pacertrip.

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONVN / RACE GUIDE

HCMC Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

VNJan 17, 202742.195km · 21.1km · 10km +1 more events

Steffen Schmitz · CC BY-SA 4.0

Race date in 101 days: Jan 17, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Ho Chi Minh City · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km +1 more events
Entry fee: ₫1,600,000Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenTue, June 23, 2026 ~ Thu, November 5, 2026See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗

Instagram YouTube

D-day as of Oct 8, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

It is a long-running urban marathon in Ho Chi Minh City.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

さぬっふぃーRan in 2026 · Finish time 5:07:24

“The water supply did not run out this time, and there were enough cups, so the aid stations were well stocked with food and water.”

At the Ho Chi Minh City full marathon, the runner started fast and was completely drained past the 30K mark. They missed their 5-hour goal but rallied late to set a personal best anyway.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

今回は水切れもなく、コップも十分あり、給食給水が充実していました。

Read the original on note

Thuận BùiRan in 2023 · Finish time 01:46:04

“My only opponent on the course is myself.”

Thuận Bùi conserved energy on the Phu My Bridge climb in the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon's 21 km event and accelerated on the descent. Originally aiming to enjoy the race without pressure, he ran a faster second half to set a personal best of 1 hour 46 minutes 4 seconds.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Đối thủ duy nhất trên đường chạy không ai khác mà là chính mình.

Read the original on Yêu Chạy Bộ

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

I Ran the HCMC Half Marathon 2026 🇻🇳 & Clocked a New Personal Best!

Sunny Side Singapore

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

10K

Entry cost ₫1,600,000

until Nov 5, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 03:00

Time limit6 hours

Full marathon 6 hours

Event	Start	Time limit
Marathon42.195km	03:00	6h
Half21.0975km	03:30	3h 30m
10K10km	04:15	2h

City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START · FINISH

30th April Park, Le Duan Street, Ho Chi Minh City

The HCMC Marathon is hosted by Pulse Active and introduces itself as ‘Vietnam’s representative marathon.’ Ho Chi Minh's running boom itself is known to date back to 1992, and this competition started under the name 'Salonpas HCMC Marathon' in 2013 and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2023.

Following that trend, the 2027 competition is said to be held in more than 10 editions,

and is introduced as a competition that has welcomed close to 150,000 runners from 75 countries.

There are three events: full marathon, half marathon, and 10km, and the start and finish are at 30/4 Park on Le Duan Street.

Under the slogan 'United in every stride', it is decorated with course that runs through the city center,

and has become one of Ho Chi Minh City's representative sports events,

supported by the local athletics federation and the city's Department of Culture and Sports.

Organizer: Pulse Active
Typical race-season temperature: around 26°C (79°F): Hot race — plan fluids and electrolytes

Participant benefits

Timing chip

10K · Marathon · Half

Medical support

10K · Marathon · Half

Water stations

10K · Marathon · Half

Finisher medal

10K · Marathon · Half

Event T-shirt

10K · Marathon · Half

Finisher certificate

10K · Marathon · Half

Bag drop

10K · Marathon · Half

Finisher T-shirt

Marathon

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

1/15 Fri – 1/16 Sat

Pick up your bib at the expo

You cannot receive bib on the morning of the competition.

Hoa Lu Sports Center, 2 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Google Maps

1/15 Fri: 09:00~19:00
1/16 Sat: 09:00~18:00

Stations & transport near the venue

Just tap your own contactless Visa, Mastercard, or JCB card (or Apple/Google/Samsung Pay) directly at the Metro Line 1 fare gates — no local card needed. If you're riding a lot in one day, a 1-day pass (40,000 VND) may be worth buying at a station instead.

Getting to the start

No dedicated metro/bus station on official race materials; venue is in central District 1 near HCMC Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh station area)

Start/finish is April 30th Park (Le Duan Street, Saigon Ward/District 1),

roughly 400-600m walk from Ben Thanh Market / Ben Thanh metro station area in the city center.

Race starts 3:00 AM.

No specific 'nearest station' guidance published by organizer;

central-district location is walkable from most downtown HCMC accommodations.

Getting to the finish

Same location as start (out-and-back/loop course finishes at April 30th Park)

Same as start note above.

More details

Organizer provides sweep/shuttle vehicles to collect participants who miss the cut-off time (6 hours);

this is not a general spectator or arrival shuttle.

More details

Metro Line 1 (the only line currently running) accepts direct contactless bank card taps at the gates, and non-cash payments even get a small discount.

Single fares run 7,000-20,000 VND depending on distance.

Buses (a separate system) are being moved toward cashless payment but many routes still take cash.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026 Source · checked Aug 17, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Bib must be received before the competition at the official race pack collection location at Hoa Lu Sports Center.

