Wearing a shirt emblazoned with the national flag, Nguyen Van Lai, a Vietnamese athletics icon, received a warm welcome at the starting line. He joined approximately 1,500 other 42km runners, beginning their journey with a resounding rendition of the national anthem.

To commemorate the National Day (2/9) and inspire runners, the VnExpress Marathon Libera Nha Trang organizers arranged a flag-raising ceremony before the start of each race distance. The 42km race commenced at 2:30 am.

Lai's main rival on the track was Le Van Tuan, another seasoned runner. Tuan is two years older than Lai and has considerably more years of marathon training experience.

Despite both being in their 40s, the two runners demonstrated remarkable endurance. They left younger competitors like Trieu Tien Luyen, Trinh Minh Tam, and Hua Thuan Long trailing behind.

Lai and Tuan ran neck and neck for 30km. Their chip times showed them crossing the 8km, 15km, and 21km marks just one second apart.

At Luong Son Pass, from the 30km mark, Le Van Tuan began to experience leg pain, reducing his pace and falling behind by about 100 meters. In contrast, Van Lai maintained a steady pace. By the time he reached the Libera coastal urban area and crossed Tran Phu Bridge, Van Lai was running solo.

He finished in 2 hours and 31 minutes, 4 minutes ahead of Le Tuan. After the race, Le Van Tuan praised his opponent, recognizing Van Lai as one of the strongest marathon runners in Vietnam today. Van Lai, in turn, acknowledged the challenging competition from Van Tuan.

In the 21km race, Vong Vanh Long and Le Dinh Tuong, close friends on the national athletics team, created a heartwarming moment by crossing the finish line hand-in-hand. This unprecedented act of sportsmanship at a VnExpress Marathon event impressed the spectators.

The two runners had stayed close throughout the race. Despite agreeing not to compete for victory, the chip time recorded Vanh Long finishing in 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 25 seconds, one second faster than Dinh Tuong.

The women's 21km race saw Nguyen Khanh Ly claim her first VnExpress Marathon victory. The 22-year-old runner has shown rapid progress recently. The Da Nang athlete finished second in the VnExpress Marathon Hue 2025 in early April before winning in Nha Trang.

During the race on the morning of 24/8, she ran with determination while maintaining a smile. Khanh Ly finished in 1 hour, 29 minutes, and 43 seconds, 27 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

In the 10km race, Ede runner Y Glap Nie took an early lead, finishing in 35 minutes and 28 seconds. Nie is a member of the 47 Runners Club in Dak Lak. In the women's category, Nguyen Thi Nga won with a time of 44 minutes and 31 seconds.

The VnExpress Marathon Libera Nha Trang was a festival for sports enthusiasts in Khanh Hoa. This year, the organizers arranged for the 21km and 10km races to start simultaneously from two gates facing opposite directions. The sight of 7,000 athletes gathering created a sea of people, energizing the coastal city.

With the nation approaching the 80th anniversary of National Day (2/9), many runners chose to wear red and yellow attire, showcasing their patriotism.

Runners passed the Do Theater, a Khanh Hoa landmark located in the Libera coastal urban area in Bac Nha Trang ward. The Do Theater, famed for its Roi Mo (Dream Puppetry) show, is designed to resemble a "do" – a traditional fishing basket used by coastal communities.

Two young runners participated in the 5km race. This race, starting last at 6:30 am, took place entirely along Tran Phu coastal road.

5km runners filled Tran Phu road. This distance is suitable for beginners seeking a less strenuous experience. This year, the 5km remained the most popular distance with over 4,000 participants, mostly locals.

Runners displayed their finisher medals. The VnExpress Marathon Libera Nha Trang medals were inspired by seashells, engraved with city symbols like the Do Theater and Tram Huong Tower.

An aerial view of the Expo area at 2/4 Square. After completing their races, runners gathered here to collect their belongings and relax. The event concluded at 9 am the same day. Following Nha Trang, the VnExpress Marathon will head to Can Tho on 14/9.

Hoai Phuong