The first ever Hanoi International Marathon will take place on April 14 next year, its organising board announced during a press conference in the capital city on June 14. 

Co-hosted by the Danish-Vietnamese joint-venture Topas, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports and the Danish Embassy in Vietnam, the tournament is open to both professional and amateur runners, taking them to local landmarks such as the Old Quarters, the Hanoi Opera House, the West Lake, on 42km, 10km and 21km races.

Speaking at the press conference, Danish Chargé d’Affaires in Vietnam Christian Brix Moller said the organising board hopes that the tournament will be comparable to major marathons in Asia such as Singapore Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, London Marathon, and attract thousands of foreign runners to the capital city. 

David Lloyd, Director of Topas company, said he loves Hanoi and wants to popularise the city, its culture and landscapes in the way his company has done to promote Sa Pa in Lao Cai and Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa through races. 

He said every sport event organised by Topas aims to raise funds for humanitarian activities. 

Proceeds from the Hanoi tournament will be used to support the Newborns Vietnam organisation in reducing newborn fatalities and the Operation Smile in conducting correctional surgery for children. 

Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism To Van Dong pledged to issue a specific plan to ensure security and safety of runners as well as popularise Vietnam and Hanoi in particular to international friends. 

Applications could be sent to the website http://www.hanoiinternationalmarathon.com from September 2018.-VNA