Race guide for Sunday 10 January 2027, Bac Ninh
Bac Ninh Legacy Marathon 2027
An independent guide for international runners: race week, kit pickup, the start, the course, the finish and where to stay.
Changes close 31 Dec
Updated 29 Oct 2026. The date, venue, distances and change policy are published. Final start times, cut-offs and kit pickup for 2027 had not been published in a form we could quote; we will update this guide.
- Race day
- Sun 10 Jan 2027
- Distances
- 42 kmplus 21, 10 and 5 km
- First start
- About 04:00
- Start and finish
- Kinh Bac Cultural Centre Square
Bac Ninh Legacy Marathon, “Footsteps of the Quan Ho land”, runs through the home of Quan Ho folk singing, about 30 km from Hanoi. For 2027 it moves from March to January, because Bac Ninh hosts the national championship Tien Phong Marathon in March. The thing to plan around: a flat course with no bridges, a pre-dawn start, and cold January mornings.
On this page
Race week at a glance
Kit pickup before race day, then an early start.
Fri 8 – Sat 9 Jan
See your email
Race kit pickup (expected; place and hours to be announced)
Bac Ninh
Sun 10 Jan
From about 04:00
42K starts first, then 21K, 10K and 5K. In 2026 the first start was at 03:30.
Kinh Bac Cultural Centre Square
For your driver: Quảng trường Trung tâm Văn hóa Kinh Bắc, đường Kinh Dương Vương, phường Suối Hoa, Bắc Ninh
Distances, start times and cut-offs
Start times and cut-offs are set in the 2027 race guide.
| Race | Start | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon 42 km | About 04:00 | To be announced |
| Half marathon 21 km | After the marathon | To be announced |
| 10K | To be announced | To be announced |
| 5K | To be announced | To be announced |
Flat and bridge-free
The organiser describes the course as flat with no bridges or climbs, good for a personal best.
Through Quan Ho country
The 42K passes the Lau Sao Khue roundabout and the Quan Ho theatre, and turns near the Lim village communal house.
About 6,000 runners
The 2026 edition drew more than 6,000 runners across four distances.
Collect your race kit
Kit pickup details will be sent to registered runners. Expect pickup in Bac Ninh before race day.
Bring two things:
Your passport
For ID at the counter.
Your confirmation email
With your QR code from the ticket partner.
Personal details can be changed and you can move down a distance free of charge. Moving up costs the price difference at the time. The deadline for all changes is 31 December 2026.
Getting there
Bac Ninh is about 30 km north-east of Hanoi.
From Hanoi
About 45–60 minutes by car or Grab. Many runners stay in Hanoi, but a 04:00 start makes that a 02:30 alarm.
From Noi Bai Airport
About 45 minutes by road.
Stay in Bac Ninh
For the marathon, a hotel near the Kinh Bac Cultural Centre is worth it.
Book the car the night before
There is no public transport before dawn.
The course
Flat city roads and heritage sites.
The courses run on flat roads through the centre of Bac Ninh, past the city’s landmarks and towards the Quan Ho villages. Final course maps will be in the race guide.
Weather
~10–15 °Ctypical race-morning range in early January
Early January is the coldest part of the northern winter. Mornings are usually dry and cold, sometimes with drizzle and fog. Bring warm layers for the start and after the finish.
Where to stay
Central Bac Ninh.
Hotels in central Bac Ninh, around Suoi Hoa and Kinh Duong Vuong, are closest to the start. Hanoi has more choice but adds a drive at 02:30–03:00.
Busy fortnight. Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB runs 8–10 January in Da Lat, and Vietnam Trail Marathon in Moc Chau on 16 January.
Rules worth knowing before you travel
From the ticket partner’s published policy.
All changes close 31 December 2026
Personal details and moving down are free; moving up costs the difference.
Only you can run on your BIB
Use the official change process before the deadline.
Arrive early for an early start
Bag drop and pens close before the gun.
Check your kit at the counter
Shirt size and BIB are hard to change on race morning.
Still to confirm
Show the three open questions
These details matter to a visiting runner and had not been published in a form we could quote. The organiser’s race email is the authority.
| Open question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Start time and cut-off for each distance | Decides your race-morning plan |
| Kit pickup dates, hours and place | Decides your arrival day |
| Age limits by distance | Matters for younger runners |
Sources
Show sources
Race facts come from the organiser, Legacy Marathon (Zaha Vietnam), and its ticket partner. Travel, weather and planning notes are our own.
- iRace ticketing page — date, venue and change policy
- iRace event page — distances and race window
- Legacy Marathon website — race series and venue
- Thanh Nien — 2026 field size, course landmarks and start time
- Linh Academy race calendar — move from March to January
Keep reading
- Vietnam race calendar, Oct 2026 – Jun 2027
- Racing in Vietnam 101: heat, transport and travel insurance
- All race guides
Racing in Vietnam? Ask the community
Our Facebook group is where international runners swap race-week tips, find people to travel with and share their finish photos. English only, no BIB trading.
Vietnam Sports Events is an independent guide for international runners. This page is not produced or endorsed by the organiser or the title sponsor. Details change; the race website is always the authority. Read our disclosure.