For nearly seven decades, the Tien Phong Newspaper National Marathon and Long Distance Championship has become a symbol of endurance, dedication and pioneering in Vietnamese sports . Each year, in a new land, the tournament not only creates high-quality races but also inspires positive energy in the community.
It is on that heritage foundation that in 2025, Tien Phong Half Marathon was launched in Ho Chi Minh City, marking a strong transformation of the Tien Phong newspaper sports ecosystem - a move that demonstrates the desire to expand, innovate and continue to lead the Vietnamese running movement.
Pioneer Marathon Heritage: Nearly 70 years of perseverance in writing identity
Since 1958, Tien Phong newspaper has laid the foundation for the oldest running tournament in Vietnam. When running was still a little-known sport, the tournament still existed tirelessly, growing through each route, becoming a test of courage for many generations of athletes.
On those tracks, the golden names of Vietnamese athletics have grown up and shone one after another. From the first generation with the legend Bui Luong, coach Hoang Minh Phuoc, to the next generation such as Nguyen Van Thuyet, Luu Van Hung, Dang Thi Teo, Truong Thanh Hang... and the current generation including Nguyen Thi Oanh, Do Quoc Luat, Nguyen Trung Cuong, Hoang Nguyen Thanh, Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa, Pham Thi Hong Le. Each athlete, each step has left their own mark on the Tien Phong track, enriching the tradition and the desire to conquer of the oldest tournament in Vietnam.
What makes the race special, more than the achievements, is the steadfast pursuit of pioneering values. Tien Phong Newspaper always knows how to innovate, create, and above all, seek out lands rich in identity to create running routes, bring sports closer to the community, and maintain organizational standards, no matter how fast the running movement develops.
From Ninh Binh (2017), Buon Ma Thuot - Dak Lak (2018), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (old - 2019), to special locations such as Ly Son Island - Quang Ngai (2020), Pleiku - Gia Lai (old - 2021), Con Dao (2022), Lai Chau (2023), Phu Yen (2024) or Quang Tri (2025)... Tien Phong has brought runners' footsteps across the country, stirring up pride and patriotism through each route.
Not only are the races, but they are also a journey to explore the country, an invitation for each athlete to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Fatherland, to feel the beat of history, culture and Vietnamese people. At each destination, the Tien Phong race ignites the flame of passion, spreading the message of solidarity and the spirit of overcoming oneself, the values that have created the traditional sports brand of Tien Phong newspaper for nearly seven decades.
In the context of dozens of marathons appearing every year, the Tien Phong brand still holds a unique position, durable, professional and full of weight. That foundation is the stepping stone for a new chapter: the birth of Tien Phong Half Marathon.
Ho Chi Minh City: The starting point of a new vision
The launch of Tien Phong Half Marathon in Ho Chi Minh City is not simply a matter of choosing a venue. It is a declaration of vision and aspiration to expand the Tien Phong sports brand to the place with the most vibrant running movement in the country.
Ho Chi Minh City, a city of more than 14 million people, is a hotbed of community activities, where every early morning, thousands of runners are present on central streets or parks to practice. The youthful, dynamic, and vibrant atmosphere of this city is perfectly compatible with the innovative and pioneering spirit that Tien Phong newspaper has pursued for decades.
Today, when jogging has become a way of life for urban people, the city named after Uncle Ho is in dire need of an iconic tournament, professional enough, community-connected enough, and national enough to affirm the position of the city's sports movement. Tien Phong Half Marathon fully meets those expectations: a large-scale, emotional playground, converging the typical "Tien Phong" spirit: quality, methodical and kind in every detail of organization.
Here, runners not only wait for a beautiful running course, but also expect a tournament that creates a real sports festival atmosphere, inspired by the spirit of overcoming oneself, and live in the positive energy of the running community. For the city, the tournament opens up opportunities to expand public sports spaces, create tourism and economic attraction, and at the same time spread the image of a modern, healthy city rich in sports culture.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Ho Chi Minh City is the “new height” for the Tien Phong Half Marathon brand to take off. And from that height, the vision of the Tien Phong sports ecosystem will continue to expand, become stronger and more inspiring.
Tien Phong Half Marathon: Opening the door to Tien Phong sports ecosystem
If the National Marathon Championship and long distance are the professional standards of Vietnamese athletics, Tien Phong Half Marathon contains values closer to the majority of runners. This is a distance that is “challenging enough but not too far away”, the perfect stepping stone for both beginners and amateur athletes who want to go further.
The emergence of Tien Phong Half Marathon shows the broad vision of Tien Phong newspaper : Creating a multi-level running series, in which events complement each other, increase the spread, attract more runner groups and create a sustainable development circle.
Tien Phong does not follow the trend of commercializing events, but still maintains the familiar philosophy: The race course is standardized, the performance recording system applies modern technology, safety, medical, and coordination work is carefully calculated down to every detail. All to ensure that runners not only compete, but truly experience a high-quality sporting event.
In particular, with the advantage of being one of the largest press agencies in the country, each season of Tien Phong is not only a competition for achievements, but also a launching pad for inspirational stories. From the stories of amateur athletes overcoming difficulties to become top stars, to young runners conquering for the first time, to the faces persevering on the journey to find themselves... all will become vivid material to spread the spirit of "running for a better version of yourself".
A race only lasts long when it touches the hearts of its participants. And Tien Phong understands that runners, with their journey to overcome themselves, are the “soul” of each season. In the bright morning sun, when thousands of runners head to the starting line, each person will carry their own story: the desire to overcome limits, the determination to reach a new record, or simply the joy of joining a healthy and energetic community. Tien Phong Half Marathon was born to support those emotions, so that each step has meaning, and each athlete feels like they belong to a bigger journey.
The long journey of pioneering
Looking back on the journey of nearly 70 years, it is easy to see that Tien Phong has never been afraid of difficulties or hardships. From the first days of organizing running races in the midland areas with many difficulties to spreading the movement to all parts of the country, from the quiet seasons to the years when the running movement exploded, Tien Phong has always maintained its pioneering position.
Today, when Tien Phong Half Marathon appears, it is not a replacement, but an extension of that same spirit. A new parallel path, younger, more dynamic but still keeping intact the pioneering identity.
The birth of the tournament in Ho Chi Minh City is just the beginning. Tomorrow, there will be new generations of runners growing up from this playground, there will be more beautiful stories to be told, and the Tien Phong legacy will continue to be extended by persistent footsteps. It is the journey of pioneering and running that never stops.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/tu-thuong-hieu-tien-phong-marathon-den-tien-phong-half-marathon-hanh-trinh-noi-dai-cua-su-tien-phong-post1801681.tpo
![[Photo] Cat Ba - Green island paradise](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvphoto.vietnam.vn%2Fthumb%2F1200x675%2Fvietnam%2Fresource%2FIMAGE%2F2025%2F12%2F04%2F1764821844074_ndo_br_1-dcbthienduongxanh638-jpg.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Comment (0)