With the theme "Impressive Hau Giang", the Vietcombank Mekong Delta International Marathon - Hau Giang 2023 is an event organized to spread the message of environmental protection and climate change response. Participating in the race are 9,000 athletes, including international athletes from France, Japan, and Singapore, who will compete in 6 distances: 42km (for participants aged 18 and above); 21km (for participants aged 16 and above); 10km and 5km (if participants are under 16, a guardian must be present and sign a waiver); 2.4km (for participants aged 12 to 15); and 800m for participants aged 6 to 11.

Athletes participating in the 2023 "Vietcombank Mekong Delta" International Marathon in Hau Giang.

Participating in the race, athletes will run through many uniquely designed routes, passing through lush green fields; peaceful, rustic villages; and winding canals, creating a typical picture of the Hau Giang countryside. Notably, the running routes have the same starting and ending points, forming a closed loop that never repeats. This ensures that athletes remain engaged and have diverse experiences along the way.
Athlete Nguyen Ba Hien, from the People's Army Newspaper's representative office in Can Tho, participated in the 2023 "Vietcombank Mekong Delta" International Marathon in Hau Giang.
Participating in the 2023 "Vietcombank Mekong Delta" International Marathon in Hau Giang, athlete Nguyen Ba Hien, from the People's Army Newspaper's representative office in Can Tho, shared: "The race has become a festival for thousands of athletes and tourists from both domestic and international locations. Despite the rain at the start, it did not affect the athletes' competitive spirit. Participating in this year's race, besides improving health, each athlete is also an ambassador, spreading the message of working together to combat climate change and preserve and develop the Mekong Delta region."
Despite the rain, the passion for marathon running was evident in every step taken by the athletes.
This is the 4th season of the Vietcombank Mekong Delta International Marathon - Hau Giang. First held in 2019, the race attracted over 4,200 athletes from 11 countries and territories; this number increased to approximately 7,200 in 2020. In 2021, the race was interrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, over 8,500 athletes participated, including 47 international athletes from 18 countries. This year's course is located entirely within Vi Thanh City and has been certified by the International Marathon Association (AIMS) as meeting international standards, allowing athletes to use their results to qualify for major marathons worldwide .

Text and photos: THUY AN