Race guide for Sunday 24 January 2027, Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City
Dat Thep City Trail 2027
An independent guide for international runners: race week, kit pickup, the start, the course, the finish and where to stay.
Early bird open
Updated 29 Oct 2026. The dates, distances and age limits are published. Start times, cut-offs and kit pickup had not been published in a form we could quote; we will update this guide.
- Race day
- Sun 24 Jan 2027
- Distances
- 42 kmplus 21, 10 and 7 km
- First start
- About 04:00
- Race area
- Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City
Dat Thep (“Land of Steel”) City Trail runs under the tropical forest canopy around the Cu Chi Tunnels historic site, mixing trail and road in one race, about an hour from central Ho Chi Minh City. The thing to plan around: the race weekend is 23–24 January with racing on Sunday, the longest distances start in the dark, and the 21K and 42K are adults only.
On this page
Race week at a glance
Kit pickup on Saturday, racing on Sunday morning.
Sat 23 Jan
See your email
Race kit pickup (expected)
Tan An Hoi commune public service centre
Sun 24 Jan
From about 04:00
42K starts first, then 21K, 10K and 7K
Cu Chi Tunnels area
One ticket page for the same race weekend lists the Cu Chi Cultural Centre as the gathering point. Use the venue in your race email.
Distances, start times and cut-offs
Age limits from the ticket partner.
| Race | Ages | Start | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42K | 18+ | About 04:00 | To be announced |
| 21K | 18+ | To be announced | To be announced |
| 10K | 7+ (7–13 with an adult) | To be announced | To be announced |
| 7K | 7+ (7–13 with an adult) | To be announced | To be announced |
Trail and road in one race
City Trail courses mix forest trail and paved road, so the marathon is slower than a city road race.
Children run with an adult
Runners aged 7 to 13 need at least one guardian aged 18 or over.
Sign the waiver
Runners on the 21K and 42K sign a liability waiver before race day.
Collect your race kit
Kit pickup details will be sent to registered runners. Expect pickup on Saturday 23 January in Cu Chi.
Bring two things:
Your passport
For ID at the counter.
Your confirmation email
With your QR code from iRace.
Distance changes cost the price difference between the two distances, if there is one. Check the change deadline on the ticket page.
Getting there
Cu Chi is on the north-west edge of Ho Chi Minh City.
From central HCMC
About 1–1.5 hours by car. For a 04:00 start, that means leaving around 02:30.
Stay in Cu Chi
A few hotels and homestays are near the tunnels and Cu Chi town. Worth it for the marathon.
Book your car in advance
Grab and Xanh SM rarely have cars in Cu Chi before dawn. Arrange a return trip too.
Visit the tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels site is a short ride from the race area if you want to see it on Saturday.
The course
Forest trails around a historic site.
The courses run on trails and rural roads under the forest around the Cu Chi Tunnels historic site, with the distinctive scent of dipterocarp trees. The terrain is mostly flat to gently rolling, with sandy and rooty sections. Course maps will be in the race guide.
Weather
~22–24 °Ctypical dawn temperature in late January
Late January is the dry season in southern Vietnam. Dawn is pleasant, but it heats up quickly after sunrise, often past 30 °C by mid-morning. Drink early and often on the longer distances.
Where to stay
Cu Chi or north-west HCMC.
Cu Chi town and the area near the tunnels are closest to the start. Staying in District 1 or 3 is possible for the shorter distances, but means a very early drive.
Same month in HCMC. The Eximbank HCMC Marathon is on Sunday 17 January. See our guide.
Rules worth knowing before you travel
From the ticket partner’s published policy.
Adults only on 21K and 42K
And you sign a liability waiver before race day.
Children 7 to 13 run with an adult
At least one guardian aged 18 or over.
Distance changes cost the difference
If the new distance costs more.
Only you can run on your BIB
Use the official transfer process.
Still to confirm
Show the four 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 |
|---|---|
| Exact start and finish venue | Decides where you stay |
| Start time and cut-off for each distance | Decides your race plan |
| Kit pickup day, hours and place | Decides your Saturday |
| Mandatory gear, if any | Decides what you pack |
Sources
Show sources
Race facts come from the organiser’s ticket partner and the City Trail Series listings. Travel, weather and planning notes are our own.
- iRace ticketing page — dates, venue, age limits and change rules
- iRace event pages for Dat Thep and Cu Chi City Trail 2027 — distances and race window
- City Guide — first start time and mixed trail and road course
- Linh Academy race calendar — the two listings describe one race
Keep reading
- Vietnam race calendar, Oct 2026 – Jun 2027
- Eximbank HCMC Marathon 2027 guide
- 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.