«Lào Cai Marathon 2026 – Dòng Chảy Biên Cương»

   The course follows the stretch of the Red River where the water first crosses into Vietnam, and it includes a checkpoint few races can offer: a sovereignty marker standing on the border itself. The subtitle, Dong Chay Bien Cuong, means roughly "the border current".

   Three distances, written as measured: 5.5 km, 10.5 km and 21 km. Race morning starts in the dark — the half marathon at 04:30, the 10.5 km at 05:30, the 5.5 km at 06:30. The whole course closes at 08:00 and prize-giving follows straight after.

   Two expo days come first at the start area: race-pack collection, sponsor stands, the opening ceremony and a runners' talk on the Saturday afternoon. Vietjungle Organizer runs the event, which the province intends to hold every year.

   Lao Cai sits on the Chinese border in the far north-west, about five hours from Hanoi and an hour below Sapa — which makes the 5.5 km a reasonable excuse to be in the mountains, and the 21 km a reason to train for it.

   Entry comes in four waves. Early Bird (16 June – 16 August): 5.5 km 480,000 VND, 10.5 km 580,000, 21 km 680,000. Regular (17 August – 15 September): 650,000–850,000. Late (16–30 September): 850,000–1,250,000. Enter from 16 September and your name is not printed on the bib; group rates apply only from Early Bird onwards.

   Entries at iRace.vn.