VNG IRONMAN Vietnam 2026, alongside the 10th anniversary season of VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang, welcomed 5,000 athletes and participants, marking a milestone week defined by record-breaking community participation, standout performances from Vietnamese athletes, and a historic new chapter for endurance sports in Vietnam.
Last Sunday, Da Nang officially hosted Vietnam’s first-ever full-distance IRONMAN triathlon, serving as the headline event that concluded an electrifying race week while commemorating the 10th season of VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang.
Throughout the event week, the races brought together 5,000 athletes and participants representing more than 90 countries and territories. Beyond the official competitions, thousands of volunteers, supporters, and local residents joined the vibrant festival atmosphere that spread from East Sea Park across the city’s beaches, hotels, restaurants, and public spaces.
The event was organized by Sunrise Events Vietnam under the direction of the Da Nang People’s Committee, in coordination with the DA NANG DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM, with the support of Strategic Sponsor VNG. Athletes, partners, volunteers, spectators, and the local community came together for several days of racing and festival activities.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Ms. Truong Thi Hong Hanh, Director of the DA NANG DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM, shared:
“Hosting VNG IRONMAN Vietnam for the very first time, while simultaneously celebrating the 10th anniversary of VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang, is not only a great source of pride for Da Nang but also a significant step in affirming the city’s position as a leading destination for international sports and tourism events in the Asia-Pacific region. The success of this event further demonstrates Da Nang’s capability to host large-scale international sporting events while opening new opportunities for the city’s tourism, sports, and events ecosystem. Da Nang will continue working closely with partners to develop internationally recognized events with strong regional and global impact.”
From the opening moments at East Sea Park to the final breakthroughs at the finish line, athletes from over 90 countries and territories brought the spirit of “All Out” to Da Nang, conquering one of endurance sport’s toughest challenges through determination, resilience, and unwavering belief.
Alongside the athletes, the city of Da Nang, partners, volunteers, supporters, and the local community also came together to go “All In,” creating a race week remembered for its professional organization, warm hospitality, and shared civic pride.
VIETNAM’S FIRST FULL-DISTANCE IRONMAN SETS A NEW BENCHMARK
Athletes began race day under calm sea conditions and cloudy skies before Da Nang’s characteristic tropical weather emerged as a true test of endurance across both the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races. Despite the challenging conditions, competitors delivered remarkable performances with the strong support of local authorities, medical teams, volunteers, partners, and organizers.
At the inaugural VNG IRONMAN Vietnam, Andrey Sharipov became the first overall male champion with a finishing time of 08:45:47, followed by Meng Yang and Joji Nitta. In the women’s category, Hope Hoffman claimed victory with a time of 09:49:23, followed by Beibei Qiao and Siming Ji. The full-distance IRONMAN race recorded an impressive 89% completion rate.
The 10th season of VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang also witnessed fierce competition. Rodrigo Acevedo secured first place in the men’s category with a time of 04:02:22, followed by Lam Quang Nhat and Ryosuke Ohata. In the women’s race, Daniela Rodriguez finished first with a time of 04:50:04, while Hyekyeong Seo and Ines Caby completed the podium standings. The IRONMAN 70.3 race recorded a remarkable 96% completion rate.
Andrey Sharipov, overall champion of VNG IRONMAN Vietnam 2026, shared:
“Winning the very first full-distance IRONMAN held in Vietnam is a moment I will always remember. The Da Nang course demanded persistence, discipline, and mental strength. The weather conditions were truly challenging, but the support from spectators, volunteers, and the organizing team gave us the motivation to keep pushing forward. Being part of this inaugural season was incredibly special.”
OVERALL AGE-GROUP RESULTS – MEN’S FULL-DISTANCE IRONMAN
| Thứ hạng | Tên vận động viên | Thành tích |
| 1 | Andrey Sharipov | 08:45:47 |
| 2 | Meng Yang | 08:59:01 |
| 3 | ジョジ ニッタ (Joji Nitta) | 09:11:26 |
| Rank | Athlete | Finish Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrey Sharipov | 08:45:47 |
| 2 | Meng Yang | 08:59:01 |
| 3 | Joji Nitta | 09:11:26 |
OVERALL AGE-GROUP RESULTS – WOMEN’S FULL-DISTANCE IRONMAN
| Rank | Athlete | Finish Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hope Hoffman | 09:49:23 |
| 2 | Beibei Qiao | 10:00:36 |
| 3 | Siming Ji | 10:03:32 |
OVERALL AGE-GROUP RESULTS – MEN’S IRONMAN 70.3
| Rank | Athlete | Finish Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodrigo Acevedo | 04:02:22 |
| 2 | Lam Quang Nhat | 04:13:44 |
| 3 | Ryosuke Ohata | 04:15:36 |
OVERALL AGE-GROUP RESULTS – WOMEN’S IRONMAN 70.3
| Rank | Athlete | Finish Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniela Rodriguez | 04:50:04 |
| 2 | Hyekyeong Seo | 04:59:41 |
| 3 | Ines Caby | 04:59:46 |
VIETNAMESE ATHLETES TAKE ON THE FULL DISTANCE
The inaugural VNG IRONMAN Vietnam marked a major milestone for Vietnam’s endurance sports community, with more than 330 Vietnamese athletes competing in the full-distance 140.6-mile (226 km) race in Da Nang. This accounted for nearly 40% of total participants in the IRONMAN category, reflecting the rapid growth of triathlon in Vietnam.
