When and how do I pay?
Full bundle price by bank transfer to SPL Run Club's account, within 7 days of booking.
The confirmation page (and a follow-up email) gives you the bank account details
and a reference format. Once you transfer, upload your receipt screenshot through
the same site. We'll verify it lands and then email your booking confirmation.
Bank transfer only. We don't process credit cards, which keeps payment-gateway
fees out of the bundle price.
What's the actual race like?
The 9th Edition of the
Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon,
one of Southeast Asia's largest road races. Closed roads, fast and flat. The 2025 course
ran from Saigon Zoo (District 1) across the Saigon River and finished at Empire City in
Thu Duc; the 2026 route is published by the organiser closer to race week. For the
official course, rules, water stations, and the AIG (Athlete Information Guide):
official race info →
Is this an officially certified race?
Yes. It's a full AIMS member with a certified course, AIMS being the global body
that measures and recognises road races on the same standard as World Athletics.
So your distance is accurately measured, your time is official, and a qualifying
time counts toward the World Marathon Majors that use time qualifying. Proof,
straight from the registry:
AIMS race listing →
Can I switch from FM to HM after I book?
No. Distance is locked at the moment you book. Pick carefully.
Will I get a roommate I don't know?
Only if you book Solo Paired. We pair strictly same-gender;
we do not offer mixed-gender pairing. Pairing is finalised in early September
once we've collected everyone's race-day details. If the available pool
doesn't include a same-gender match for you by then, we'll contact you
directly before the race-organiser cutoff to discuss options.
What if I get injured before the race?
We can't refund cash. You can substitute someone else into your spot until 31 August.
If you can't find a substitute, you forfeit.
Are flights included?
No. You book your own KL ↔ SGN flights. We're land-only. Most SPL members
fly AirAsia or VietJet. Book early for December dates.
Do I need a Vietnam visa?
Malaysian passports currently have visa-free entry for short tourist
stays in Vietnam. Verify your specific passport's status with the
Vietnamese embassy before booking. Other nationalities should check
the embassy site too.
Should I get travel insurance?
Strongly recommended. We don't include it. Get a basic travel + sports policy
from your usual provider (AIG, Tune Protect, Allianz, etc.) covering medical,
lost luggage, and trip cancellation.
When do you collect race-day details (passport, etc.)?
To keep the booking form short, we collect the official race-registration
details (DOB, gender, nationality, passport, emergency contact) in a short
follow-up form sent by email in early September. We then
batch-submit your registration to the race organiser ahead of their deadline.
Your bundle is fully secured at booking; the follow-up is just the paperwork
step for your race bib.
What if I'm slow? What are the cut-off times?
The organiser sets cut-offs of 6h 30min for the Full Marathon
and 4h for the Half Marathon, measured from each distance's
start gun. You also need to cross the start line within roughly 15 minutes of
your wave's gun time, otherwise you can be disqualified. Most bundle runners
are comfortably inside these windows. If you're unsure, pick the half.
What does the race weekend look like?
The organiser publishes the 2026 schedule closer to race week, but based on
the 2025 reference: Friday + Saturday are race-kit pickup
at Marathon Village (we collect for the group). Saturday morning,
SPL leads a short shake-out run from the hotel for anyone who wants one,
legs loose, no pressure. Sunday is race day, with very
early starts: Marathon ~03:30, Half-Marathon ~04:15. The finish area
sits ~30 minutes from our hotel cluster. The Sunday-night SPL
buffet is later that evening, walking distance from the hotel.
How does race packet pickup work?
You don't have to queue. We coordinate a group SPL pickup window:
one or two of us collect for the whole bundle so the rest of you can rest, eat,
or sightsee. Bibs and race kits are handed out at our hotel later the same day.
The exact pickup time and what we need from you in advance goes out in the
race-week WhatsApp briefing.
Getting back to the hotel after the race?
Each runner sorts their own ride back. Grab and Be (Vietnam's local rideshare)
both work well from the finish area. Have your phone charged and ready, finish-line
zones can be congested in the first hour or two, so expect some wait before your
driver gets through.
What's the Sunday night dinner?
A post-race buffet dinner for the whole bundle group at a venue walking distance
from the hotels. The whole SPL crew at one table, race-day stories swapped over
food. Pork-free spread including some seafood.
Plus lucky-draw prizes for everyone at the table and grand prizes for our top finishers across FM and HM.
If you can't make it, the seat is still booked and we don't refund the meal portion.
What are the monthly group training sessions?
Roughly once a month leading up to race day, SPL hosts a group training session around KL — could be
a long run, track work, or a tempo depending on the phase of training.
Open to everyone in the bundle, including supporters. Pace ranges from beginner to sub-4 marathoners.
Optional, no attendance requirement. Locations and times shared in the SPL × HCMC 2026 WhatsApp group
once you're confirmed.
What's Gellomax?
A turmeric gummy made in Malaysia by Evowell: lime juice, turmeric extract,
miswak extract, mint. Ten gummies per strip; two strips per person in the bundle
(four strips for two-person packages). Designed for daily wellness and post-exercise recovery.
KKM-classified as food-grade. Full ingredient and product info:
evowell.com.my →
What's the weather like in Saigon in early December?
27–32°C in the daytime, dropping to ~22°C overnight. December is dry season,
so humidity is low by Saigon standards. Brief afternoon showers are possible
but not common. Race-morning conditions are usually comfortable. Pack a light
layer for evenings (hotels run their A/C strong), but no rain gear needed
unless you check the forecast and it looks unusual.
What should I pack?
Bring race gear: the shoes you've trained in (not brand-new ones), your
racing kit, anti-chafing balm if you need it, electrolyte tabs or your usual
race nutrition, sunscreen. The organiser provides your race bib and the
official race tee at packet pickup, so you don't need to bring those. For
the rest of the trip: comfortable walking shoes, light layers for A/C-cold
rooms and restaurants, and your passport.
What about money and SIMs in Vietnam?
The local currency is Vietnamese Dong (VND). Grab and most restaurants accept
cards, but bring around USD 50 in cash for street food and small vendors;
ATMs at the airport dispense VND with a moderate fee. For data, the cleanest
option is a Vietnamese eSIM (Klook, Airalo, Saily). Typically RM 25–40 for
unlimited data over the trip. Activate before you fly so you land with
working data. Drop a message in the SPL × HCMC 2026 WhatsApp group when you
land so we know you're in.
