This is also one of the events marking the beginning of a series of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (1975 - 2025).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the representative of the Organizing Committee - Mr. Nguyen Nam Nhan, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City shared: "With the pioneering role in the running wave in Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam in general, through 12 seasons, the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon has continuously affirmed its mission.
The mission from the early days has remained unchanged, including developing and promoting the running sports movement, encouraging a healthy, active, and modern lifestyle for Vietnamese youth.
Maintaining the start and finish line right in the heart of District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City is a location that requires a lot of effort in organizing, but brings a unique experience only available at the HCMC Marathon.
In addition to the opening ceremony, the kick-off day - Sports Expo takes place throughout the two days of January 10 and 11, expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors including athletes, families, and friends to visit and shop at more than 30 partner booths in the fields of sports, health, and fashion.
This is not only a place to prepare for the official race on January 12, but also an opportunity for the community of running enthusiasts to interact, meet and share their passion.
The official race on the morning of January 12 will welcome more than 10,000 athletes from 66 countries and territories to conquer the 42km, 21km and 10km distances. Notably, the proportion of international athletes this year reached 18%, a significant increase compared to the 2024 season, showing the increasing appeal and prestige of the tournament.
One of the issues that athletes are concerned about at this year’s tournament is medical care. Accordingly, Tam Duc Heart Hospital will be the tournament’s medical partner, accompanying athletes and organizers before and during the event.
In 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon will only be held in 3 distances instead of 4 distances (including 5km) as in previous seasons. This is a plan in the long-term development strategy of the tournament for the following years when it will gradually reduce short distances. It is expected that by 2027, the tournament will attract a large number of athletes in 2 distances: marathon and half marathon.