Notably, this year’s event also featured 16 athletes from VNG, representing one of the largest corporate teams ever fielded by a Strategic Sponsor at a full-distance IRONMAN event. Their participation reflected not only VNG’s commitment to the event, but also how Vietnamese companies are increasingly promoting sports, wellness, and resilience within the community.
Participation from Vietnamese athletes across both IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 categories continued to surge in 2026. From just 54 Vietnamese participants — approximately 5% of total athletes during the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam in 2015 — domestic participation in the IRONMAN 70.3 category alone has increased nearly eightfold over the past decade. Combined across both race formats this year, Vietnamese athletes represented approximately 40% of all participants.
The strong presence of homegrown athletes at Vietnam’s first full-distance IRONMAN reflected the rapid development of triathlon nationwide, as well as the growing confidence of Vietnamese competitors in stepping onto internationally recognized endurance sports stages.
The race weekend also highlighted the expanding appeal of endurance sports in Vietnam. Former SEA Games gold medalist swimmer Lam Quang Nhat delivered one of the most closely followed performances as the top Vietnamese finisher in the IRONMAN 70.3 category, demonstrating a growing trend of elite athletes pursuing new endurance challenges after their professional sporting careers.
Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, one of Vietnam’s most recognized swimming icons, also drew strong public attention while participating in the relay category. Her appearance reflected the increasing crossover between traditional elite sports and Vietnam’s rapidly growing multisport community. Meanwhile, Tran Hong Nhung completed her first-ever triathlon at SUNRISE SPRINT Vietnam, highlighting how Vietnam’s running and active lifestyle communities are steadily embracing multisport racing.
Once considered a niche sport in Vietnam, triathlon is now attracting an increasingly diverse community ranging from former national team athletes and runners to beginners, influencers, and amateur athletes across various age groups — each discovering their own journey within endurance sports.
A NEW RACE COURSE CONNECTING DA NANG AND HOI AN
Athletes at VNG IRONMAN Vietnam 2026 became the first to experience a redesigned cycling course stretching through the expanded Da Nang region following the merger milestone with Quang Nam Province.
The route guided athletes from Da Nang’s iconic coastline to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An Ancient Town, showcasing within a single race one of Central Vietnam’s most celebrated coastal and heritage landscapes.
IRONMAN 70.3 athletes completed the course in one cycling loop, while full-distance competitors tackled the route twice, covering a total of 180 km through some of Vietnam’s most scenic landscapes. Particularly for international athletes, the course was not only a sporting challenge but also a curated journey through one of Asia’s most beloved travel destinations, further strengthening Da Nang’s position as a destination where world-class racing meets premier travel experiences.
MORE THAN A RACE
The 2026 event week continued to reinforce Da Nang’s growing role as a multi-day sports festival destination, with side events attracting record participation across various age groups and experience levels.
Newborns Vietnam Run Out recorded its highest participation ever, with nearly 2,000 runners joining to support efforts to reduce newborn mortality rates in Vietnam. The event demonstrated how race week has evolved beyond elite competition into a broader community platform where athletes, families, schools, partners, and local residents come together to promote healthy lifestyles, sports participation, and positive social impact.
SUNRISE SPRINT Vietnam and IRONKIDS Vietnam also expanded participation opportunities for first-time triathletes, young athletes, and families, making the event weekend more inclusive and accessible across generations.
For organizers and city authorities, the growing participation across multiple race formats reflects a broader shift in how endurance sports are being embraced in Vietnam — not merely as competition, but as part of an active lifestyle, family connection, and community engagement.
SUPPORTING VIETNAMESE ATHLETES ON THE GLOBAL STAGE
Notably, three Vietnamese athletes earned qualifying slots for the IRONMAN World Championship. In addition, top-performing Vietnamese athletes — including the Top 2 male and Top 2 female finishers, as well as the Top 1 male and Top 1 female athletes from the Sunrise Events Vietnam Ambassador Program — will receive full registration support for the IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship from Strategic Sponsor VNG Corporation.
