Jointly organised by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and VietRace365 Joint Stock Company, the event will feature five distances: 6km, 12km, 30km, 50km and 70km. It forms part of the National Tourism Year – Gia Lai 2026 programme.
The new distances replace the 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km races held over the previous three editions. Organisers say the changes will showcase more local attractions while giving runners a greater endurance challenge.
Le Van Duong, chairman of VietRace365 and co-head of the organising committee, said the routes had been redesigned and extended, with elevation gain tripling compared with last season. The longest race will require runners to cross eight mountains, testing their fitness, endurance and determination.
The course will take participants through landmarks in Bien Ho commune, including Bien Ho Park, a centuries-old pine forest, the Bien Ho tea hills, Buu Minh Pagoda and Chu Dang Ya volcano. Other locations along the routes include coffee fields, the old H’Bau church, Chu Nam mountain and the Ngo Son rice fields.
Organisers are coordinating with relevant agencies and local authorities on security, traffic safety, medical care, rescue services, sanitation and accommodation. Support teams will receive particular attention along the longer routes and more difficult terrain.
Tran Minh Truong, president of the Gia Lai Marathon Club, said the race’s repeated climbs and descents placed substantial demands on runners’ strength, endurance and mental resilience.
He called for close coordination in deploying medical and support teams to respond promptly to incidents and keep participants safe.
The 12km race has attracted the most registrations, with 1,100 runners, followed by the 6km event with 960 and the 30km race with 850. Participants have also signed up for the longer 50km and 70km courses.
Ho Chi Minh City has the largest contingent, with more than 814 runners. Other participants include 119 from Dak Lak, 90 from Quang Ngai, 66 from Da Nang and 45 from Hanoi.
The field also includes 34 international runners from countries and territories including Japan, China, Taiwan, the United States, Belgium, Germany and France.
Among those returning is Ly Van Huy from Dak Lak, who finished third in the 18–29 age group in last year’s 42km race. He has entered the 50km event this year, seeking a new challenge after competing against runners from across the country in 2025.
Alongside the races, Pleiku ward and neighbouring communes and wards will host cultural and tourism activities showcasing the area’s landscapes, cultural identity and people.
Residents are also preparing to welcome participants and visitors. Nueng, a resident of Chu Dang Ya village in Bien Ho commune, said villagers were cleaning and improving their surroundings ahead of the event.
He said he looked forward to cheering on runners as they passed through the villages and climbed the mountains.
