The volunteer team greeted athletes wearing Southern checkered scarves with black and white square patterns. They began their duties in the morning of the same day, arranging item booths and streamlining procedures to ensure each athlete could complete registration in 5 minutes.

The VnExpress Marathon Can Tho 2026 expo, located at Hau River Park, opened on the afternoon of 8/5, drawing numerous participants to collect their bibs. Long lines of athletes queued at the item distribution booths, creating a lively atmosphere. The main race is scheduled for the early morning of 10/5.

The organizers integrated many details evoking the identity of the Mekong Delta, allowing runners to feel the local atmosphere from the moment they entered the event space. This cultural immersion was evident in various elements, from the attire of the volunteers to the decorative setups.

Upon arriving at the booth, volunteers requested participants to present the QR code the organizers had sent via email. From this step, the item collection process was divided into steps: receiving bib numbers, then race-kit bags, and finally shirts corresponding to their distance.

Ngo Nguyen Hoang Loan and her friend were two of the first runners to receive their bibs at the expo. They carried two conical hats, characteristic of Can Tho people, both to shield from the sun and to showcase local identity.

62-year-old runner Nguyen Thi Bich Van (left) and her friend wore checkered scarves to collect their bibs. Van recently secured second place in the over-60 age group for the 21km distance at the VnExpress Marathon Green Paradise Can Gio last week. The female runner from Gia Lai is well-known in the running community for her positive energy. She motorcycled across Vietnam in 2023. At the expo, she happily took photos with the volunteers.

The Southwestern atmosphere also extended to the area outside the expo. The event's welcome gate was inspired by the architecture of Binh Thuy Ancient House, one of the city's famous landmarks. In front, the organizers placed a small fruit-laden boat with oars, evoking the image of a floating market – a familiar cultural feature of the riverine region. In the photo, a group of runners posed as if rowing a boat in front of the welcome gate, recreating the image of Mekong Delta residents making a living and trading on the river.

{"caption_all":"The fruit boat was a favorite photo spot for many groups of runners.","caption_items":"["",""]"}

{"caption_all":"In the game zone, experiential activities were also designed based on Mekong Delta cultural elements: from images of boats and orchard fruits to harvest-season rice baskets.","caption_items":"["","",""]"}

Members of the Can Tho University running club arrived to collect their bibs and prepare for race day. This university is recognized for having a prominent running movement in Tay Do (Can Tho). This year, the club has nearly 50 students competing in four distances. Furthermore, over 300 students joined the volunteer force, supporting the operation of bib distribution areas, race courses, water stations, and logistics.

{"caption_all":"In addition to the Mekong Delta cultural highlights, the expo featured over 30 booths offering apparel, running shoes, accessories, nutrition, and health care, allowing runners to shop, interact with brands, and participate in various activities before race day.","caption_items":"["","",""]"}

VnExpress Marathon Can Tho 2026 will distribute bibs until 18h on 9/5. The race starts on the morning of 10/5, with the 42km distance beginning at 3h, 21km at 4h, 10km at 5h, and 5km at 6h.

This year's race attracted over 10,000 registered athletes, an increase of about 1,000 runners compared to the inaugural season. The event guides runners through central routes, riverine landscapes, and many cultural highlights of Can Tho, contributing to connecting sports with tourism, community, and local identity.

Hai Long

*Photo: VnExpress Marathon*