Nearly 2,000 foreign and domestic runners will take part in the 61st National Marathon Tournament organised by Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper in Vung Tau city, the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, on March 24.

Vung Tau city is set to welcome the 61st National Marathon Tournament on March 24. (Photo: laodong.vn)

Among them, 200 are competing in the professional category while the rest are participating in amateur disciplines.

Participants will compete in 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km races.

The event will see the country’s leading marathon runners such as SEA Games 5,000m gold medalists Nguyen Van Lai, Ha Van Nhat, Le Van Thao and Le Trung Duc, competing in the men’s 21km event.

“I am very eager to take part in this event,” said Lai. “I will try to finish my race in 70 minutes. It is the sixth time I have taken part in the Tien Phong newspaper event.”

The women’s 21km race will see SEA Games 10,000m silver medalist Pham Thi Hue as well as other favourites Lo Thi Thanh and Pi Nang Re Chem.

This year, runners will once again wear timing microchips to ensure accurate results. They will also be provided nutrition gel, fruit juice and ionised water.

The event has prizes totalling 500 million VND (21,700 USD).

The marathon is Vietnam’s oldest, first held in 1958 in Hanoi.

The event will be broadcast live on VTV6 from 6:00pm.-VNA