Thanh is a member of Vietnam’s national athletics team. At the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33) in 2025, he finished fourth in the marathon with a time of 2 hours 38 minutes 15 seconds.

The Tokyo Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors series, which also includes the London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon.

Last year, Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa represented Vietnam at the Tokyo Marathon 2025, finishing 48th in the women’s category with a time of 2 hours 46 minutes 55 seconds.

According to the Tokyo Marathon 2026 organising committee, the event will feature 150 elite athletes across the men’s and women’s fields, alongside a large number of amateur runners. The winner of the 42 km marathon will receive a cash prize of US$80,000.

Following SEA Games 33, Hoang Nguyen Thanh competed in several events, winning the 21 km race at the Vietnam International Half Marathon 2026, as well as taking top honours at the National Ba Ra Mountain Climbing Tournament and the Ho Chi Minh City Marathon 2026.

Vietnamese champion Hoa to run in Tokyo Marathon 2025

Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa is the only Vietnamese elite runner to be competing in the Tokyo Marathon 2025, the first event of the seven World Marathon Majors, next month.