HCMC Marathon 2027

IMPORTANT 2027 ENTRY UPDATE (verified 28 October 2026): The organiser's official 42K, 21K and 10K race pages all say the 15 October 2026, 23:59 ICT deadline for bib transfers, distance changes and guaranteed bib personalisation has passed. The previous listing incorrectly stated 30 November for 42K/21K. These are not necessarily deadlines for purchasing a new entry: check current registration capacity directly. Official sources: https://hcmcmarathon.com/42km/ , https://hcmcmarathon.com/21km/ , https://hcmcmarathon.com/10km/ .

HCMC Marathon returns on Sunday 17 January 2027 with its start and finish at 30/4 Park on Le Duan Street, directly in front of Independence Palace in central Ho Chi Minh City. The organiser traces the event's history to 1992 and reports 13 editions with more than 150,000 runners from 75 countries, making this an established fixture in the city's running calendar.

The 2027 programme comprises the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K. The marathon starts at 3:00 AM, followed by the half marathon at 3:30 AM and the 10K at 4:15 AM. The early schedule is intended to reduce traffic pressure in the city centre and lets runners begin in the cooler pre-dawn hours. Published cut-offs are six hours for the marathon, three hours 30 minutes for the half marathon and two hours for the 10K. The organiser warns that this is an urban race and participants may encounter traffic-light interruptions; runners must follow staff directions and cannot continue beyond checkpoint cut-offs once roads are being reopened.

The central course experience is a major part of the race's identity. The start and finish sit among some of Saigon's best-known landmarks, including Independence Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The event's rules set minimum ages of 18 for the marathon, 16 for the half marathon and 12 for the 10K. Electronic timing is used, and marathon finishers completing the course within the official limit receive an additional finisher shirt.

Race bib collection is scheduled at Hoa Lu Sports Center, 2 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Friday 15 January and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday 16 January. There is no race-morning collection. Runners should bring their original passport or citizen ID and the confirmation email containing their bib number. Overall cash prizes are published for all three distances, with additional Vietnamese marathon and age-group awards.

Registration details and optional services (verified 28 October 2026)

The organiser's 2027 category pages contain important distance-specific deadlines and conditions, which must not be mistaken for an event-wide registration closing date. Registration remains subject to the organiser's capacity limit; a calendar deadline does not guarantee that places are available.

• 42K, 21K and 10K: the organiser's current official 2027 distance pages all state 15 October 2026 at 23:59 ICT as the deadline for requesting a one-time category change or bib transfer (or earlier if the relevant distance sold out). This deadline has passed for all three distances. The administration charge is VND 100,000 for an upgrade or downgrade, or VND 300,000 for a transfer. Upgrading also requires payment of the difference in entry fees; downgrading brings no refund of the difference.
• Late-entrant conditions (all three distances): for registrations completed after 15 October 2026 at 23:59 ICT, the organiser warns that personalised bib-name printing and requested T-shirt sizes cannot be guaranteed and runners will be assigned to the last starting corral. These are administration and personalisation deadlines, NOT a confirmed overall registration-closing date. Fresh entries remain subject to available capacity; no new sale or reopening is guaranteed.
• Race photography: optional photo packages are advertised at VND 139,000 (42K), VND 119,000 (21K) and VND 99,000 (10K). Runners may purchase them with entry or afterwards; individual race images are not guaranteed.
• Optional VIP upgrade: the organiser advertises a VND 599,000 upgrade including priority race-pack collection, a special VIP bib, race photos and a merchandise item. This is an extra charge, not a standard entitlement.
• Entry fees are non-refundable. Requests for a permitted change are handled through the organiser's official forms; unofficial bib swaps are prohibited. Residents' entry pricing applies to Vietnamese citizens and qualifying foreign residents holding a valid residence card at registration and race-pack collection.

For the latest category-specific rules and availability, consult the official 42K page, 21K page, 10K page and race regulations.