From the moment the flag dropped, the peloton was immediately stretched by a series of aggressive moves. The pace remained high heading toward the first intermediate sprint, where Trinh Duc Tam (Loc Troi An Giang) timed his attack perfectly to claim top honors.

The race soon split as a group of around 15 riders broke clear, featuring notable names such as Nguyen Minh Thien, Roman Maikin and Tran Nguyen Minh Tri.

At the second sprint, Dang Thanh Duoc (Hanoi) crossed first, before the race fractured again. A trio consisting of Dang Thanh Duoc, Nguyen Minh Thien and Roman Maikin launched a decisive attack, breaking away toward the finish in Thanh Hoa.

At one point, the leading group built a gap of up to two minutes and thirty seconds over the chasing pack. Yet the peloton refused to concede. With just five kilometers remaining, the breakaway was reeled in, setting up a tense and unpredictable sprint finish.

In peak form and perfectly positioned, Marchuk Dzianis (Kenda Dong Nai) powered to victory on the stage. The result not only allowed him to retain the green jersey but also propelled him into the overall lead, taking the yellow jersey from Patrick Patterson.

The race continues on April 7 with stage 5, a demanding 139km route from Thanh Hoa to Vinh in Nghe An, where further changes in the standings could still unfold.

Duy Nguyen