VnExpress Marathon Ha Long 2025 draws thousands to scenic heritage bay
More than a race, the VnExpress Marathon Ha Long 2025 amplified its call, showcasing Ha Long’s natural and cultural riches to global audience. It was one of over 170 events Quanh Ninh had orchestrated this year to lure tourists to its shores.
Quang Ninh (VNA) 💜– More than 10,000 runners from Vietnam and abroad gathered in the northern province of Quang Ninh on June 1 for the VnExpress Marathon Ha Long 2025, a vibrant race along the stunning shores of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site.
Now in its fourth year, the event started at 3 am, with thousands of professional and amateur runners poised to chase glory across distances of 42 km (marathon), 21 km (half marathon), 10 km, and 5 km.
Runners prepare for a 10km race (Photo: VNA)
The course wound through Ha Long’s scenic coastal roads, passing landmarks like the Tran Quoc Nghien coastal road, Bai Chay bridge, Sun World Ha Long complex, Sun Square, and the city’s bustling downtown. Runners navigated a striking landscape of azure waters, rugged mountains, and modern urban vistas, creating a memorable and challenging experience.
More than a race, the marathon amplified its call, showcasing Ha Long’s natural and cultural riches to global audience. It was one of over 170 events Quanh Ninh had orchestrated this year to lure tourists to its shores.
At the race’s conclusion, organisers awarded prizes to top finishers in each distance./.
Runners joining the fifth VnExpress Marathon Hue 2025 competed in four distances of 5km, 10km, 21km, along with the full marathon 42km for total cash-prizes of 1 billion VND (40,000 USD).
The marathon aims to grow into a major event comparable to Standard Chartered races in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Hong Kong, which attract tens of thousands of participants.
The Standard Chartered Hanoi Heritage Marathon Race 2025 is set to take place on November 9, expecting to attract thousands of domestic and international runners.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
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For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
