Ha Long earns nearly 700 billion VND on VnExpress Marathon occasion

Runner conquers VM Ha Long race track at sunrise. Photo: VM

Specifically, during the week from May 25 to 31, Ha Long City recorded more than 246,600 visitors, including more than 41,500 international visitors, according to a report from the Ha Long City Department of Culture, Science and Information. Total tourism revenue reached VND690.5 billion.

This year's race attracted more than 10,000 runners. Many runners compared the VnExpress Marathon (VM) Ha Long route to a tour , taking runners to explore many famous and iconic locations of the city by the heritage bay.

"With each step, the limestone mountains, coconut trees, beaches, architectural works such as museums and dolphin palaces appeared, giving me inspiration to conquer the entire 42 km," Quang Bao ( Hanoi ) shared.

Among the 10,000 people who conquered the race on June 1, there were more than 525 international runners. Nick Ajah, a runner from Nigeria, participated in the 42km distance at VM Ha Long last year and was impressed with the coastal route. "I didn't set a goal for achievement, I just wanted to enjoy the running atmosphere," he said. Before that, he had experienced sleeping overnight on a cruise ship, enjoying seafood and watching the bay with friends. "Ha Long is very beautiful. Last time I went on a tour of the bay and explored the cave, it was very memorable," he shared.

This year marks the first time the race is held in early summer, instead of July or September like previous years. Large-scale sporting events like the VnExpress Marathon also contribute to creating momentum for a series of peak summer festivals in Ha Long.

In the second quarter, the city plans to organize a series of activities such as the Ha Long Carnival 2025, the Beer and Squid Festival, sports sailing, hot air balloon festival and light show on Heritage Bay... At the same time, the local government continues to promote upgrading sea and island tourism products, high-end resorts and night services to retain tourists after major events.

Before the race, in the first quarter of 2025, Ha Long welcomed nearly 2.3 million visitors, an increase of 5% over the same period last year. Of which, international visitors reached more than 720,000, with total tourism revenue estimated at VND6,345 billion.

VN (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ha-long-thu-gan-700-ty-dong-dip-vnexpress-marathon-413505.html