VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON 2026

VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON 2026

REGULATION

Article 1. Name and Purpose of the Race

1.1. Name of the Race:

- Vietnamese Name: Giải Bán Marathon Quốc Tế Việt Nam 2026

- English Name: Vietnam International Half Marathon 2026

- Abbreviation: VIHM 2026

1.2. Purpose of the Race:

- To celebrate the New Year 2026

- To organize the best half marathon in Vietnam,

- To encourage people who live in Hanoi and Vietnam to take up running,

Article 2. Date and Venue

- Date: January 1st, 2026

- Venue: Hanoi

Article 3. Events and Categories

3.1. Events

* Individual event

- Male: Half marathon, 10km, 5km.

- Female: Half marathon, 10km, 5km.

* Team event

- 5km for Mixed team: 6 members per team (including at least 3 female participants).

- 10km for Mixed team: 6 members per team (including at least 3 female participants).

- 21km for Mixed team: 6 members per team (including at least 3 female participants).

- Sports Family team: two members per team including father and child or mother and child. Each team member runs three-quarters of a lap around the lake. 2 team members must hold hands to reach the finish line to be considered valid.

3.2 Competition format:

- For the team event, the team's results will be determined by the total actual time achieved by the team members. The team with better results will be ranked higher (as recorded by the electronic timing system).

- For the team event, entry must be done via an online system at the beginning.

- Each team must appoint one team captain to act as the representative for communication with the Organizing Committee, including receiving updates, coordinating information, and accepting any potential prizes.

- Each team may register up to 10 athletes. The best 6 finishers, including at least 3 female athletes, will be selected to calculate the team’s result.

- Athletes are counted in both individual and team categories.

- Each club can enter more than one team

- Each athlete is allowed to register for only one team. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification from the entire race (including both individual and team categories).

3.3. Categories

The race is divided into two competitive levels: Elite and Non-elite.

- Elite category: athletes must meet at least one of the following criteria:

+ Invited international athletes as per the official invitation from the Organizing Committee

+ Members of the Vietnam National Athletics Team

+ Athletes who have been awarded the title of “National Master” or “Level 1” within the last 3 years (2023, 2024, and 2025);

+ Athletes who have been members of the National Athletics Team within the last 4 years (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025);

+ Athletes currently managed by provincial, municipal, or national-level sports units who have competed in events under the national athletics competition system since January 1, 2023;

+ Excellent non-elite athletes (01:20:00 for men and 01:35:00 for women) at competitions with course measurement certificates licensed by the Vietnam Athletics Federation can register for the competition in the elite category. Such registration must be completed within the official registration period to be considered valid. Athletes who register for the elite category will not be considered for ranking in the non-elite category.

- Non-elite category: All remaining athletes.

Article 4. Starting time and Cut off time

4.1 Cut off time (COT) for each checkpoint will be applied in the Half Marathon category.

4.2 For half marathon, 10km and 5km races, The Organizing Committee provides Chip timing to runners. Runners are responsible for keeping their own Chip timings. The Organizer is not responsible in cases where it is not possible to accurately record the athlete's performance due to damaged Chip timings after being given to the athlete or the athlete's representative.

4.3 COT is specified for each distance competition as mentioned above. Athletes who do not complete the distance within COT will have to leave the track or the athlete may continue to run on the pavement to finish the race, but will not count as a finisher. When participating in running on the sidewalk, athletes need to comply with traffic regulations applicable to pedestrians. Water and medical assistance points located every 5km will close at the end of the COT.

4.4 The official time recorded for all participants is the time recorded by the Chip timing from the moment the participant crosses the starting line until the participant crosses the finish line. Runners must wear a Chip timing – a Chip timing assigned to each athlete individually – which is permanently attached to the BIB number. The results will be rounded to the next second.

4.5 Starting: runners need to enter their personal best results; based on that, the Organizing Committee will arrange starting waves accordingly. Those who do not enter personal best results will be placed in the last waves. Participants are required to start running at their designated area. Runners must enter their starting area from the designated entrances. Those who do not comply with the starting rules will be disqualified from the competition.

