Making its debut in Can Gio, VnExpress Marathon Green Paradise offered a distinct journey within Vietnam's largest running series, where sport blended with Ho Chi Minh City's coastal ecological landscape.

From early morning, Dai lo Thoi dai (Times Boulevard) was brightly lit, welcoming over 5,000 participants who entered the race amidst cheers and an eager atmosphere, anticipating the shared moment of sunrise.

At 4h, the first runners departed the starting line while it was still dark. Under the long stretch of lights on the boulevard, the stream of people began to move away from the starting area, commencing their journey towards the Can Gio mangrove forest.

On the horizon, dawn gradually appeared, painting the sky above the sea and the deep green forest patches in red. The moment the sun emerged marked the start of a new day for Ho Chi Minh City's coastal area, creating a vibrant backdrop for the runners' journey.

As the red hues spread, the long line of runners stretched out, heading towards the brightening sky ahead. In the transitional moment between night and day, each stride blended with the changing landscape, bringing dawn closer to the race route.

From above, the route appeared as a long, luminous streak amidst the coastal ecological zone.

As the sky brightened further, the route led athletes across Hoa Thanh 2 Bridge, connecting the coastal urban rhythm with the green landscape ahead. Under the orange-pink hues of early morning, the bridge served as a scenic transition point in the journey, where the running path began to open up deeper into Can Gio's natural environment.

Leaving the bridge, dawn cast its light upon the vast green of Rung Sac, awakening the mangrove canopy. The early morning light stretched along the route, guiding runners into the most nature-rich segment of the journey.

In the gentle light, athletes strode along the route through the green expanse of Can Gio, flanked by shaded trees and vibrant bougainvillea and pink trumpet flower hedges. This was also an ecological highlight of the race, allowing participants to immerse themselves in nature, enjoying the shade, fresh air, and peaceful rhythm of movement within the mangrove forest.

Leaving Rung Sac, the race returned to the boulevard as the sun rose higher, casting a golden hue over the road and elongating the runners' shadows with each stride. From above, the shadows of the athletes merged with those of the trees, creating soft streaks of movement on the early morning route.

At the journey's end, sunlight illuminated the radiant faces of the runners. Waving hands, smiles, and lighter strides at the finish line captured the moment of relief after the long distance, as the rendezvous with the Can Gio sunrise drew to a close. Under the morning sun, the journey to conquer the green race route concluded with smiles, medals, and commemorative photos beyond the finish line.

After kilometers traversed through the night, dawn, and the green of the mangrove forest, each participant took home a unique memory, while Can Gio remained in their minds as a brilliant morning of sport, nature, and emotion. Hai Long