Press Release: VPBANK HANOI MARATHON ASEAN 2020: A GLOBALLY CONNECTED RACE

Runners competed at four distances: 42 km, 21 km, 10 km and 5 km. For the first time, a large-scale connected marathon was organized in Hanoi's cool autumn weather, creating extremely wonderful emotions and moments for everyone attending the event. Many new records have been established.

With the slogan “Meet the sunrise, Welcome to new normal”, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 is an official event of the ASEAN 2020 Chairmanship, the first night run ever held in Hanoi, and at the same time the first large-scale community event that marks the new normal life of Hanoi and of Vietnam.

In order to ensure safety amid the pandemic, the Start times of running distances were designed with intervals of about 2 hours. The full marathon (42 km) started the earliest at 0:00, followed by the half marathon (21 km) at 3:00 a.m., the 10-km distance at 4:30 a.m. and the 5-km run at 8:00 a.m.

Runners competed at four distances: 42 km, 21 km, 10 km and 5 km. For the first time, a large-scale connected marathon was organized in Hanoi's cool autumn weather, creating extremely wonderful emotions and moments for everyone attending the event. Many new records have been established.

With the slogan “Meet the sunrise, Welcome to new normal”, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 is an official event of the ASEAN 2020 Chairmanship, the first night run ever held in Hanoi, and at the same time the first large-scale community event that marks the new normal life of Hanoi and of Vietnam.

In order to ensure safety amid the pandemic, the Start times of running distances were designed with intervals of about 2 hours. The full marathon (42 km) started the earliest at 0:00, followed by the half marathon (21 km) at 3:00 a.m., the 10-km distance at 4:30 a.m. and the 5-km run at 8:00 a.m.

 

Prize awards for men-winners of the 42-km category, professional league.

 

The 5-km run has attracted nearly 2.000 people, including many famous personalities such as actors Thanh Son, Xuan Nghi, Miss Mai Phuong Thuy, Miss Lumiere International 2018 Do Thi Thao, Luong Thuy Linh, Do My Linh... The short, thus suitable distance for many new runners has drawn attention of many participants. The VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 has honour to receive nearly 1,000 doctors and medical staff from Hanoi’s Bach Mai Hospital, led by captain, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuan.

Ms. Nguyen Tieu Phuong, the well-known woman in Vietnam’s running community, who is dubbed as “Rose of Steel” and joined the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 for the first time, was excited with the 42-km running course. For her, this is not only a race but also an opportunity to return to her childhood years, visiting small alleyways and narrow streets to enjoy the scent of milk flowers, checking every street corner and old trees, watching the Turtle Tower and Hoan Kiem Lake and feeling the cool beauty of Hanoi autumn. Having participated in most of the world’s major marathons, Phuong still wishes that one day Vietnam would have a classy race similar to the Berlin Marathon or the New York Marathon because the feeling of running in the cheering sounds of compatriots is always a great happiness. She has chosen to join the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 because this is the race that is increasingly asserting its scale and professionalism.

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Prize awards for women-winners of the 42-km category, professional league.

 

Not the first time Duc Tuan ran in Hanoi, but for the first time competing in the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020, he chose the 42-km distance also because Hanoi was so charming at night. “I looked at the track map and was fascinated. In just one night, I will be able to pass all the key streets, the most beautiful scenes in Hanoi, in a perfect autumn weather”.

Although only joining at the modest 5-km distance, both Miss Mai Phuong Thuy and Miss Lumiere International 2018 Do Thi Thao shared the same opinion saying that, through this race, they hope to use their image and photos, their voice to inspire people to practice running more to improve health, bringing positive energy to the community.   

The VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 has received a great interest from the running community for its diverse prize structure, and the total value of the prizes was amounted to nearly VND 500 million despite the race took place amid tough conditions of the pandemic. According to the ROC representative, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 not only attracted thousands marathoners competing directly in Hanoi, but also received enthusiastic responses from thousands of runners across Vietnam, from provinces of Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Nghe An, the city of Da Nang, the Central Highlands, Nha Trang, Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, Ca Mau, Phu Quoc ... as well as in many countries around the world such as the United States, Germany, Japan, Australia, Ireland, Brazil, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand etc. All started at the same time as the main race in Hanoi, conveying the message of peace, solidarity and responsive theme.

Also within the framework of the event, Ms. Luu Thi Thao, Deputy CEO of Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank) – a ROC member, has awarded VND 2 billion to support the people of Thua Thien-Hue province, who have been struggling with difficulties caused by floods and storms. Joining the marathon, runners not only have the opportunity to stride and meet the sunrise on Hanoi's streets, but also lean towards a positive and humane lifestyle. The enthusiastic participation of thousands of runners sharing footsteps of love is a great source of encouragement for the people in Vietnam’s central region to have more confidence to firmly overcome the difficulties brought by natural disasters and epidemics.

 

Deputy CEO of Vietnam Prosperity Bank Luu Thi Thao (R) hands over the bank's donation to flood victims in Vietnam's central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

 

Ms. Dao Thi Thu Huong, Deputy General Director of Xtep, a fashion brand in Vietnam's market and which is the exclusive outfit sponsor for the marathon, shared: "2020 is a particularly difficult year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Xtep, in the capacity of the exclusive outfit sponsor for the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020, has always accompanied and made every effort to ensure that runners wear a 'Beatiful - Unique - Extraordinary' event T-shirt, designed specifically for the race marking the ASEAN Chairmanship year, and together spread the passion for running towards a healthy and happy community".

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Contact information:

DHA Company

• Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh (Executive Director); Mobile: +84 90 343 2295

• Ms. Tran Dieu Hong (In charge of communication); Mobile: +84 91 367 0989

• Ms. Do Hong Anh (PR); Mobile: +84 98 319 8039

 

Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank)

• Ms. Truong Thi Tuyet Trinh (PR); Mobile: +84 90 489 9413

• Ms. Dam Thanh Huong (PR); Mobile: +84 90 461 8722