which owns the Heritage Race system, said: “Sports in general, and especially marathons in particular, have a special role when it becomes a tool to attract more foreign tourists to run and make discovery tours. Not only is it meant to promote the sports movement and improve the physical health of the Vietnamese people, our Heritage Race system also focuses on conveying the cultural beauties and bright spots of the nation to the world, attracting a large number of visitors to witness a post-pandemic healthy Vietnam, rich in traditional culture and recovering strongly and full of vitality.” 

The presence of more than 10,000 runners, over 1,000 of whom from regional countries, shows the attraction of the marathon, which is professionally organized according to international standards.

Mr. Tri added: “Due to the pandemic, many foreign runners are still not really comfortable with races far from home, but we believe that Vietnam is an extremely attractive destination for the community in regional countries that loves long-distance running, and we are working hard for that. We are really proud when the VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022 could attract the participation of more than 1,000 foreign runners.”

A representative of VPBank, the co-organizer of the VPBank Hanoi Marathon, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Duong, Head of Marcom Center, said: “The VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022 marks a strong new beginning, with lots of inspiration, showing a Vietnam that is ready to shine after a difficult period because of the pandemic, to move towards a prosperous future.”

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022 is one of VPBank’s large-scale events to realize the mission of “For a prosperous Vietnam”, to inspire and light up the sporting spirit, and taking from there to spread a civilized, positive, and spiritually ‘rich’ lifestyle in the community, Ms. Duong added.

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022 has made strategic changes to its track, turning it to connect and honor the most typical and iconic historical and cultural values ​​of the capital. The route also follows the city’s most famous roads in autumn.

Starting from Hoan Kiem Lake (the Lake of Returned Sword), marathoners will run past mossy, ancient street corners, admiring the historical landmarks of the thousand-year-old capital such as West Lake, O Quan Chuong, Temple of Literature, before striding down wide boulevards.

VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 runners start at Hoan Kiem Lake.

 

The FM route will include all the five most special lakes in Hanoi: Hoan Kiem Lake, Bay Mau Lake, Ba Mau Lake, West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. It will also be taking runners past places well-known throughout the country such as the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, Ba Dinh Square and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.

The year 2022 is the first year marking the VPBank Hanoi Marathon's membership in the Age Group Ranking System of Abbott World Marathon Majors, so results at the race can be used to qualify at any of the World Six Majors, namely New York Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, Boston Marathon, Tokyo Marathon and Berlin Marathon.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, General Secretary of the Vietnam Athletics Federation, commented: “It is an honor to be recognized by the world's leading prestigious organization such as Abbott World Marathon Majors as a qualifying race, representing the pride confirming the professionalism and the level of the race organizing organization”.

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022 welcomes for the first time the companionship of the International Rehabilitation Center (IRC) in the recovery zone, joined by foreign experts and modern equipment to provide the best support for runners' rapid recovery.

Not only an IRC founding member, midfielder Luong Xuan Truong, a member of Vietnam's national football team, will also compete in the VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2022 as a runner. Rising beyond a running race, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon has become the symbol of Hanoi, a festival for domestic runners and foreign tourists who want to experience the unique beauty of Vietnam's capital. The scene of thousands of people starting by Hoan Kiem Lake and striding under the honey sunshine of Hanoi's autumn will be the most perfect image showing a bright and prosperous Vietnam, both physically and mentally.

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon is proud to contribute to reaching the goal by Vietnam's tourism sector of welcoming five million foreign visitors and serving about 60 million domestic visitors in 2022.

---------

Held annually since 2018, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon has become Hanoi’s official race and won recognition to be a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) since 2019, with a running track standardized by AIMS experts and the Vietnam Athletics Federation. The VPBank Hanoi Marathon has joined the Age Group Ranking System of Abbott World Marathon Majors. VPBank Hanoi Marathon results can be used to qualify at any of the World Six Majors, including the prestigious Boston Marathon.

---------

Race Date: October 16, 2022.

Website: https://hanoi.vietnamheritagemarathon.com/en/

Should you have any question about the VPBank Hanoi Marathon, please email us at: hanoi.marathon@dhavietnam.vn.

---------

The Heritage Race system, owned and organized annually by DHA Vietnam, comprises of the VPBank Hanoi Marathon in October, the Halong Bay Heritage Marathon in November and the Can Tho Marathon - A Heritage Race in December.

 

CONTACTS - DHA Vietnam Company

• Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, Executive Director; Mobile: +84 90 343 2295
• Ms. Tran Dieu Hong, Communications Director; Mobile: +84 91 367 0989