Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon

About this race

Ho Chi Minh City's marathon is Vietnam's largest and most internationally recognised road race, held in January before the tropical heat becomes prohibitive. The flat course runs along the Saigon River waterfront past the Bitexco Financial Tower, through the French colonial boulevards of District 1, past the Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral, and through the emerging skyscraper district of Binh Thanh. Early start times (typically 3 AM or 5 AM) keep temperatures manageable, but January humidity of 65–75% makes heat management essential regardless. The city's density and round-the-clock energy means vibrant street food and enormous crowds even before dawn. A growing international field reflects Vietnam's surging running culture.