Running through Ninh Binh's heritage region

The VTV LPBank International Marathon 2026 will take place on August 30 at the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh province, under the theme "Running Through the Heritage Region." This marks the third season of the event organized by Vietnam Television (VTV) and the third consecutive year of partnership with Fortune Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank (LPBank). The event will be broadcast live on the national sports channel VTV6 and across VTV's digital platforms.

The 21 km Route at Van Long

Brought to Van Long for the first time, the tournament maintains various recreational running distances, with the longest being 21 km. In addition to the amateur running community, the race is expected to feature four national team athletes, several elite runners, and influential sports figures.

According to a VTV representative, choosing routes at locations with distinctive landscapes aims to combine the promotion of physical activity with showcasing the images of Vietnam's country, people, and destinations to domestic and international audiences.

"Our consistent goal is to bring the most beautiful landscapes, monuments, and scenic spots to the screen, broadcasting them not only to domestic viewers but also spreading them to international audiences," said Mr. Do Duc Hoang, representative of VTV.

Mr. Hoang also emphasized the orientation of linking the tournament with the community sports movement: "We hope that through sports tournaments and the VTV6 sports channel, we can encourage people to engage in physical fitness, striving towards a healthy Vietnam."

For LPBank, this year's season coincides with the bank moving its headquarters from Hanoi to Ninh Binh in March 2026. A representative of the enterprise stated that sponsorship activities align with their strategy of supporting elite sports, community sports, and corporate social responsibility programs.

According to leaders of the Ninh Binh Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the locality possesses numerous sites suitable for hosting large-scale sports events, such as Trang An, Tam Chuc, Cuc Phuong, and Xuan Thuy. Van Long was selected thanks to its limestone mountain landscapes, wetland area, and relatively intact ecosystem.

"Ninh Binh has many locations eligible for hosting such events, but we chose Van Long because it is an area where the province is preparing dossier submissions for heritage recognition, featuring pristine landscapes and ecosystems," said a leader of the Ninh Binh Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Local authorities stated they are actively researching and preparing relevant dossiers regarding the heritage values of the region to submit to competent authorities and UNESCO for review. Therefore, the race is expected to help broader audiences discover the natural landscape and values of Van Long.

From a Running Race to a Destination Product

A notable aspect of this year's season lies in the combination of amateur sports, destination communications, and the promotion of local natural and cultural values.

Instead of taking place on urban roads, the running course is arranged around the nature reserve. Images of runners, water surfaces, limestone mountains, and rural landscapes thus become an integral part of the television content, helping convey the destination's story through real-time experiences.

This model is being adopted by many localities as running events rapidly expand in Vietnam. Beyond direct economic impacts on accommodation, transportation, catering, and retail services, a televised event creates additional visual assets for tourism promotion activities.

For Ninh Binh—where cultural and eco-tourism play a crucial role in the economic structure—bringing the race to Van Long can help diversify tourist flow beyond familiar spots like Trang An, Tam Coc, or Bai Dinh Pagoda. The presence of athletes and their families during the holiday period also has the potential to extend their stay if the locality develops suitable sightseeing packages.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Mr. Vu Quoc Khanh, General Director of LPBank, highlighted: "We hope the tournament will continue to spread a positive lifestyle, inspire health training, and contribute to showcasing the natural beauty, culture, and people of Ninh Binh to the domestic and international running community."