Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon 2026

The 9th Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon brings Vietnam's major December road-running festival back to Ho Chi Minh City on 5–6 December 2026. The weekend has a dedicated Saturday 5K, followed by Sunday's 10K, half marathon and full marathon, with children's races also listed in the programme. The announced adult-race start area is Le Duan and Nguyen Binh Khiem streets in District 1, close to the city's central landmarks.

When the races start

The organiser confirms Saturday 5 December for the 5K and gives an estimated 16:30 Vietnam-time flag-off, which remains subject to operational changes. The 10K, half marathon and marathon take place on Sunday 6 December. The current official homepage displays a tentative 03:30 morning gun time for the Sunday programme, but separate, confirmed start times for every category are still pending. The 2026 athlete handbook and final race-day instructions take precedence over provisional website timings.

The city-running experience

The event's recent routes have showcased central Ho Chi Minh City, with the Saigon River, Ba Son Bridge, Thu Thiem and the city's waterfront among the notable running settings. The detailed maps currently shown on the organiser's course page are explicitly labelled as the 8th edition (2025), so runners must not assume those paths, turnarounds or finish locations are final for 2026. Look for an updated 9th-edition map, course-support details, cut-off confirmation and road-closure notices before race weekend.

Race eligibility and safety rules

The organiser's 2026 rules specify minimum ages of 10 for 5K, 14 for 10K, 16 for the half marathon and 18 for the full marathon. Children's events are 1.5K for ages 5–10 and 3K for ages 7–14. Minimum ages are calculated for calendar year 2026, and children need suitable identity or birth-certificate documents for collection.

Official maximum finishing times, measured from the last start wave, are one hour for 5K, two hours for 10K, four hours for 21K and six hours 30 minutes for 42K. Entrants who miss the time limit do not receive an official result and may be transported back to the finish. The organiser requires bibs to be worn visibly on the chest with timing chips intact. Unofficial resale of bibs is prohibited; use only the authorised entry and transfer procedures.

Registration and race packs

The organiser's live registration link is handled by Njuko. Runners should check the current ticket tier, eligibility and refund or change conditions before paying; no independently verified final 2026 registration closing date is available to record. The organiser says the 2026 expo and race-kit collection schedule and venue have not yet been formally announced and are expected nearer the race. It advises bringing an original identity document or passport and registration confirmation when collecting a bib. Previous editions have used The Global City, but this must not be treated as the confirmed 2026 collection venue.

For practical updates use the official 2026 race website, the 2026 Saturday 5K announcement and the organiser's event contact page.

Registration changes and payment support (official 2026 policy)

The organiser permits distance changes during its announced change window. Its current FAQ specifies an administration charge of VND 200,000, plus the entry-price difference when moving up to a longer distance; downgrades do not receive a refund. A transfer of a bib to a different participant is also subject to an advertised VND 200,000 fee and the organiser's transfer window. These options are not open-ended; obtain instructions from the organiser and do not buy informal third-party bib transfers.

If a payment appears unsuccessful but your card or account has been charged, do not submit a second payment. Contact the organiser with your registered details and payment evidence to avoid a possible duplicate charge. Check spam and promotions folders for the entry confirmation first. The organiser's published support hotline is +84 989 024 825, and its support email is marathontcbhcmc@sunriseevents.com.vn. See the official Edition 9 FAQ for document requirements, permitted changes and updates to the opening/closing windows.