Pickup is not available on the morning of departure.

Please prepare the participant's original passport or civil ID card and a confirmation email marked with bib.

Foreigners applying under the Vietnamese resident category must also present the original valid temporary residence card.

Check the items and bib information at the time you receive them, and if there are any problems, report them to the management within the designated period.

Full marathon Participation benefits include storage of supplies and food after completion.

All sponsor items are not included in the race pack, so you must visit the relevant booth at the expo to receive them.

Coupons are also provided as electronic coupons instead of paper.

In course, there may be a brief stoppage due to a traffic signal, so you must follow the instructions of the on-site operator.

Participants who exceed time limit in each section cannot continue running and will return to Sweep Vehicle.

When the road is reopened, water supply and medical support will end,

so it is necessary to complete Packet Pickup before departure and read the on-site information for your event.

Times are local to Ho Chi Minh City. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

The Metropole Saigon Elegant Residence

Accommodation · 189m

10.0/10(32)

View on Booking.com

Yuri Spa Sai Gon Combo 166k

₫402,335

HCMC Marathon

About HCMC Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run

HCMC Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

See it on video,feel it through their stories.

I Ran the HCMC Half Marathon 2026 🇻🇳 & Clocked a New Personal Best!

How to enter HCMC Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —start with what fits you.

10K

HCMC Marathon course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

30th April Park, Le Duan Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Medical support

Water stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Finisher certificate

Bag drop

Finisher T-shirt

Where and when to collect your HCMC Marathon race bib

To the start line,step by step.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Hoa Lu Sports Center, 2 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Getting to the start

Getting to the finish

More details

More details

From race morning to after the finish.

The race is one day,the trip can be longer.

The Metropole Saigon Elegant Residence

Yuri Spa Sai Gon Combo 166k

Metropole Thu Thiem Saigon

La Mekong Spa A Tranquil Mekong Inspired Wellness Journey

Marbella Luxury Residence The Metropole

Ho Chi Minh Celeb Spa Opera House Spa-cation & Herbal Carpet Massage

Aoi Residence Apartment Complex Opera -Crest- Galleria

Hotels near the HCMC Marathon start line in Ho Chi Minh City

Hotels that make race morning easy

The Metropole Saigon Elegant Residence

Metropole Thu Thiem Saigon

Marbella Luxury Residence The Metropole

Aoi Residence Apartment Complex Opera -Crest- Galleria

The Southern Code Collection Metropole Opera ,Crest & Galleria Thu Thiem

The Metropole Luxury Residence

Mochi - Metropole Thủ Thiêm

Time for you, before and after the finish

Yuri Spa Sai Gon Combo 166k

La Mekong Spa A Tranquil Mekong Inspired Wellness Journey

Ho Chi Minh Celeb Spa Opera House Spa-cation & Herbal Carpet Massage

Kudochi Onsen Vietnam's First Fully Private Japanese Onsen Sauna

Ho Chi Minh Golden Lotus Spa & Massage Club

Sen Spa Le Thanh Ton Ho Chi Minh City Relaxing Wellness Escape

Anam QT Spa & Massage in Ho Chi Minh City

Elite Luxury Cruise | Dining Experience on the Saigon River

Ho Chi Minh City Highlights Hop on Hop Off Tour

Ho Chi Minh City Saigon River Outdoor Sightseeing Boat Ticket (Operated by PIKA Boat)

High Tea by the River by Ros Yacht Club

ROS Luxury Yacht Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise on the Saigon River

Exclusive Riverside Lunch at Ros Yacht Club Saigon Waterbus Ticket

Exclusive Riverside Lunch at Ros Yacht Club Saigon Waterbus Ticket

Seafood Buffet at Viet Kitchen International Vietnamese Restaurant

Lotte Hotel Saigon Seafood Buffet

Sip Saigon: Vietnamese Craft Spirit Tasting in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City: Unique Vietnamese Coffee Omakase Experience

Vietnamese Egg Coffee Workshop: History, Culture & Craft

Uncover Vietnamese Creamy Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City

First-of-Its-Kind Vietnamese Craft Fish Sauce Tasting in Ho Chi Minh City

Private Transfer Service to Golf Courses in Ho Chi Minh City (Southern Vietnam)

Ho Chi Minh City–Vung Tau/Ho Tram/Long Hai Private Transfer Service

Ho Chi Minh Luggage Storage Service

Shared Bus Transfer Service Between Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City

Tan Son Nhat International Airport Transfer Service (SGN)

Tan Son Nhat International Airport Lounge Service

VIP Fast Track service for Immigration at Ho Chi Minh City - Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

To the start line,
step by step.

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

With runners who dream of
the same start line.