The 7th VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon, held on 13/9 at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square on An Duong Vuong Street (Quy Nhon Ward, Gia Lai Province), attracted 8,000 athletes across three distances: 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km. For many amateur and professional runners, this event offers an opportunity to explore local cuisine with their families.

In previous seasons, banh hoi long heo was a favorite dish among runners visiting Quy Nhon and a common breakfast choice for locals. To prepare this dish, chefs make delicate rice noodles, drizzle them with chive oil, and serve them with a plate of pork offal including heart, liver, kidney, blood sausage, intestines, and fresh herbs. A sweet and sour dipping sauce with chili accompanies the dish, creating a rustic culinary experience unique to the region.

Quy Nhon residents also enjoy this dish with a savory porridge made from pork blood and minced lean pork. A serving of banh hoi and a steaming bowl of porridge provide enough energy for visitors to explore the martial arts land (Binh Dinh Province is known as "Dat Vo" or "Land of Martial Arts").

Bun ram and bun tom are also distinctive dishes in the local culinary scene. Visitors can enjoy a bowl of bun tom on Tran An Tu, Hoang Van Thu, Ngo Gia Tu, or Chuong Duong streets, with prices ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 VND per bowl.

Specifically, bun ram features a broth made from tiny crabs, offering a delicate sweetness and rich flavor, served with fresh vegetables and grilled rice crackers. For bun tom, chefs use fresh ground shrimp as the main ingredient, combined with a lightly sweet noodle broth and freshly pressed rice vermicelli. If you prefer more shrimp, you can order an extra bowl of blanched shrimp.

Van Hung, 38, who has completed the 21 km VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon three consecutive seasons, shared that he and his family love banh xeo tom nhay. This dish is memorable from its name, meaning "jumping shrimp pancake," because the fresh shrimp still jump when dropped into the hot pan. Chefs pour a thin layer of rice flour batter over them, add bean sprouts and spring onions, and cook them into small, crispy pancakes with bright red shrimp.

"Beyond the beautiful, airy running route, Quy Nhon's cuisine captivates me. Wrapping banh xeo tom nhay with fresh vegetables, green mango, cucumber, rice paper, and dipping it in sweet and sour fish sauce is the perfect way to enjoy it," Hung said.

VnExpress has listed banh xeo tom nhay among the dishes runners should try along the Quy Nhon marathon route. Recommended eateries include Ba Nam My Cang, Gia Vy, Ong Hung, and Anh Vu.

Shrimp and squid pancakes in Quy Nhon. Photo: Pham Linh

Additionally, runners should try cha ram tom dat (shrimp spring rolls). Each roll is about one finger in size but boasts a rich filling of ground shrimp and pork belly, wrapped in thin rice paper, then deep-fried until crispy. It is served with fresh vegetables, rice paper, and sweet and sour fish sauce. In 2023, the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association recognized this specialty as one of the 121 representative specialties of the country.

Visitors can also try bun nem - cha ca nuong (vermicelli with grilled fish cake and fermented pork roll). This dish stands out with fresh vermicelli, fermented pork roll, grilled fish cake, crispy spring rolls, fresh herbs, peanuts, and a salad. The quality of this dish is determined by the chewiness and aroma of the fish cake grilled over charcoal, as well as the accompanying vermicelli sauce.

Nem nuong (grilled fermented pork roll) is another specialty of this region. Unlike the sweet nem of the South or the sour nem of Hue, and without as much pork skin as Thanh Hoa's nem, the nem of "Xu Nau" (an old name for Binh Dinh) has a pink color and a slightly sweet taste. In Binh Dinh, nem is always wrapped in young guava leaves for fragrance. Besides eating it fresh, you can also enjoy grilled nem for a unique flavor. Locals often eat it with raw garlic for added taste. Each piece costs 5,000 VND.

Meanwhile, many runners are impressed by banh mi lagu Ba Thom, located in a small alley on Nguyen Hue Street. The large, tender pork stew in a fragrant, naturally sweet soup costs 35,000 VND per serving, with extra bread available for 3,000 VND. Hu tieu mi hoanh thanh (noodle soup with wontons) is suitable for breakfast; one 58-year-old family-run Chinese restaurant on Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street specializes in pho, hu tieu, and wontons.

Ba Thom restaurant, dubbed "the best banh mi lagu" in Quy Nhon Ward, is nearly 40 years old. Photo: Di Vy

As a coastal city, Quy Nhon also offers many seafood options such as shrimp, crab, squid, fish, and snails. These marine ingredients appear in many local dishes, from bun ca (fish noodle soup), bun cha ca (fish cake noodle soup), and bun sua (jellyfish noodle soup) to steamed, grilled, or spiced preparations.

If runners wish to buy local specialties as gifts for friends and family, they can consider banh it la gai (glutinous rice cake with ramie leaves), banh trang nuoc dua (coconut rice crackers), banh hong (pink rice cake), tre (fermented pork), or nem Cho Huyen (fermented pork roll from Huyen market).

Additionally, Bia Qui Nhon, a brand associated with the Quy Nhon region (formerly Binh Dinh, now part of Gia Lai), is partnering with VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2026 as a Bronze partner in the post-race food area, where runners can relax and meet friends and family.

Nguyen Minh Thong, Head of General Affairs and Brand Manager for Bia Qui Nhon, stated: "VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon is a highly influential sports event, attracting numerous athletes and running enthusiasts from many localities. As a partner, we hope to connect sports lovers and contribute to showcasing Quy Nhon through familiar, everyday experiences."

Bia Qui Nhon. Photo: DNCC

This year, Bia Qui Nhon received the Vietnam National Brand title. A company representative emphasized that this milestone recognizes efforts to build brand value and image, motivating the company to continue supporting meaningful activities.

"In the future, we hope to continue engaging in more activities connected with local life, so that the brand and the community can create memorable experiences and contribute positively to the province's development," Minh Thong added.

Beyond cuisine, runners can explore destinations tied to local life and culture. The Nhon Ly area features Ky Co and Eo Gio; Nhon Hai offers Hon Kho and a fishing village; offshore, Cu Lao Xanh presents a vast island seascape. You can also visit Ghenh Rang - Tien Sa and Thap Doi (Twin Towers) in one day. For Champa architecture, Thap Banh It (Banh It Towers) is a suggestion. This complex, located on a hill about 20 km from central Quy Nhon, comprises four towers built in the late 11th and early 12th centuries.

VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2026 opens at 11:30 on 11/9 at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square. Race kit collection begins early that afternoon. Organizers will distribute race kits over two days at the exhibition (expo) area located in the square. On 11/9, the counter will be open from 13:00 to 18:00. On 12/9, it will open earlier and longer, from 9:00 to 17:00. The official race day is 13/9.

Hieu Chau