Race guide for Sunday 15 November 2026, Ninh Binh
Trang An Marathon 2026
An independent guide for international runners: race week, kit pickup, the start, the course, the finish and where to stay.
Race in 17 days
Updated 29 Oct 2026. Race facts come from the organiser and its ticket partners. The 2026 regulations, cut-offs and final race guide are sent to registered runners; we will update this guide as they are published.
- Race day
- Sun 15 Nov 2026
- Distances
- 42 kmplus 21, 10 and 5 km
- Marathon start
- 04:30
- Start and finish
- Hoa Lu ancient capital, Ninh Binh
Trang An Marathon, now in its sixth season, runs through the core of the Trang An landscape, Southeast Asia’s only UNESCO site listed for both culture and nature, past limestone karsts, rice fields, the Hoa Lu ancient capital and Bai Dinh pagoda. The thing to plan around: you are about two hours from Hanoi, kit pickup is the day before, and the marathon starts at 04:30.
On this page
Race week at a glance
One kit day, one race day.
Sat 14 Nov
08:00–21:00
Race kit collection
Hoa Lu ancient capital
Sun 15 Nov
From 04:30
42K (04:30), 21K (05:45), 10K (06:15), 5K (06:35)
Hoa Lu ancient capital
Start times come from the race’s international listing and may shift slightly in the final race guide. Check your email in race week.
For your driver: Cố đô Hoa Lư, phường Tây Hoa Lư, tỉnh Ninh Bình
Distances, start times and cut-offs
All four distances are flat road courses.
| Race | Start | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon 42.195 km | 04:30 | See race guide |
| Half marathon 21.1 km | 05:45 | See race guide |
| 10K | 06:15 | See race guide |
| 5K | 06:35 | See race guide |
Chip time for prizes
In 2025 the organiser ranked runners on chip time, from crossing the start line to the finish.
Heritage on every distance
All four courses pass historic sites such as the Hoa Lu ancient capital and the King Le Dai Hanh temple.
Early starts
The marathon starts in the dark. Plan to be at the venue by 04:00.
Collect your race kit
Kit collection is on Saturday 14 November, 08:00–21:00, at the race venue in the Hoa Lu ancient capital. Your BIB number and collection instructions arrive by email at least a week before the race.
Bring two things:
Your passport
The hard copy. You sign the liability waiver and the kit receipt at the counter.
Your BIB email
With your QR code, on your phone or printed.
Someone else can collect for you. In 2025 they needed their own ID or passport and your email with the QR code; check the 2026 rules in your race email for any authorisation form.
Getting there
Ninh Binh is about 90 km south of Hanoi.
From Hanoi by road
About 1.5–2 hours by car or limousine van via the expressway. Most visiting runners come down on Saturday.
By train
Trains run from Hanoi to Ninh Binh station in about 2–2.5 hours. The venue is a short taxi ride from there.
Stay close for 04:30
There is no public transport before dawn. Stay near Trang An or Hoa Lu, or book your car the night before.
Rural roads
Roads around the course close early on race morning, so allow extra time.
The course
Flat roads through limestone karst country.
The courses run on flat, wide roads through the Trang An scenic landscape, past karst peaks, rivers and rice fields, and through heritage sites including the Hoa Lu ancient capital and Bai Dinh pagoda. Course maps are on the organiser’s website and ticket pages.
Weather
~20 °Ctypical dawn temperature in mid-November
Mid-November in northern Vietnam is usually dry and mild, with cool mornings around 20 °C. Humidity can still be high near the rivers, so start conservatively if you have come from a cold climate.
Where to stay
Trang An, Hoa Lu or Tam Coc.
Homestays and resorts around Trang An, Hoa Lu and Tam Coc are closest to the start. Ninh Binh city has more hotels but adds a drive on race morning. Race weekend is busy, so book early.
Rules worth knowing before you travel
Most of these are standard.
Bring your passport to kit pickup
You sign the waiver and kit receipt in person.
Only you can run on your BIB
The timing chip is on your BIB, so a transferred BIB is a transferred result.
Results use chip time
Time starts when you cross the start line.
Check your kit at the counter
Shirt size, BIB and chip are hard to change later.
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 |
|---|---|
| Cut-off for each distance | Decides your pacing plan |
| Final start times | Decides your race-morning transport |
| Authorised collection rules for 2026 | Decides whether a friend can collect for you |
Sources
Show sources
Race facts come from the organiser, Vu Media (VRace), with the Ninh Binh Department of Culture and Sports. Travel, weather and planning notes are our own.
- Organiser’s race website — 2025 regulations and kit collection process
- iRace and 5BIB ticketing pages — 2026 date, venue and distances
- Ahotu listing — 2026 start times and kit collection hours
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.