Starting at 4 a.m., 21 km runners passed through the Imperial Citadel area, still brightly lit. This image conveys the race's message, "Stride into the Imperial City", as organizers temporarily paused the 42 km distance to ensure all routes remained within the heritage zone.

From the starting line at Phu Van Lau, the crowd continued across Truong Tien Bridge, spanning the Perfume River. This bridge connects the ancient Imperial City with the new city center, offering a contrasting landscape for the runners.

The Hue City People's Committee headquarters, brightly illuminated, was one of the striking landmarks greeting runners before dawn.

Runners made their way along a well-lit central street. For this race, organizers arranged staggered starts to reduce congestion.

Athletes ran past the gate of Quoc Hoc Hue High School, opposite the Quoc Hoc Stele. The area in front of the Quoc Hoc Stele is a popular morning exercise spot for Hue residents.

Da Vien Bridge was the second bridge crossed by athletes in all three distances: 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km. After crossing this bridge, they returned to the northern bank in Phu Hoa Ward.

In addition to heritage structures, cool, tree-lined streets are a beloved feature of the VnExpress Marathon Hue. In the photo, a line of runners in the race's purple jerseys fills an inner-city street.

The VnExpress Marathon Hue concluded at 7:30 a.m. on 19/4, after all three distances closed their routes to return the city to its normal rhythm.

On this occasion, the city government offered numerous incentives for visiting historical sites and entertainment areas to stimulate tourism. The VnExpress Marathon Hue is expected to bring more than 10,000 visitors to the city during the event week.