The 2025 Race: A Field That Grew by Half
The fifth Vientiane International Marathon was run on Sunday 14 December 2025, over a marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km [1][2]. The Laotian Times reported more than 7,000 runners at the start from 45 nationalities, up 56% on about 4,500 in 2024, and called it Laos' biggest annual marathon event [1]. Dariusz Bemben of Poland won the men's marathon and Napatsorn Panthatawewit of Thailand the women's [1].
The race is organised by Events for Good (EFG) Laos [3]. Its presenting sponsor for a fifth year was Lao Brewery Company, through its Tigerhead water and Revive isotonic brands; the company said it made sure all runners had drinks throughout the race [1].
The Course: Out and Back Along the Mekong From That Luang
The race starts and finishes at the That Luang grounds [3][4], where 2025 race packs were also collected [2]. The organiser's 2024 and 2026 maps show the same routes [4][5]. The marathon heads down Lane Xang Avenue past the Patuxay monument to Rue Samsenthai, runs west along the Mekong to a turn beside Wattay International Airport at about 7 km, and comes back past the Chao Fa Ngum statue at 10 km. It then runs south along Donchan Road and Bor O Road to a second turn at 20 km, loops east and north past Setthathirath Hospital at around 28 to 30 km and along Phonpapao Road at 32 km, and returns through the centre to the finish [4].
The half marathon follows the same line down Lane Xang Avenue to the airport turn, then runs the Mekong waterfront past the King Anouvong statue to a turn by the Landmark Hotel at 14 km before heading back up Lane Xang Avenue [6]. The maps mark water every 2 km and first-aid points along the route, and carry a certified-measured-course logo from World Athletics and AIMS [4][6][5].
The Weather: Cool and Misty
Wattay International Airport, about 7 km west of the start and beside the course's first turn [4], has no archived readings between midnight and 6am on race day [7]. Its last reading before the 3.30am marathon start was 22°C and 78% humidity at 11.30pm, after rain and drizzle in the early evening [8]. At 6am it was 20°C, with a dew point of 17°C, 83% humidity, mist and a 2-knot wind. It was still 20°C at 7am, 22°C at 8am and 23°C at 10am, with 78% humidity [7].
A dew point of 17°C is comfortable by the region's standards, and a marathoner finishing inside the limit never ran in more than 23°C at the airport [7]. Mist was reported late on the evening before and again from 6am to 7.30am [7][8], on a course that starts at 3.30am on open roads.
The Roads and the Cut-offs
The race is run on public roads. The organiser's 2024 rules say the route is shared during the race until 6.30am, after which "the road will be fully reopened to live traffic" [3]. That is three hours into the marathon and two hours into the half, so under those rules most marathoners finish with traffic back on the roads. The same rules disclaim any warranty on the road surface, lighting, traffic restrictions, or members of the public and animals on the course [3].
A runner at the 2022 race quit for that reason: the night start was fine, but once caught in the morning rush on the side of a four-lane road, they no longer felt safe [9].
Under the 2024 rules the marathon limit is 6 hours 30, and marathoners who have not reached a checkpoint by the 3-hour-30 mark must stop and are taken back to the start on the race's buses. The half marathon has 3 hours 30, the 10 km 2 hours and the 5 km 1 hour 30 [3]. The 2026 map gives the same 6 hours 30 for the marathon, with a 10am cut-off [5].
Race Weekend Logistics
In 2025, race packs were collected at the That Luang grounds on 12 and 13 December, 10am to 6pm [2]; the 2024 rules did not allow anyone to collect a pack on another runner's behalf [3]. Entries are non-refundable [2], and in 2024 they could not be transferred [3].
Through World's Marathons, the 2025 fees were €60 for the marathon, €52 for the half, €35 for the 10 km and €13 for the 5 km, with minimum ages of 18, 16 and 12 for the three longer races [2]. The listed entry included a finisher medal, event T-shirt, single-use timing chip, pacers, a photo service, drink and nutrition stations, medical cover and toilets [2]. In 2024, prizes went five deep for men and women overall and in each age category, decided on gun time [3].
Should You Enter the 2026 Race?
Yes, if you want an unhurried capital-city marathon in cool December air, and you are comfortable finishing on open roads.
Think twice if you need closed roads, or will be out on the course long after 6.30am: under the 2024 rules, a five-hour marathoner runs the last two hours with traffic fully back [3]. The 3.30am start also means an early night.
The 2026 race is on Sunday 6 December [10]. The organiser's 2026 map keeps the 3.30am marathon start with a 10am cut-off, the half marathon at 4.30am with an 8am cut-off and the 10 km at 5am with a 7.30am cut-off [5], and packs are collected at the That Luang grounds on 4 and 5 December [9]. Check the road arrangements for 2026 before you book.
Nobody from this site ran the race. This review draws on a news report, the organiser's race information, rules and course maps, a race listing, airport weather records and one runner's account.