HCMC Marathon 2027

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.