4.6 Finish: The finishing position in each event is the actual rank of the competitor touching the cross-section of the finish line.

Article 5. Participants

- 5km distance: no age restriction.

- 10 km distance: athletes must be at least 14 years old (born in 2012 or earlier).

- Half marathon distance: athletes must be at least 16 years old (born in 2010 or earlier)

- Sports family: children must not be more than 15 years old (born in 2011 or later)

Article 6. Prizes

6.1. The runners who finish first in the half marathon, 10km, and 5km will receive prizes in cash, in kind and/or other services (if any). Cash prizes will be subject to personal income tax in accordance with the Tax law in Vietnam. Prizes in kind or cards/vouchers and/or service use with cash equivalent value will not be exchanged for cash.

6.2. The detailed list of prizes will be published on the official race website.

6.3. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to cancel the performance of any prize winner if it is found that they have violated the rules.

6.4. Any protest or appeal about the prize should be sent to the Organizing Committee within 24 hours after the announcement of the prize. Any protest or appeal should be sent to the Organizing Committee within 24 hours after the race. For later complaints, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to consider and make an appropriate decision.

6.5. The time limit for receiving the prize is only valid within 60 days from the date the Organizing Committee announced the prize.

6.6. Athlete's rank is the actual rank achieved by that athlete in each event/form of competition.

6.7. To receive the prize, the winner must complete the following procedures:

- To fill out the prize claim form

- To submit copy of ID card or passport

- To sign the personal income tax commitment (Form 02/CK-TNCN)

In case the athlete lacks one of the above documents, the Organizing Committee has the right to refuse to award the prize and ask the winning athlete to fully supplement to receive the prize.

Article 7. Terms of Entry and Confirmation

7.1. Athletes living abroad must enter online via the race’s website. In case of difficulties or technical problems occur, athletes will be supported by the Organizing Committee.

7.2. An athlete who enters more than one in the same race; use a pseudonym; provide wrong date of birth, gender, picture... is considered ineligible to participate in the race.

7.3. In the event of half-marathon and 10km and 5km, runners will receive a race kit including BIB number, Chip timing, T-shirt, Bag and Digital race guide. To ensure proper race preparation, athletes who successfully register before November 15, 2025, will receive the T-shirt size as per their registration. Athletes registering after November 15, 2025, will be provided with a T-shirt size based on the Organizing Committee' availability and capacity.

7.4. Athletes participating in the Sports Family category will receive a race kit including BIB number, Chip timing, T-shirt, Bag and Digital race guide. To ensure proper race preparation, athletes who successfully register before November 15, 2025, will receive the T-shirt size as per their registration. Athletes registering after November 15, 2025, will be provided with a T-shirt size based on the Organizing Committee's availability and capacity.

7.5 Athletes are solely responsible for having the right, including but not limited to obtaining parental permission, to register for participation in accordance with the regulations and to perform other registration-related requirements such as the use of a credit or debit card to pay the registration fee.

- On the race day, athletes between the ages of 16 and 18 can only participate in the competition with the written consent from their parents or legal guardian/ guarantee.

- In case the participant is under the prescribed age, the legal guardian/guardian must sign a guarantee and take full responsibility for the safety and possible risks to the participant.

7.6. In the event that an individual represents and/or is authorized to register and/or receive a Race Kit for another person or group of persons, he or she represents that he or she has been authorized to act on behalf of that person and /or that group of people in enter and receiving race kit. The registration through a representative or an authorized person is still fully applied the provisions of this Regulation as when registered directly.

7.7. After submitting the registration form and paid the entry fee, the organizer will not refund the entry fee to athlete under any circumstances. Athletes are not allowed to change their personal information or transfer the participation rights to any third party after registering and completing the payment.

7.8. A change of event is only accepted when the request is made before the deadline which specified in Article 1.2. Athletes will have to pay the difference amount between the entry fee if the new event’s entry fee higher than original race’s one. And the balance will not be refunded if the new event’s entry fee lower than original event’s one.

