ANNOUNCEMENT: VPBank Hanoi Mararathon 2021 Race Date Moved To March 6, 2022

ANNOUNCEMENT

VPBANK HANOI MARARATHON 2021 RACE DATE MOVED TO MARCH 6, 2022

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2021 set to take place on Dec 26 has been moved to March 6, 2022 due to the pandemic's complicated development in Vietnam, organizers say.

The decision was reached after the Race Organizing Committee (ROC) had consulted with relevant departments on a reasonable time to ensure runners' rights and benefits as well as their travel, accommodation and practice. The VPBank Hanoi Marathon, held annually since 2018, is Vietnam's leading professional race.

The ROC has so far completed preparations and is ready for the race on Dec 26, 2021. However, the number of new COVID-19 infections has been rising in recent days, along with the emergence of Omicron, a new strain. This situation contains too many potential risks, not allowing the organization of a marathon to be held in Hanoi with the number of runners from across the country reaching up to 10,000.

Meanwhile, the national vaccine coverage is not high and Omicron's super-contagious ability may turn a crowded sporting event into a super-contagious one, negatively affecting public health and the government's efforts in preventing and controlling the pandemic as well as in reviving the economy.

Changing the race date when the preparations have been completed is a tough decision, causing great economic loss for the ROC. But being a responsible sports event organizer, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon's ROC is committed to acting for the safety of all participating runners, the community and society.

Registration and all the runners' rights and benefits are guaranteed intact and automatically brought forward to the new race date of March 6, 2022.

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon sincerely thanks the runners for understanding and companion. The ROC wishes the runners be optimistic, practice appropriately and do not forget to adhere to the (5K) Safety Rule so as to fight along with the whole country and win the pandemic for a stronger Vietnam, leaning toward the 31st SEA Games.

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Held annually since 2018, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon has become Hanoi’s official race and won recognition to be a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) since 2019, with a running track standardized by AIMS experts and the Vietnam Athletics Federation. Runners’ results, in addition to be qualified for competing in the 31st SEA Games, are still recognized to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon. The VPBank Hanoi Marathon has joined the Age Group Ranking System of Abbott World Marathon Majors, counting from 2022.

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New Race Date: March 6, 2022

Should you have any question about the VPBank Hanoi Marathon, please email us at: hanoi.marathon@dhavietnam.vn.

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The Heritage Race system, owned and organized annually by DHA Vietnam, comprises of the VPBank Hanoi Marathon in October, the Halong Bay Heritage Marathon in November and the Can Tho Marathon - A Heritage Race in December.