Preparing for the international marathon

With over 8,200 athletes registered for the race and more than 1,050 athletes registered for the Marathon distance (42.195 km), this made it the largest Marathon in the history of Vietnam. The race brought together professional athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia – two countries renowned for their undefeated marathon runners – alongside thousands of athletes from Vietnam and abroad.

The total prize money amounts to nearly $30,000, including $5,000 in cash prizes for the men's and women's open marathon champions and $2,000 for the best-performing male and female athletes.

Defending champion Peter Kipleting Keter from Kenya returns to defend his title, alongside Geoffrey Kiprotich Birgen (Kenya), who finished second in 2017, and Do Quoc Luat (Vietnam), who finished third. Last year's third-place finisher in the women's category, Nguyen Chi (Vietnam), will also compete alongside other professional female athletes.

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Over 1,500 volunteers, along with host Whit Raymond, cheered on the runners from the starting point in the city center, Saigon Zoo. The athletes ran past famous historical landmarks such as the City Post Office, the City Theatre, and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee building. The race finished on the riverside within the Empire City new urban area in Thu Thiem, District 2.

Alongside the Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21.0975 km), and 10 km races, a 5 km race and a Children's Run were held on December 1, 2018, with the Start and Finish points at the Marathon Village, within the Empire City new urban area, Thu Thiem, District 2.

Also launching this year is the First Run Challenge, a campaign designed to encourage runners new to the sport to embrace an active lifestyle and make running a daily habit for everyone. The Corporate Challenge and the First Run Challenge offer excellent opportunities for businesses to promote healthy lifestyles in the workplace. 46 running clubs from across the country registered and participated in the Running Club Challenge category, creating an exciting competition to claim the title of the most active running club in Vietnam.

The weekend event also provides an opportunity for the running community to contribute to supporting underprivileged individuals. For the Ho Chi Minh City Fund for the Poor and the Ho Chi Minh City Sports Talent Support Fund, Techcombank will contribute VND 10,000 per kilometer based on the total distance each athlete completes within the time limit set by the organizers.

Regardless of the distance or achievement, every athlete participating in the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon will gain unique experiences along the race route, running through historical and cultural landmarks, and showcasing a dynamic, forward-looking city.