VnExpress Marathon HCMC Midnight to highlight city’s icons

Three months before the tournament, the organizers and the city authorities had met to discuss running routes and traffic closures. The tournament is expected to take runners through busy central streets, to discover the beauty of iconic buildings and the sparkle of Saigon at night.

The expected starting point is Tao Dan Park, one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the city. All four distances will go through roads in the center of District 1 such as Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Dong Khoi, and Ton Duc Thang.

Runners can admire iconic works associated with the city’s history such as the Independence Palace, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, and Ho Chi Minh City Hall… The route will go through more vibrant venues of the city such as Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, Bach Dang wharf park, and Thu Thiem 2 bridge.

Full marathon runners will get to enjoy tranquil streets along Tau Hu – Ben Nghe Canal, while Thu Thiem area is an ideal place to have panoramic views of skyscrapers.

The finish line is expected to be in front of Saigon Zoo And Botanical Garden.

Thu Thiem area with a view of HCMC’s downtown. Photo by Tran Ngoc Dung

The marathon will be the first with a 42 km distance to run through the central area of Vietnam’s busiest city.

Doctor Nguyen Phuc Hau, leader of Phu My Hung Runners, said Ho Chi Minh City has many marathon tournaments, but mainly in the suburbs. Running a full marathon in the city center at midnight is a unique experience worth waiting for, Hau said.

Mai Ba Hung, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Culture and Sports, said the city is ready to facilitate 10,000 runners. Hung said that the midnight marathon will be an opportunity to stimulate tourism, attract domestic and foreign tourists, and contribute to the development of the night-time economy.

Runners at VM Hanoi Midnight 2020. Photo by VM

“There’s nothing like celebrating a new year with a sport event like VM HCMC Midnight, which will take place 20 days after the Lunar New Year holiday,” Hung said.

“The weather in February is also pleasant, there’s rain. So I hope the tournament can become an annual sport event, attracting a large number of tourists.”

The official running route will be announced by the organizers in the near future after they complete inspection and reach an agreement with local authorities.

VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight will be held on the nights of Feb. 11 and 12, 2023.