Various activities mark 80th anniversary of sports sector’s traditional day
Hanoi plans to organise a series of activities throughout March to celebrate the 80th traditional day of Vietnam’s sports sector (March 27, 1946 –2026), in conjunction with the 2026 Olympic Run Day, according to the municipal Department of Culture and Sports.
The highlight is the Olympic Run Day – For Public Health – For National Security 2026, scheduled to take place at 06:30 on March 22 in the area of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and around Hoan Kiem Lake. The event, to be hosted by the Ministry of Public Security in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hanoi People’s Committee, is expected to attract around 12,000–15,000 participants for a 1.7-kilometre run (one lap around Hoan Kiem Lake).
On March 21, a running race marking the 80th traditional day of the sector and the 2026 International Day of Happiness will be held in the area of Ba Kieu Temple Flower Garden and around Hoan Kiem Lake. The race will include the three distances of 5.1 km, 3.4 km and a 1.7 km Family Run, with an expected participation of between 5,000 and 8,000 runners.
A ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary is scheduled to take place on March 27 at the Vietnam–Soviet Friendship Palace of Culture and Labour. The event will review the development of the sector and honour the contributions of generations of officials, coaches, athletes and referees.
During March, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports will also organise a variety of sports-related activities, including a dialogue with enterprises operating in the sports sector, and a seminar on mobilising resources for the development of sports in the capital.
Several notable sports tournaments will also be held during this period, including the Hanoi Open 3x3 Basketball Tournament 2026 (March 14–15), and the Ciputra Hanoi – Yonex Sunrise Vietnam International Challenge 2026 badminton tournament (March 24–29).
According to the department, these activities aim to promote awareness of the traditional day and highlight the importance of physical exercise in line with President Ho Chi Minh’s call for people nationwide to practice sports.
Tens of thousands people nationwide join Olympic Run Day events
The Olympic Run Day for Public Health has been observed nationwide in celebration of the 76th Vietnam Sports Day (March 27) and towards the 31st Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games 31) in May.
