1.1. The official Race Date: October 15, 2023.

1.2. Location of the marathon: Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc square and streets for pedestrians around Hoan Kiem Lake.

– Start line: Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc square

– Finish line: 69C Dinh Tien Hoang street (in front of Hoan Kiem Power Company)

1.3. Category: 42.195 km, 21.097 km, 10 km and 5 km.

1.4. Timing

1.5. Time limit

The Cut-off time is designated for each distance as above. The runners who fail to complete their distance within the time limit will have to exit the race track, or they shall have to use the sidewalk to finish the race, but the performance will not be counted as the race completion. While running on the sidewalk, runners need to observe all traffic rules for pedestrians. As for the 42.195-km distance, the Race Organizing Committee (ROC) will calculate the limited time (Cut off) at each 5-km interval, runners need to make sure to complete the distance within the specified time, there will be a ROC representative to take records of the race ending, remind and invite the runners who do not complete within the time limit to leave the race. Refreshment points and medical assistance, which are available at each section of three to five kilometers will be closed after the time limit.

1.6. Official time

The official time is measured electronically (in real time) for all participants from the moment the runner crosses the Start line to that when he crosses the Finish line. Runners are required to wear the timing chip assigned for each of them and attached to their Bibs from the Start line to the Finish line in order for their finish time to be registered officially. Results are rounded up to the nearest second.

1.7. At the Start line

Runners shall register their best results achieved in the past races, based on which the ROC will allocate their starting position in line with international practice. Those who do not register their results will be placed in the last group to start. Runners are asked to remain within their designated area and follow directions when moving to the starting point. Failure to follow will lead to disqualification.

1.8. At the Finish line

The top three ranks in each category (excluding the group category) are defined based on the actual rank of each runner touching the cross-section of the Finish line (Timing results are not counted for ranking the first three).

1.9. The ROC reserves the right to change the course if necessary. The change, if any, will be advised in advance to runners and related parties.

2.1. Professional (for full-marathon distance)

– The athletes who are members of Vietnam’s national teams and those controlled by provincial, municipal and sectoral authorities nationwide, who have competed in the 42.195-km distance in the marathons under the national competition system since 2019, including: The Tien Phong newspaper’s marathon and long-distance race in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

2.2. Non–professional

The athletes who are not those as specified in the article 2.1, and follow the terms and conditions of the race.

3.1. Winners of the 42-km, 21-km, 10-km and 5-km categories will receive trophies and other prizes/services (if any). Prizes in cash are subject to a 10-percent personal income tax in line with Vietnam’s taxation law. Prizes in kind or vouchers or the right to use services with the cost equivalent to cash value cannot be converted into cash.

3.2. For additional information on prizes, please check the website.

3.3. ROC has the right to cancel any athlete’s results and prizes if any violations of the race’s terms and conditions are found.  

3.4. Any questions or complaints about prizes must be sent to ROC within 24 hours after the prize awarding ceremony. Any questions or complaints about personal results must also be sent within 24 hours after the race finishes. For late complaints, ROC will consider the severity of the situation presented and come up with an appropriate decision.

3.5. In the 42-km and 21-km categories, there will be two separate final prize systems for the professional league and the non-professional league.

3.6. In the 42-km category there are age group prizes for men and women runners of the non-professional league. Specific age groups are announced in the prize structure. Age is calculated by the year of birth, not by days or months.

Runners competing in the professional league are not part of the competition for this age group prize.

3.7. The deadline for receiving the prize is one month, starting right after ROC announces the prizes.

3.8. The runner’s rank is the actual rank achieved by the runner in each category of competition. In case a runner wins a high rank in both types of competition (general and in age group), the runner shall retain the title/rank achieved in each category, and receive the prizes in both types of competition.

3.9. Prize award:

– For the final prize in each competition category, the ROC will award the prize immediately after determining the ranking of the top runners.

– For age group prizes, the ROC will award the prizes at the end of the competition or at another time (in case it takes time to determine the exact winners).

3.10. In order to receive the prize, the runner is required to complete the following procedures:

– Fill in the Application for Prize Reception

– Prepare a copy of ID card/ passport

– Sign the commitment form related to personal income tax (Form 02/CK-TNCN)

In case the winning runner does not have any of the papers listed above, ROC has the right to decline to hand out the prize and request the runner to supplement the papers in order to receive the prize.

Runners participating in the 42-km, 21-km and 10-km categories will receive a timing chip to record their timing. Runners are responsible of taking care of their timing chips in order to ensure their result validity. ROC is not responsible for giving the right records for a runner if the chip is damaged after it had been handed to the runner or the runner’s representative.

