The Journey to Lotus Village 2024 marathon will be held on June 9th in the central province of Nghe An.

Co-organized by the Nghe An Department of Culture and Sports, VietNamNet newspaper, and Win Vietnam, the event is expected to feature around 3,000 runners, including renowned athletes such as five-time national marathon champion Hoang Nguyen Thanh, Trinh Quoc Luong, Do Quoc Luat, Pham Thi Hong Le, and singer Duc Tuan.

"I am thrilled and delighted to participate in the 'Journey to Lotus Village 2024' race," Thanh said.

"As a Vietnamese, I deeply appreciate the opportunity to run in Uncle Ho's homeland and I look forward to exploring this unique route in Nghe An.

"The race not only takes me back to the central region, where Uncle Ho was born but also allows me to experience the famous Cua Lo Beach in the province, which adds an interesting element."

During the recent National Tien Phong Marathon, Thanh secured first place with an impressive time of 2:26.5, an outstanding achievement considering the hot weather conditions in Phu Yen Province.

Before that, Thanh broke both his personal record and the national record that had stood for over 20 years at the Asian Marathon Championship, completing the marathon category with a time of 2:18.43. The previous national record of 2:21.51 was set by Nguyen Chi Dong during the 2003 SEA Games.

Thanh's performance ranked him 10th overall and fourth in Asia. Even without winning a medal, Thanh's breaking of the national marathon record was nothing short of remarkable. With Thanh's participation in the marathon category, the upcoming competition promises to be highly anticipated.

Tran Thi My Hanh, Director of the Nghe An Department of Culture and Sports, said the marathon is one of ten activities planned within the Lotus Village Festival 2024 framework. This event holds great significance both politically and culturally, as it expresses gratitude and respect for the late President Ho Chi Minh, a national liberation hero and esteemed cultural figure.

Nguyen Van Ba, Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet newspaper and co-organiser of the marathon, emphasized that the running race plays a crucial role in promoting the image of Uncle Ho's homeland to people across the country, as well as promoting the tourism products and cultural values to domestic and international tourists.

In conjunction with the marathon, the organizing committee has also called upon athletes and sponsors to participate in volunteer activities aimed at building a bridge in Chau Khe Commune, Con Cuong District. This volunteer effort aims to support the mountainous communities in Nghe An Province, which continues to face numerous challenges.

Regarding the competition distances in the "Journey to Lotus Village 2024" marathon, the 42km distance will have a starting point in Nam Dan District, rather than starting and ending in Cua Lo Town like the 5km, 10km, and 21km distances. Ensuring the safety of the athletes on the track is of utmost concern because this longest and most challenging distance traverses several national highways.

According to the organizing committee, after surveying the running route, it was determined that athletes participating in the 42km distance will only run a short segment on National Highway 46. Consequently, the organizing committee will cooperate with the police force to implement traffic separation measures, ensure the safety of the athletes.