Vietnam’s golden girl of athletics, Nguyen Thi Oanh, began the new year on a triumphant note, winning the women’s 21km elite category at the Vietnam International Half Marathon 2026 with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 38 seconds.

The race, officially titled VIHM powered by Herbalife, was held on the morning of January 1, 2026, with nearly 7,000 participants competing across 21km, 10km, and 5km distances. The event attracted a strong field of professional and national-level athletes.

There was little surprise in the women’s 21km elite category, as Nguyen Thi Oanh claimed her fourth consecutive New Year’s race title in Hanoi. The runner from Bac Ninh showcased her consistent dominance once again.

At the 33rd SEA Games, Oanh clinched three gold medals and broke one record in her signature events: the 5,000m, 10,000m, and 3,000m steeplechase. This latest win sets a confident tone for what promises to be another remarkable year for the 1995-born athlete.

In the men’s 21km elite division, national team runner Hoang Nguyen Thanh took first place with a time of 1 hour 7 minutes and 43 seconds - just shy of the record of 1 hour 6 minutes and 39 seconds. He was followed by fellow national runner Nguyen Trung Cuong, who clocked in at 1 hour 11 minutes and 6 seconds, narrowly edging out Kenyan athlete Edwin Kiptoo in the final stretch.

In the 10km race, elite runner Doan Thu Hang won the women’s event in 37 minutes and 15 seconds, while Tong Van Hoan topped the men’s field with 32 minutes and 59 seconds.

At the 5km distance, Luong Duc Phuoc and Bui Thi Thu Ha triumphed in the men’s and women’s races with respective times of 15 minutes 19 seconds and 17 minutes 42 seconds.

Dai Nam