On the night of March 2, 2024, the weather in Ho Chi Minh City was cool with a gentle breeze, and the temperature ranged from 25 to 27 degrees Celsius, which was perfect for the runners participating in the race. Many athletes arrived at Tao Dan Park from 9 PM onwards, doing warm-up exercises and preparing for their best performance.
In its second season, the marathon attracted over 11,000 participants, with the highest number of runners competing in the 21km category, which had more than 4,000 participants. Notably, the event also featured nearly 600 international participants from over 30 countries.
Most athletes were eagerly awaiting the start of their respective races. This season, the organizers carefully planned the start times for each distance to provide the best running experience for the participants. The 10km race started at midnight, followed by the 5km race at 12:30 AM. At 1 AM, the marathon runners officially started their race, and lastly, the 21km race began at 2:30 AM.
Nha Phuong and Diem My participated in the Ho Chi Minh City Midnight Marathon
The participants had a sleepless night in the city that carries Uncle Ho’s name, as they competed on a vibrant route and admired famous landmarks in Saigon such as Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Bach Dang Wharf, and discovered the youthful and dynamic atmosphere of District 1 and the new urban area of Thu Thiem, before crossing the finish line on Le Duan Street, near the Botanical Garden.
The marathon attracted nearly 600 international participants
In the men’s 42km category, Van Quyet made a remarkable comeback, overtaking his opponents when there were still 6km to go, keeping his promise to clinch the overall championship. Quyet finished with a time of 2:41:28. Van Tam crossed the finish line just 16 seconds later. Hong Le was the first female runner to complete the marathon with a time of 2:57:58.
Van Quyet won the men’s 42km category
Le Huu Loc and Doan Thi Oanh were the surprises of the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight, as they overcame strong contenders to become the champions of the 21km category. Nguyen Dang Khoa won the men’s 10km category, while Ly Toan Phat Di triumphed in the men’s 5km category.
Hong Le retains her championship title this season
This year, special attention was paid to the quality of lighting along the race route to ensure the safety of the runners. The Nguyen Thien Thanh and Bui Thien Ngo streets, stretching over 2km on the Thu Thiem Peninsula and part of the 21km and 42km routes, were equipped with special lighting arrangements to enhance the running experience and ensure the safety of the participants running in the middle of the night.
A well-lit section of the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight
VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight 2024’s race course has been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) for meeting the standard distance requirements for all four categories. Participants in the race on March 3 will have their results recognized as part of the qualifying criteria for major international marathons such as Chicago, Tokyo, and Boston.
Enthusiastic runners on the course
VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight is jointly organized by VPBank and VnExpress Marathon, two reputable and experienced organizations in organizing and operating large-scale running events. Earlier, VPBank and VNExpress Marathon signed a strategic partnership agreement to collaborate on the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight race for five years from 2024 to 2028.
