PRESS RELEASE THE 9TH EDITION OF THE TECHCOMBANK HO CHI MINH CITY INTERNATIONAL MARATHON KICKS OFF ITS JOURNEY FOR A HEALTHY VIETNAM
Ho Chi Minh City, October 21, 2026 – The Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon has officially kicked off its 9th edition. Held under the direction of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the event is jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, and Sunrise Events Vietnam, with Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) as the Title Sponsor. As the flagship race bearing the city’s name, the marathon has become one of Vietnam’s leading community sports events in scale and influence, not only boosting sports tourism and driving the service economy, but also attracting a growing number of international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City. Sunrise Events Vietnam (SEV) is the operating organizer.
The 9th Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon will take place from December 4–6, 2026, as part of the city’s series of highlight events in December and alongside the 6th Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week, themed “Awaken with the City – Feel the Energy”, from December 4–12, 2026. The race is expected to attract a record number of more than 24,000 domestic and international runners.
Nearly a Decade of Creating Outstanding Value
In line with the national orientation on breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of the people’s health in the spirit of Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW – strongly reaffirmed once again at the ceremony launching the nationwide physical exercise movement on October 10 – the 9th Edition of the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon continues to promote the role of sports in connecting communities, expanding its scale and opportunities for sports participation, and strengthening organizational quality to international standards, meeting the diverse needs of domestic and international runners.
A journey of nearly a decade, built on methodical investment and continuous innovation, has made the race a symbol of an active lifestyle and the spirit of striving for greatness, while generating sustainable socio-economic value, boosting tourism, promoting the destination’s image and spreading the aspiration for a healthier Vietnam.
In cities such as New York, London, Tokyo and Chicago, marathons have become part of the tourism ecosystem and the destination brand. In step with this trend, the 8th Edition of the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon in 2025 welcomed more than 23,200 runners from 81 countries and territories. According to the Organizing Committee, the race’s total economic impact over the 2022–2025 period is estimated at more than USD 25.7 million, reflecting its ability to attract visitors and stimulate accommodation, dining, shopping and other local services.
Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, shared: “Over 8 editions, the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon has become one of the community sports events with a positive impact on the city’s tourism industry. The race helps boost accommodation, services and commerce, and promotes the image of a dynamic, modern and internationally integrated Ho Chi Minh City. We believe that, with the innovations of the 9th edition, the race will continue to enhance the appeal of sports tourism, contributing to the goal of making Ho Chi Minh City a leading destination for international sporting events in the region.”
Mr. Nguyen Nam Nhan, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, said: “The Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon is one of the activities contributing to the realization of the orientation for developing physical training and sports and improving the people’s health in the spirit of Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW, encouraging more and more people to take part in physical exercise and adopt an active lifestyle. We highly appreciate the innovations of the 9th edition, from maintaining international technical standards to enhancing the race experience for runners, thereby raising marathon performance in Vietnam.”
Ms. Thai Minh Diem Tu, Chief Marketing Officer of Techcombank, affirmed: “For nearly a decade alongside Ho Chi Minh City, Techcombank is proud to have helped build and elevate the city’s flagship race into Vietnam’s leading international-standard marathon. Entering the 9th edition, we are not only investing to raise quality and experience in line with ever-higher global standards, but also remain steadfast in a bigger goal: spreading an active lifestyle, promoting community sports and helping realize the aspiration for a healthier, happier and more sustainably developed Vietnam. That is also the spirit of ‘Run for a Greater Vietnam’ that Techcombank has consistently pursued for many years.”
The 9th Edition: Spreading the Spirit of Nationwide Physical Activity for a Healthy Vietnam
Notably, for the first time, the 5 KM race will be held separately on the afternoon of Saturday, December 5, making it possible for more families and beginners to take part in this large-scale sports festival. The Marathon Village has also been upgraded with a more spacious and accessible layout, hosting exhibitions and experiential activities throughout race week. Alongside this, XTEP, the Exclusive Sportswear Sponsor and Strategic Technical Partner, and the Organizing Committee have established a strategic partnership framework through 2030, affirming their long-term commitment to raising organizational standards and the runner experience, and to contributing to the development of the endurance sports ecosystem in Vietnam.
In addition, SEV RunConcierge, an AI-powered digital assistant built on the NeuRun platform, is being introduced for the first time following its successful application at the recent 5th Edition of the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon. The technology helps runners look up race information and discover destination experiences, connecting their sporting journey with the city’s tourism and service offerings.
The 9th edition course, certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and the Vietnam Athletics Federation, starts at the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens – a park more than 160 years old – and finishes at An Khanh Communal House, passing through 12 wards of the city. If Hanoi offers a running experience along the capital’s heritage, historical and cultural routes, Ho Chi Minh City is a journey through the many layers of time of a dynamic metropolis: from century-old landmarks in the city center such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Central Post Office, the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Headquarters, Independence Palace and Ben Thanh Market; along the riverside port and the Cho Lon area, steeped in the trading and cultural heritage of the Chinese community; then across the Saigon River via Ba Son Bridge to Thu Thiem – a new urban area with the modern skyline of an international financial center. Every kilometer is a slice of the city, where the marathon connects sports with tourism, commerce, services and urban experiences.
Ms. Anh Vo, CEO of Sunrise Events Vietnam, shared: “After eight editions, we continue to set the goal of raising organizational quality to international standards and delivering an ever-better experience for runners. The changes in the 9th edition, from the standalone 5KM race to the application of AI technology, all aim to enhance safety, operational quality and the participant experience. This is the foundation for the race to continue growing sustainably, strengthen our organizational capabilities and reinforce the position of the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon on the regional marathon map.”
Beyond the official race day, race week from December 4–6, 2026 will feature a series of engaging activities at the Marathon Village. Among them, the KIDS RUN, with Techcom Life as the Main Sponsor, will take place on Saturday, December 5, giving children the opportunity to get familiar with physical activity and build an active lifestyle from an early age. The activity continues to demonstrate the commitment of Techcom Life, part of the Techcombank ecosystem, to accompanying Vietnamese families and helping lay a solid foundation for future generations.