5.1. ROC requests that every runner who does not reside in Vietnam register for the race on the race’s website. In case the runner runs into problems or technical difficulties in the process of registration, ROC will provide alternative methods of registration and payment.

5.2. A runner registering more than once for the Hanoi Marathon – Heritage Race, or falsifying the name, birth date, biological gender, or profile photo is considered disqualified to join the race.  

5.3. All runners competing in the 42-km, 21-km, and 10-km distances will receive a Race Kit containing a Bib number, a timing chip, a T-shirt and the race manual.

5.4. Runners of the 5-km distance will receive a Race Kit containing a Bib number, a timing chip, a T-shirt and the race manual.

5.5. Age limit:

5.5.1. For the 5-km category: no limits.

5.5.2. For the 10-km category: the registrant must be at least 14 years of age (born in 2009 or earlier).

5.5.3. For the 42-km and 21-km distances: a runner must be at least 16 years of age (born in 2007 or earlier), and legally responsible for having sufficient rights, including but not limited to parental permission, to register in accordance with ROC’s regulations and fulfil other registration requirements such as using a credit/debit card to pay the registration fee.

– In case the runner is not old enough as stipulated, the legal guardian must sign the guarantee and take full responsibility for safety and possible risks for the guaranteed runner.

5.6. If case an individual is the proxy and/or is authorized to collect Race Kit on behalf of someone else or a group of runners, the person will have to commit that he/she has full delegacy of that runner or group of runners. Terms and conditions will apply fully to the authorized person.

5.7. After the runner’s registration form and fee payment are completed, the ROC will not refund the registration fee under any circumstances. When there is a need to change personal information or transfer the competing rights to a 3rd party, runners need to comply with the regulations on personal information change or transfer announced by the ROC for each marathon.

5.8. Changing the running distance is allowed if it is requested before the deadline stipulated in Article 1.1. The runner will have to pay the differences if the fee for the new distance is higher than that for the initially registered distance, while there will be non-refundable amount if the fee for the new distance is lower.

5.9. In case the runner overpays the registration fee, ROC will send the excess amount to the runner via the online payment portal.

5.10. ROC will not be responsible for delays in case the applications are not processed due to a faulty Internet, due to failure to accept the terms and conditions, resulting in failing to send confirmation emails.

5.11. The provisions in Article 5.10 also apply to ROC’s discount and promotion programs.

5.12. Related to the time for adjusting personal information (such as ID card number, gender, date of birth or email etc.) should there be any error, ROC will support by allowing the adjustment by the ending date for registration.

6.1. Runners must abide by all legal regulations of the government of Vietnam.

6.2. Runners must obey sports rules and do not use drugs. ROC has the right to ask a winning runner to provide urine sample for doping tests, should there be any doubt about doping use. The runner is required to provide urine sample to ROC.

6.3. When joining the race, the runner pledges to be physically fit to participate in the registered category and the time that ROC requires for completing the distance. Runners are committed to understanding their own health limits and being aware of when physical activities should be stopped to avoid injury.

6.4. In case a runner does not finish the running course within the official cut-off time (see Articles 1.4 and 1.5), ROC has the right to request him to stop and there will be no financial compensation, including financial compensation and/or other compensations, for this request.

6.5. Runners must understand all risks associated with this running event, including but not limited to tripping and falling, collision with other runners, the effects of weather, traffic, the road conditions, from minor to serious injuries, and even death. Runners will have to take responsibility for their own safety and health during the race and commit to not holding ROC accountable for any of the mentioned incidents.

6.6. ROC will buy public liability insurance and personal insurance for the runners participating in the race. In order to ensure their rights, runners need to provide full and accurate personal details (date-month-year of birth, passport number, expiry date and nationality) in their registration information submitted to ROC.

If the runner fails to provide complete and accurate information, ROC and the insurance company will not be held accountable in further proceedings.

6.7. Runners are responsible for carefully researching the running track before the official Race day and take full responsibility if they run the wrong course leading to the failure in completing the course or in having their performance recognised.

6.8. Bib:

6.8.1. The name on the Bib must match that on the runner’s Identity Card or Passport used for registration.

6.8.2. Runners must wear the Bib (granted before the Race day) throughout the time of the competition. The Bib must be attached on the runner’s chest and worn on the body throughout the race. Any exchange, sale, gifting, transfer of the Bib number to another person without ROC’s written consent is considered a violation of the race’s terms and conditions. ROC reserves the right to stop the play and not to recognize results by all the runners who wear a Bib number not in line with ROC’s registration list.

