Let's wake up the "golden goose"

New economic drivers

Not only did the tournament have the largest number of participants ever, it also demonstrated a professional organization model, aiming to turn the marathon into a "golden goose", stimulating tourism development and contributing to the economy as a whole.

According to the Organizing Committee's statistics, the tournament brought in direct economic benefits of up to hundreds of billions of VND in just three days (November 7-9), through athletes' spending on accommodation, food , transportation and shopping. Not only contributing to tourism, the tournament also opened up opportunities to promote the image of Hanoi - a city with a thousand years of culture, rich in identity, but also full of modern vitality to international friends.

A notable highlight of this year's tournament is the sudden increase in the number of international athletes, with 2,500 international athletes from nearly 70 countries, nearly double that of the 2024 season. The impressive growth has shown that this is the race with the largest number of international athletes in Vietnam, affirming the strong attraction as well as the opportunity to reach the international level of the Vietnamese marathon.

And the 2,500 international athletes coming to Vietnam are also 2,500 tourists coming to Vietnam to explore the unique culture, streets, landscapes and services of Hanoi during the tournament. When they return, they will also be "tourism ambassadors", spreading the beautiful image of Vietnam to the international community.

Especially accompanying the tournament days is the Expo exhibition area. This is an event aiming at the professional criteria of international tournaments, combining cultural and commercial elements, to better serve the needs of athletes and viewers. The exhibition lasts for the entire 3 days of the tournament with the participation of many big brands, especially brands related to sports, health care and comprehensive beauty.

Many activities as well as attractive and valuable gift programs take place at the booths to bring many interesting experiences to athletes, guests and their families on the weekend. Providing a full range of products and services will help the tournament better serve the needs of runners, keeping them in the next tournaments.

Worldwide, marathons have gone beyond just a sporting event, becoming a driving force for the economy, tourism, and promotion of local culture. The clearest proof is the 2024 Chicago Marathon, which brought in $683 million for the city, of which $177 million came from tourism, and created 4,589 full-time jobs, up 24% from the previous year. The 2024 Boston Marathon also contributed $509.1 million to the local economy.

Strava’s 2024 Sports Trends Report shows that the number of marathon and ultramarathon participants increased by 9% compared to the previous year, while the Running USA 2024 survey shows that current runners prioritize races in destinations rich in cultural values and experiences. This confirms that “marathon tourism” is a global trend and Vietnam is not out of this development flow.

Resilience from sports

Many provinces and cities in Vietnam are also making efforts to organize marathon tournaments to awaken the “golden goose” that is still sleeping in the current stormy development speed. Not only marathon, other sports are also proving their “golden goose” power when organized professionally and linked with tourism and culture.

At the end of 2024, Ho Chi Minh City made a strong mark on the international sports map when it successfully organized the Teqball World Championship, a tournament considered a model for combining sports with promoting the country's image. According to Mr. Gábor Borsányi, President of the International Teqball Federation (FITEQ), the tournament in Vietnam reached 470 million visits and interactions globally, an increase of 400% compared to 2023, with a media value equivalent to 2.1 million USD (double the event held in Bangkok, Thailand). The event was broadcast in 74 countries, introducing the image of dynamic, modern and hospitable Ho Chi Minh City to tens of millions of viewers around the world.

Not only is it a place for athletes and coaches from 95 countries and territories to compete, the tournament is also held right in the middle of Le Loi - Dong Khoi Street, the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Here, the audience not only watches eye-catching football matches but also immerses themselves in a unique cultural space of enjoying tea, watching calligraphy, exchanging traditional music, and admiring contemporary art performances.

International experts have assessed this as one of the most creative events in the history of Teqball, when sports are “dressed in cultural clothes”, turning each match into a performance of Vietnamese identity. The tournament not only attracts the attention of fans, but also contributes to stimulating tourism, services and promoting local culture. By doing so, Ho Chi Minh City has shown its strategic vision of turning each major sporting event into a platform for developing the cultural industry, towards the model of an “event city” - where sports, art and tourism come together.

From the impressive figures of Hanoi Marathon 2025 to Teqball World Cup in Ho Chi Minh City, it can be seen that Vietnamese sports are gradually exploiting the huge economic and cultural potential that events bring. From the model of "raising a goose that lays golden eggs" through elevating the organization of tournaments and sports events into cultural promotion events, promoting tourism development in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Dr. Vu Thai Hong, Director of the Institute of Sports Science and Technology, said that these models need to be replicated to create momentum for sports economic development.

Awakening the “golden goose” from sports tournaments is not only the story of the Sports industry, but also a new direction for Vietnam’s tourism, culture and economy in the journey of integration and sustainable development.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/cung-danh-thuc-con-ga-de-trung-vang-180407.html