A major Hanoi sporting fixture returns to the centre of the capital this Sunday. The final of the 51st Hànộimới Newspaper Open Running Race – For Peace 2026 is scheduled to begin at 7:00 am on 27 September in the area around Ba Kiệu Temple and Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
Organisers say more than 3,000 athletes and officials will take part in the city-level final. The field includes representatives from Hanoi communes and wards, universities, colleges and vocational schools, competitors from other provinces and cities, nearly 200 professional athletes, and 250 foreign participants linked to 20 embassies, international organisations and international schools.
Key details for Sunday
The final takes place on Sunday 27 September 2026, with the published start time set for 7:00 am. The event area is around Ba Kiệu Temple and Hoàn Kiếm Lake, putting the race in one of Hanoi's busiest and most recognisable central districts.
The 2026 programme has 12 amateur and advanced events, with 12 sets of medals and total prize money of more than VND300 million. The competitive field includes many established Vietnamese runners as well as athletes selected through grassroots competitions across the city.
More than 3,000 at the city final
The final is the visible end point of a much larger citywide running programme. Organisers said 126 communes and wards held Olympic Run for Public Health activities and launched this year's Hànộimới race movement, with more than 100,000 people participating at grassroots level.
Schools, universities, vocational institutions, workplaces, armed-forces units and local communities have held qualifying or selection events. Those competitions feed athletes into the city final, which is why Sunday's programme is better understood as the culmination of months of local participation rather than a one-off road race.
The race dates back to 1974 and is one of Hanoi's longest-running mass-sport traditions. This year's edition also marks the 72nd anniversary of the Liberation of Hanoi and the 27th anniversary of the capital's recognition by UNESCO as a City for Peace.
Record international participation
Organiser reporting says 250 foreign participants from 20 organisations are expected in 2026, described as the race's largest international contingent to date. The group includes staff and officials from embassies and international organisations as well as international-school participants.
The international component is central to the event's “For Peace” identity. Hanoi coverage has highlighted repeated participation by diplomats and international residents, alongside the traditional competitive programme for local and national athletes.
Among the international names publicised ahead of the final is Filipino athlete Nikko Huelgas, a two-time SEA Games champion. His appearance is part of a field that mixes elite-level competitors with selected community and institutional runners.
What spectators should know
Hoàn Kiếm Lake is naturally suited to watching a city-centre running event because the course activity is concentrated around a familiar public landmark. The trade-off is that the area can become crowded early, especially near start, finish and presentation zones.
If you want to watch, arrive well before 7:00 am rather than trying to reach the lake at the published start time. Pick a meeting point in advance if you are with friends or family, keep pedestrian routes clear for officials and competitors, and follow temporary barriers or directions from event staff.
The reports checked for this article confirm the event area and start time but do not provide a complete public traffic-management notice for every surrounding street. Residents driving through central Hanoi should therefore check the latest city or organiser updates before setting out, rather than assuming normal access around the lake.
Getting around Hoàn Kiếm on race morning
For travellers staying in or near the Old Quarter, walking is usually the simplest way to reach the lake. If you are coming from farther away, taxi, ride-hailing or public transport can get you close, but the last section may be slower or require a short walk if temporary controls are in place.
Sunday morning conditions around Hoàn Kiếm can change quickly when a major civic event is under way. Allow extra time, keep valuables secure in crowds and avoid arranging a vehicle pickup at the exact edge of the event zone unless the driver confirms access.
Weather is also worth checking on the morning of the race. Hanoi in late September can still be warm and humid, so spectators planning to stay for several events should carry water and light sun or rain protection depending on the forecast.
Recent Hanoi news
Hanoi Autumn Festival Opens 25 September at Thống Nhất Park
Three days of heritage, food, craft and art run through Sunday.
Hanoi Floodwaters Recede Slowly as Bùi and Tích Rivers Stay Above Alert 3
Outer-Hanoi communities were still dealing with high river levels and access problems.
Hanoi Starts Surprise School-Meal Inspections
Four inter-agency teams are carrying out unannounced checks through May 2027.
Hanoi Is Building Five New Metro Lines at Once
What is operating now and what remains under construction.