6.8.3. In case the ROC detects a runner competing while wearing a Bib that belongs to another runner, the runner and the Bib owner will have their results cancelled, and at the same time lose the right to attend the Hanoi Marathon – Heritage Race in the following year.

6.9. Personal belongings

Runners leave personal belongings in a bag or backpack and mark clearly with the Bib number. Do not place any valuables among the items to be handed over at ROC’s counters.

6.10. ROC is not responsible for any damage caused by:

– Illnesses or accidents (including emergency treatment)

– Loss or damage of personal belongings.

– Late arrival due to difficulties and/or public traffic or road conditions.

6.11. Medical care

ROC will provide first aid or professional medical care for any injury, illness or accident and in case of necessity, refer the patient to the nearest hospital. The runner will be responsible for covering expenses of emergency medical care and treatment.   

ROC will not allow any runner to participate in the marathon and continue to run once the Race has started, if they violate the following rules:

7.1. Runners are not allowed to use any wheeled vehicles or pedestrian conveyance (skateboard, rollerblade, shoes with wheels attached, bicycle, motorbike, etc.).

7.2. Runners are strictly prohibited from using doping and any other substances listed in the Prohibited List provided by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Runners must not use stimulants, drugs or medicines that increase the feeling of excitement during competition.

7.3. Runners are not allowed to receive help from any sources other than those appointed by ROC (such as: water, nutritional intakes, partners…).

7.4. Runners must follow the running course layout. Anyone attempting to leave the course without permission will be immediately disqualified. Anyone attempting to shorten the length of the course (taking shortcuts) for any reason will be disqualified. Shortcuts can be detected by referees or monitoring devices and video. The final decision belongs to ROC.

7.5. Runners need to run through the starting mat, the test rugs on the running track and the finishing carpet, otherwise it will result in failure to complete the course. Any runner whose signal is not captured by all the chip mats will be considered as failing to complete the race.

7.6. Runners are not allowed to conduct acts, or have a speech that harass or induce the crowd, cause violence, damage or harm the Race.

7.7. Runners are not allowed to bring unrelated equipment to the marathon; any weapon or sharp object that can harm others.

7.8. Runners are not allowed to bring any document, fliers with content unrelated to the event that can be used in propaganda purpose against the Vietnamese government and people; or the content contrary to the policies of the Party and the State or is not consistent with Vietnam’s customs and traditions.

7.9. Runners are not allowed to wear offensive costume, inappropriate to Vietnam’s culture, those carrying images that are against the State and people of Vietnam; images that go against the Party and the State policies; run with the face fully covered or topless body.

7.10. Runners must not violate traffic rules while on the running course. If a runner commits a violation, he will be fully responsible before the laws of the State of Vietnam and must compensate the damage caused to ROC (if any).

7.11. Foreign runners have the responsibility to declare themselves and to make sure their purpose of entry into Vietnam to participate in the race when applying for visa and entry procedures in Vietnam. The runners are also responsible for informing ROC about their accommodation address while participating in the race.

7.12. Runners must not conduct activities that may cause delays, such as: dancing, changing clothes, playing musical instruments, raising funds, asking for signatures… Runners do not obstruct the race by failing to comply with instructions by ROC. Runners are not allowed to use toilets at ineligible areas.

8.1. Runners will not get refund of the registration fee should the race be cancelled/delayed under any reason.

8.2. After completing registration and fee payment, runners cannot ask for refunds relating to the registration for any reason.

8.3. In case of unfavourable weather or unforeseen circumstances, ROC will notify the runners of the cause before the Race day. ROC can delay the event and are responsible for notifying the runners of the date to which the event is delayed.

ROC reserve all the rights and copyright to use any articles, photos, videos, and any data of this race, and the right to use these materials for the official website, social media sites or/and for media outlets for the purpose of marketing and promoting the Race.

Copyright of this information includes, but is not limited to, names and information such as age, address (place of birth, province, city) of the runners mentioned in the article related to the event.

All issues related to the rules and the competition format are compliant with the race’s terms and conditions, the regulations of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and the current athletic regulations.

For more information, visit: http://aims-worldrunning.org.

11.1. To ensure the safety of running, ROC will apply these rules throughout the race to all runners. Runners who do not comply with the rules will be deemed ineligible to participate in the race.

11.2. If there is any dispute during the race regarding registration terms and conditions, achievements, results of the Race, ROC has privilege of making the final decision.

11.3. ROC reserves the right to change these terms and conditions in the event of an emergency.

DUC HUONG ANH CO., LTD.
GENERAL DIRECTOR

Associated Professor, Dr. NGUYEN TRI