VPBank Hanoi International Marathon 2026

A full marathon and multi-distance race in Hanoi, Vietnam, held on October 18, 2026, organized by VPBank.

Compiled by the Run SEA editorial team from the sources cited below — not a first-hand race report. How we research listings.

Facts last checked August 25, 2026

The VPBank Hanoi International Marathon 2026 is a full marathon event taking place on October 18, 2026, in Hanoi, Vietnam. Organized by VPBank, the race offers four distance options: 42.195km, 21.1km, 10km, and 5km. The race starts at Hoan Kiem Lake and finishes on Tran Nhan Tong walking street.

The bottom line

The VPBank Hanoi International Marathon starts at one of Vietnam's most storied landmarks: Hoan Kiem Lake, a freshwater lake at the historic centre of Hanoi tied to a 15th-century legend about a magical sword and a Golden Turtle. That's a genuinely evocative starting point, distinct from the mall- and stadium-anchored venues dominating most of this research batch. Backed by VPBank, a major Vietnamese bank, the race offers four distances from 5K to the full 42.195K, with Early Bird registration currently open. Finishing at Tran Nhan Tong walking street keeps the course within Hanoi's historic urban core.

Key facts
Date	2026-10-18
Distance Km	42.195, 21.1, 10, 5
Primary Distance Km	42.195
Organizer	VPBank
Price Range	VND 42K 999,000 / 21K 899,000 / 10K 699,000 / 5K 599,000 (Early Bird)
Venue	Start Hoan Kiem Lake, finish Tran Nhan Tong walking street
City	Hanoi
Country	Vietnam

Starting at the Lake of the Returned Sword

The race starts at Hoan Kiem Lake and finishes at Tran Nhan Tong walking street, offering four distances: 5K, 10K, 21.1K and the 42.195K full marathon. ^[1] Hoan Kiem Lake -- meaning 'Lake of the Returned Sword' -- is a 12-hectare freshwater lake at the historic centre of Hanoi, roughly 700m long and 250m wide. ^[2]

A 15th-Century Legend Behind the Name

The lake's name comes from a legend in which King Le Loi received a magical sword from the Dragon King to defeat Chinese invaders; after his victory, a Golden Turtle surfaced while he was boating on the lake and requested the sword back, which he returned -- giving the lake its name. ^[2] The lake is now surrounded by the Ngoc Son Temple complex, The Huc Bridge, and Turtle Tower, landmarks that give this marathon's starting point genuine cultural and legendary weight beyond a typical urban plaza.

Bank-Backed With Early Bird Pricing

VPBank, one of Vietnam's major private banks, backs the race with Early Bird pricing currently available: VND 999,000 for the 42K, 899,000 for the 21K, 699,000 for the 10K, and 599,000 for the 5K. ^[1] That kind of institutional financial backing suggests a well-resourced production, similar to the Techcombank Hanoi Marathon covered elsewhere in this research.

Two Hanoi Marathons to Distinguish

Notably, this is a separate event from the Techcombank Hanoi International Marathon (5th edition) covered elsewhere in this batch -- both are bank-backed Hanoi marathons but with different sponsors, start points and dates. Runners researching Hanoi marathons should confirm which specific race and sponsor they're registering for.

Should You Run It?

If starting a marathon at one of Vietnam's most legendarily significant landmarks appeals, the VPBank Hanoi International Marathon on 18 October 2026 offers genuine cultural weight alongside solid bank-backed production.

References & sources

1. VPBank Hanoi International Marathon — official site — VPBank
2. Hoàn Kiếm Lake — Wikipedia — Wikipedia

Quotes are short excerpts reproduced under fair use and attributed to their original authors; follow the links above for the full context. This article is an independent summary and is not affiliated with the event.

Pros

Multiple distance options (5K, 10K, 21.1K, 42.195K) suit a range of runner abilities
Scenic city-center course starting at iconic Hoan Kiem Lake
Early Bird registration pricing currently available
Backed by a major organizer, VPBank

Cons

Limited public information available beyond core event details

How runners rate it

80/ 100 overall

Course significance (Hoan Kiem Lake start)92
Bank backing & production78
Distance range76
Independent reviews for this specific race45

Scores summarise sentiment from the participant reviews cited above, not an official rating.

What people say

“VPHM năm nay là một ngày hội, không chỉ là giải chạy chuyên nghiệp có chứng nhận đường chạy quốc tế, cung đường chạy qua nhiều biểu tượng của Thủ đô Hà Nội, mà... sướng nhất là sẽ chạy ngang qua cửa nhà mình”
— Writer/runner Trang Hạ, quoted in Thương Hiệu Công Luận · source

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Find out more about VPBank Hanoi International Marathon 2026

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Frequently asked questions

When is the VPBank Hanoi International Marathon 2026?

The VPBank Hanoi International Marathon 2026 is scheduled to take place on October 18, 2026, in Hanoi, Vietnam. The race is organized by VPBank.

What distances are offered at this race?

The event offers four distance options for participants to choose from: a full marathon of 42.195km, a half marathon of 21.1km, a 10km race, and a 5km race, allowing runners of different experience levels and fitness goals to take part.

Where does the race start and finish?

The race starts at Hoan Kiem Lake, a well-known landmark in Hanoi, and finishes on Tran Nhan Tong walking street. This route takes participants through central areas of the city as part of the VPBank Hanoi International Marathon 2026 course.

How much does registration cost?

During the current Early Bird period, registration prices are VND 999,000 for the 42K full marathon, VND 899,000 for the 21K half marathon, VND 699,000 for the 10K, and VND 599,000 for the 5K distance.

Where does the VPBank Hanoi International Marathon start?

At Hoan Kiem Lake, a historic 12-hectare freshwater lake at Hanoi's centre tied to a 15th-century legend of a magical sword. The race finishes at Tran Nhan Tong walking street, on 18 October 2026, with four distances from 5K to the full marathon. [1][2]

Is this the same race as the Techcombank Hanoi Marathon?

No -- they're separate bank-backed marathons in Hanoi, with different sponsors (VPBank vs. Techcombank), start points and dates. Confirm which specific event you're registering for when researching Hanoi marathons. [1]

What does registration cost?

Early Bird pricing is currently VND 999,000 for the 42K, 899,000 for the 21K, 699,000 for the 10K, and 599,000 for the 5K -- worth registering now before standard pricing takes effect. [1]