Pink Lotus Land Marathon, a cultural experience journey

VPBank Dat Sen Hong Music Marathon 2025 with many beautiful emotions in the hearts of local people and athletes - Photo: NX

Music and culinary culture festival

The VPBank Dat Sen Hong Music Marathon 2025, with the theme "Pioneer - Breakthrough" has ended, but its echoes still resonate in the hearts of athletes and tourists who visited Dong Thap through the green routes.

This year's Marathon is a close collaboration between the People's Committee of Dong Thap province, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Thap province, VPBank, Nesux Sport Event, with the highlight being a large-scale music festival with sound and light stage, attracting thousands of attendees.

The music festival and food festival before the tournament kicked off took the athletes from one surprise to another.

Athletes comfortably walk on the green road - Photo: NX

On the morning of October 12, the 42km race started at 3:30 am, in the heart of the city at the Temple of Literature Park, filled with cheers, athletes were ready to embark on the journey to conquer the roads and break through. Each athlete, whether alone or in a group, carried within them positive energy and determination to conquer their own limits.

With nearly 11,000 professional and amateur athletes from all over the country, this year's tournament recorded a record number of participants. The distances of 5 km, 10 km, 21 km and 42 km are not only a physical challenge but also a journey to add confidence and will to each step.

A highlight of this year’s season is the unique routes, bearing the mark of the West, helping athletes run with nature, run with memories, and run with emotions. From the winding village roads under the cool green trees, to the moment of conquering the top of Cao Lanh bridge, all have created a wonderful, emotional journey.

Previously on October 11, 2,000 young athletes had an exciting competition in the 800m race.

Food space, selling dishes made from Sa Dec flour - Photo: THANH HIEP

The VPBank Dat Sen Hong Music Marathon 2025 is also a cultural and tourism highlight of Dong Thap. During the 3 days, Van Mieu Square has become a space connecting the community with activities such as: Southern food festival, local specialties display, tourism promotion program, music exchange, athlete exchange.

The appeal of the Red Lotus Land marathon

Mr. Huynh Minh Tuan - Vice Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee and Ms. Nguyen Thi Uyen Trang - Director of Dong Thap Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (standing in the middle) participated in the 5km distance to respond to the race - Photo: DANG TUYET

Mr. Huynh Minh Tuan - Vice Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Organizing Committee of VPBank Red Lotus Land Music Marathon 2025 shared: After three seasons, the image of Dong Thap as the Land of Lotus, the Land of Rice, the Land of Kind People has been spread not only domestically but also internationally. For VPBank Red Lotus Land Music Marathon 2025, the province hopes to turn a sporting event into a cultural experience journey.

In addition, the indicators measuring the attractiveness of the Dat Sen Hong marathon are based on specific numerical targets such as: Over 80% of athletes from outside the province participate in cultural, culinary, and ecological experience tours during their stay; over 98% are satisfied with the race and accompanying services.

Athletes conquer the majestic Cao Lanh Bridge across the Tien River - Photo: NX

"At the same time, each athlete becomes a media ambassador with the hashtag #DatSenHongMarathon, spread through social networks. Build a system to measure the level of cultural connection of each tourist experiencing One Day in Dong Thap and Lotus Cuisine - Vietnamese Soul. We take lotus as the center of the tournament's content.

This year, the 4th season recorded over 12,800 athletes participating, an increase of over 20% compared to the 2024 season and an increase of 300% compared to the first season. This shows that we are on the right track, and athletes increasingly love the tournament, love Dong Thap," Mr. Tuan added.

According to the Organizing Committee, this is not only a physical race but also a journey to spread the inspiration of healthy living, green living and responsible living to the community. Because this year the Organizing Committee has spent 250 million VND on social activities to preserve and develop red-crowned cranes at Tram Chim National Park, donate to people in the northern provinces to overcome natural disasters such as storms and floods, and support students in difficult circumstances.

Nexus Sport Event representative presented a 100 million VND logo to Tram Chim National Park representative to contribute to the Red-crowned Crane Conservation Project - Photo: THANH HIEP