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Vientiane International Half Marathon race photo

Vientiane International Half Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Vientiane International Half Marathon race photo
Vientiane International Half Marathon race photo
Vientiane
LA
yeowatzup · CC BY 2.0Benh Lieu Song / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Race date in 146 days
Mar 7, 2027 Sun
City · Distance
Vientiane · 21.1km
Entry fee
Fee TBDVaries by event and entry period
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 12, 2026
Vientiane International Half Marathon race photo
yeowatzup · CC BY 2.0
Vientiane International Half Marathon race photo
Benh Lieu Song / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Vientiane International Half Marathon race photo
Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Vientiane International Half Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

This international race in Laos's capital, Vientiane, includes a half marathon and a 10km race.

It is recognised as a full member event of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), under World Athletics.

After its inaugural edition in 2025, it has been held around the first Sunday of March each year.

The start and finish are at That Luang Square beside the golden That Luang temple, with the race set against one of Laos's defining Buddhist landmarks.

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.

Vientiane International Half Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

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

Race reports: 1
TomRan in 2025 · Finish time 0:41:55.9
“I was thrilled. The effort had been hard but honest, and I finished feeling strong and satisfied.”

In the 10km at the 2025 Vientiane half marathon Marathon, Tom settled an initially fast pace, then held on through the later section that merged with half marathon runners. A hard push up the final climb produced a personal best of 41 minutes, 55.9 seconds.

Read the original on Laos Trail Running

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.

Vientiane International Half Marathon

OMAIDY

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 enter Vientiane International Half Marathon — registration routes

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.

From the 2026 edition

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Vientiane International Half Marathon course map and elevation

Your 21.1km

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

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 04:30
EventStart
Half21.0975km04:30
City center · not the start line

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

START

Vientiane

Show more

Course starts at That Luang Square and follows a loop through central Vientiane.

Runners pass Patuxai, the victory arch symbolizing Laos's independence, run along the Mekong riverside road, and watch the sunrise brighten across the river.

The route then passes through old-town lanes where French colonial architecture blends with Buddhist temples before returning to That Luang Square and crossing finish.

With minimal elevation change and an almost entirely flat city-center route, it is considered a flat course with little climbing.

The race starts at 4:30 a.m., scheduled so runners can finish before daytime temperatures rise.

Typical race-season temperature: around 28°C (83°F)
Hot race — plan fluids and electrolytes

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Finisher certificate 2026

Event T-shirt 2026

Finisher medal 2026

Timing chip 2026

This may change for the next edition.

Where and when to collect your Vientiane International Half Marathon race bib

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

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startThat Luang Ground (That Luang Park), a major temple
  • Transit cardPay cash (Lao kip, small bills) directly to the conductor when boarding — Vientiane's public buses are a cash-only system.
  • Getting to the finishSame location as the start — That Luang Ground (loop-style course)

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

More details

Getting to the start

That Luang Ground (That Luang Park), a major temple/monument complex in central Vientiane — Laos has no metro or passenger rail network

No official shuttle, bus, or parking information was published by the organizer (EFG Laos). Foreign runners typically rely on tuk-tuks, taxis (Grab/local operators), or hotel-arranged transport.

Race-kit pickup happens on-site at That Luang Ground two days before the race.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same location as the start — That Luang Ground (loop-style course)

Expect road closures around That Luang Park given the early 4:30am start. Arriving by taxi/tuk-tuk before dawn is the practical approach.

Map

Start shuttle

Transport logistics are thin because this is a smaller, locally organized event in a city without formal public transit.

Transit card

Public bus transit in Vientiane is limited but functional and very cheap (roughly 4,000-15,000 LAK per ride), running approximately 06:00-19:00 with all routes terminating at the Central Bus Station (Talat Sao). Tuk-tuks and songthaews are common cash-based alternatives.

Bring small kip notes.

Where to buy
Source · checked Aug 22, 2026Source · 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.

March falls at the end of Vientiane’s dry season.

Rain remains uncommon before the monsoon arrives, so clear, dry weather is typical.

Temperatures can nevertheless climb to 34~39°C, while humidity drops to around 66%, among the lowest levels of the year.

The tropical heat is already pronounced during the day, making the 4:30am start and an early-morning finish important factors in reducing the heat load.

Course is entirely flat, and the start and finish are both at a single location, That Luang Square.

With much of the route passing through central Vientiane, access to the race venue is relatively straightforward.

Times are local to Vientiane. 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.

Vientiane Car Rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Hotels near the Vientiane International Half Marathon start line in

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Vientiane Car Rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Vientiane Airport Pickup (GetTransfer)

Verified article matching, preliminary quote comparison reservation (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Reservation after price confirmation

View on GetTransfer

Vientiane Airport–City Private Taxi

Fixed-rate advance booking, door-to-door pickup · Check price and book

View on Kiwitaxi

Vientiane Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Vientiane Temples and City Highlights Private Tour

₩77,185

View on Klook

Vientiane Traditional Lao Costume Photo Tour

₩88,261

View on Klook

Private Transfer to Vientiane Train Station

₩51,745

View on Klook

Where runners eat in Vientiane

Eating well is part of the trip

View all →

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

What to see in Vientiane after the race

Seeing Vientiane with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Vientiane Buddha Park & Patuxay Full-Day Tour

₩67,840

View on Klook

Essence of Vientiane Art, Culture & Inspiration Day Tour

₩67,840

View on Klook

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Vientiane.

Total cost and budget for Vientiane International Half Marathon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Vientiane International Half Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Vientiane runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Vientiane International Half Marathon

FAQ
When does Vientiane International Half Marathon 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, March 7, 2027 in Vientiane, Laos.

What distances does Vientiane International Half Marathon 2027 offer?

Half. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Vientiane International Half Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 04:30. (From the 2026 edition)

What transit card do I need for Vientiane International Half Marathon 2027?

Pay cash (Lao kip, small bills) directly to the conductor when boarding — Vientiane's public buses are a cash-only system.

(From the 2026 edition)

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