7.9. In case the athlete overpays the entry fee, the organizer will refund the overpaid fee to the athlete via the online payment system.

7.10. The Organizing Committee is not responsible for delays in the event that the applications are not processed due to internet connection errors and or due to the fault of third parties who are the organizations that make the payment. The registration is considered valid only for the time the payment shows up on the Organizing Committee's account.

Article 8. Compliance with Law and safety, regulations, personal property of athletes

8.1. Athletes commit to comply with all laws of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

8.2. Athletes must comply with the race regulation and must not use prohibited substances. The Organizing Committee has the right to request athletes to provide a urine sample for doping test in case of any suspicion. Athletes are responsible for complying with this request.

8.3. When participating in the race, athletes must commits to having the physical fitness to participate with the registered distance and the time required by the Organizing Committee to complete the running distance. Athletes are responsible for understandingtheir own health limits and being self-aware when it comes to stopping physical activity before injury can result.

8.4. If an athlete is unable to complete the race within COT that specified in the above Terms, the Organizing Committee has the right to stop athlete from racing and the athlete will not be compensated, including financial compensation and/or other compensation.

8.5. Athletes understand all risks associated with running a half marathon, including but not limited to: tripping, collisions with other participants on the road, the effects of weather, traffic and other conditions, running conditions, from minor injury to serious injury, or even death. Athletes take full responsibility for all their safety and health during the course of the race and undertake to disclaim responsibility for the Organizing Committee of the race.

8.6. The Organizing Committee will purchase public liability insurance and personal insurance for athletes participating in the race. Therefore, to ensure their rights, athletes need to provide complete and accurate personal information (date, month, year of birth, ID card number) according to the registration sent to the Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee and insurance company are not repsonsible for any incorrect or incomplete information provided by the athletes.

8.7. Athletes are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the race route prior to race day and will bear full responsibility for any deviation resulting in failure to complete the course or have their results disqualified.

8.8. BIB Number.

8.8.1. The name on the BIB or the registered name must be exactly the same as the name on the athlete's ID card or passport at the time of registration.

8.8.2. Athletes must wear their issued BIB number during the race. Any exchange, sale, donation, or transfer of the number to another person without the written approval of the Organizing Committee is considered a violation of Competition Rules. The Organizing Committee has the right to stop the competition, not to recognize the results for all cases of wearing BIB numbers that do not match the registration list of The Organizing Committee.

8.8.3. The BIB must be attached to the athlete's shirt and worn on the front of the athlete's shirt. If the BIB number is attached elsewhere, it will not be accepted and is considered a violation of the Rae Regulation, the Organizing Committee has the right to stop the competition and not recognize the results.

8.8.4. The BIB must not be cut, folded or damaged in any way. The BIB number must be clearly visible at all times during the race.

8.8.5. Athletes must not remove the Chip timing attached to the back of the BIB.

8.8.6. Athletes need to fill up all information on the back of the BIB such as Full name, phone number, and emergency contact.

8.8.7. BIB must not be bought, sold or transferred. Any exchange, sale, donation, or transfer of the number to another person without the written approval of the Organizing Committee is considered a violation of this Regulation.

8.8.8. During the race (from start to finish), each athlete is only permitted to wear one BIB number. Wearing multiple BIBs is a violation and will result in disqualification.

8.9. Personal item

Athletes drop personal items in their bag or backpack and mark with their BIB number. Valuable items should not be left in briefcases, bags, backpacks or items at the Organizing Committee bag- drop are.

8.10. The Organizing Committee is not responsible for any loss caused by:

- Illness or accident (including emergency treatment);

- Loss or damage to personal property;

- Late arrival due to difficulties and/or problems with public transport or road conditions.

8.11. Medical

8.11.1. The Organizing Committee provides first aid or professional medical service for any injury, illness or accident that occurs and, where necessary, transfers injured athletes to the nearest hospital. Athletes are obliged to pay in full the costs of care and treatment.

8.11.2.

The Organizing Committee reserves the right to stop any athlete from continuing the race if medical concerns arise, including but not limited to:

• Cardiovascular conditions

• Respiratory illnesses

•