This initiative not only recognizes the outstanding efforts and achievements of Vietnamese athletes, but also creates greater opportunities for Vietnam’s representatives to confidently compete on the international stage.
Mr. Le Hong Minh, Founder and Chairman of VNG, shared:
“This year marks another milestone for VNG as we continue our journey alongside IRONMAN Vietnam by bringing the full-distance IRONMAN to the country. The spirit of VNG has always been simple: ‘Embracing Challenges.’ We constantly strive to move forward and set more difficult goals, not to prove ourselves to the world, but to remind ourselves that no matter how great the challenge may be, people can overcome it with enough perseverance. For us, IRONMAN is not merely a race, but a journey where individuals surpass their own limits.”
Mr. Chris Morris, Regional Director of Operations for IRONMAN Asia, commented:
“Vietnam has demonstrated its capability to host a full-distance IRONMAN with professionalism, energy, and an incredible sense of connection. What made this race week truly special was not only the competition itself, but also the way Da Nang and the local community welcomed athletes from around the world. The success of this inaugural edition gives us strong confidence in Vietnam’s increasingly important role within the IRONMAN Asia ecosystem.”
FROM A DECADE OF GROWTH TO A NEW ERA OF TRIATHLON IN VIETNAM
The successful organization of the inaugural VNG IRONMAN Vietnam continues IRONMAN’s more than decade-long journey of growth in Vietnam. Since the first IRONMAN 70.3 season held in Da Nang, Vietnam’s triathlon community has steadily expanded in scale, confidence, and ambition. The 2026 race week marked a defining milestone as that journey entered a new era.
Mr. Trinh Bang, Co-Founder and Chairman of Sunrise Events Vietnam, shared:
“Bringing a full-distance IRONMAN race to Vietnam for the first time was never something that happened overnight. It is the result of more than a decade of commitment and effort from many individuals and organizations who believed this day would eventually come.
At Sunrise Events Vietnam, we have always believed that Vietnam is capable of hosting international-standard endurance sports events, not only through strong operational capability, but through heart, community spirit, and national pride.
For many years, a full-distance IRONMAN in Vietnam was seen as an aspiration for the future. This week in Da Nang, that aspiration became reality, with Vietnamese athletes representing nearly 40% of participants across both the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races on home soil.
Our responsibility moving forward is to continue raising standards, sustainably develop endurance sports throughout Vietnam, and create opportunities for the next generation of Vietnamese athletes to compete at the highest levels — right here at home.”
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
ABOUT IRONMAN GROUP
IRONMAN operates a global portfolio of events including IRONMAN®, IRONMAN® 70.3®, 5150™, Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, premier triathlon events, the UCI Velothon Series, Absa Cape Epic mountain bike races, Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, Abbott World Marathon Majors, and other multisport events.
Through its global events platform, IRONMAN creates opportunities for more than one million participants annually to engage in endurance sports. Since the launch of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing the finish line of the world’s most challenging endurance races.
From a single race, IRONMAN has grown into a global brand with more than 200 events across over 50 countries. More information is available at: www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group
ABOUT ADVANCE
Advance is a privately held family-owned company that owns and invests in businesses across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education, and other high-growth industries. The company’s mission is to build long-term enterprise value by driving innovation and sustainable growth.
Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data, and Pop. Its operating companies employ more than 17,000 people across 29 countries. Advance is also one of the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Discovery, and Reddit. More information is available at: www.advance.com
ABOUT VNG
Founded in 2004, VNG operates one of Vietnam’s leading digital ecosystems, with products and services across four core sectors: Online Games, Zalo, Digital Payments, and Digital Business Solutions.
VNG’s mission is “Building Technology and Growing People. From Vietnam to the World.” Its products have transformed digital experiences and interactions for millions of users in Vietnam and globally. VNG currently employs 3,232 staff members across nine cities worldwide.
ABOUT SUNRISE EVENTS VIETNAM
Founded in 2015, Sunrise Events Vietnam (SEV) is the exclusive license holder of World Triathlon Corporation for IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3, 5150 Triathlon Series, and IRONKIDS events in Vietnam.
SEV’s vision is to inspire individuals to unlock their full potential through sports and healthy lifestyles. Beginning in Vietnam, the company’s mission is to create the country’s most anticipated mass participation events while expanding healthcare and wellness ecosystems and generating transformative, sustainable impact for individuals, businesses, and communities.
SEV also organizes leading endurance sports events and unique experiences including IRONMAN Vietnam, IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang, IRONMAN 70.3 Phu Quoc, IRONMAN 5150 Phu Quoc, SUNRISE SPRINT Vietnam, IRONKIDS Vietnam, IRONKIDS Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon, Hanoi International Marathon, and KIDS RUN.
DA NANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
