Hoang Nguyen Thanh, Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa win 21km titles at 13th Ho Chi Minh City Marathon

Hoang Nguyen Thanh and Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa (Dong Nai) both won the 21 km half-marathon distance at the 13th Ho Chi Minh City Marathon in 2026.

Hoang Nguyen Thanh (Dong Nai) finishes first in the 21 km distance with a time of 1 hour 8 minutes 32 seconds at the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon 2026. Photo courtesy of HCMC Marathon

On the morning of January 11, on Le Duan Street (the area of April 30 Park, Sai Gon ward), the 13th Ho Chi Minh City Marathon in 2026 (Ho Chi Minh City Marathon 2026), organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports,  the Ho Chi Minh City Athletics Federation in coordination with Pulse Active, officially took place.

Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa (Dong Nai) wins the 21 km distance at the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon 2026. Photo courtesy of HCMC Marathon

With the message “United in Every Stride”, the race continues to affirm its position as a typical sports-tourism event of Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to community connection and promoting the image of a dynamic and friendly Ho Chi Minh City.

The Ho Chi Minh City Marathon 2026 brought together nearly 11,000 athletes from 75 countries and territories to participate in the event. Participants took on three main distances: 42 km, 21 km, and 10 km, starting at 3:00, 3:30, and 5:00, respectively. The start and finish lines were located at April 30 Park on Le Duan Street, right in front of the Independence Palace (Reunification Hall). The race route passed through many of the City's iconic streets and landmarks, including Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, the Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon Opera House), the headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Thu Ngu Flagpole, Ba Son Bridge, and the Thu Thiem new urban area.

Athletes start competing in the 21 km distance.

At the end of the race, athlete Hoang Nguyen Thanh (Dong Nai) claimed first place in the half-marathon (21 km) with an impressive time of 1 hour 8 minutes 32 seconds. The women’s title went to Dong Nai athlete Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa, who finished in 1 hour 20 minutes 57 seconds. Meanwhile, in the marathon distance (42 km), Pham Thi Hong Le (Gia Lai) crossed the finish line first with a time of 2 hours 46 minutes 19 seconds. The men’s title in this category was claimed by Huynh Anh Khoi (Ho Chi Minh City).

By Huy Anh – Translated by Minh Hanh, Minho