Da Nang, Viet Nam, May 7, 2026 — Southeast Asia’s largest multi-sport event week officially kicked off this morning with the Opening Ceremony and Press Conference for the 2026 VNG IRONMAN Viet Nam and 2026 VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang at the Wyndham Soleil Danang.
Held under the direction of the Da Nang People’s Committee, in coordination with the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and with the support of Title Sponsor VNG, this year marks a pair of historic milestones, as Vietnam hosts its first-ever full-distance IRONMAN triathlon alongside the 10th edition of the IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang.
The event week is expected to welcome more than 4,700 athletes from over 90 countries and territories. This includes approximately 1,800 international participants, an increase of more than 80% compared to the inaugural edition, further strengthening Da Nang’s status as a leading sports tourism destination in Asia.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Tao Viet Hai, Deputy Director of Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted the strategic importance of the event : “Today marks a significant milestone in the development of our city’s sports and tourism sectors. For the first time, Da Nang is hosting the VNG IRONMAN Viet Nam Full Distance race while celebrating a decade of the VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang. This achievement cements our position as a capable host for world-class international sporting events. Our strategy focuses on sustainable growth in both scale and depth, using our culture and nature as foundations to deliver authentic experiences for athletes and visitors. Da Nang remains committed to investing in infrastructure and organizational excellence to ensure we become a premier destination for international events in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The journey for this year’s athletes reflects that strategic direction. On May 10, participants will gather at East Sea Park (Công viên Biển Đông) to begin their race. Aligning with international standards, both VNG IRONMAN Viet Nam and VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang will take participants along the city’s iconic coastal routes, showcasing Da Nang’s coastline, natural scenery, and urban landscape to deliver a world-class race experience.
Beyond the competition, the experience at the nation’s biggest multi-sport, multi-day, multi-generational festival extends across the broader tourism ecosystem of Da Nang. This year’s landmark edition introduces the SEV Concierge platform, an intelligent digital assistant designed to support participants with official race information and to recommend local attractions services, and experiences throughout the city. Through this integration, the athlete experience is enhanced beyond race day itself, helping promote the hospitality for which Da Nang is known to both local and international tourists.
According to the Organizing Committee, Sunrise Events Vietnam, the event has generated an estimated USD 65 million (approximately VND 1.7 trillion) in economic impact over the past nine editions, driven by its ability to attract athletes and visitors from across Vietnam and around the world. In 2025 alone, the event week contributed over USD 9 million (approximately VND 245 billion), underscoring the continued strength of the sports tourism model in Da Nang.
The sustained growth of the event over the past 9 editions also reflects the rapid development of endurance sports in Viet Nam, driven by an expanding athlete base, stronger community participation, and increasingly professional event delivery standards. In this context, 2026 represents a major milestone in the continued evolution of Viet Nam’s endurance sports ecosystem.
Mr. Chris Morris, Director of Operations, IRONMAN Asia, shared his confidence in the local market: “The introduction of a full-distance IRONMAN to Da Nang is a powerful reflection of our confidence in the remarkable growth of triathlon in Vietnam. This milestone represents a new level of ambition and opportunity, one that will inspire athletes to dream bigger and set bolder goals than ever before. Together with our partners at Sunrise Events Vietnam and the city of Da Nang, we are proud to see Vietnam playing an increasingly important role in our regional strategy, serving as a place where the spirit of ‘Anything is Possible’ is brought to life with incredible energy.”
Mr. Le Hong Minh, Founder & Chairman of VNG, shared the vision behind their long-term commitment: “Having partnered with IRONMAN since 2015, VNG has witnessed the Vietnamese triathlon movement grow remarkably in both scale and maturity. The values of discipline, resilience, and the relentless drive to push beyond limits are common threads between the IRONMAN spirit and VNG’s approach to technology and human development, especially our core philosophy of Embracing Challenges. In technology, the most difficult problems are the ones most worth solving. In an IRONMAN, the most grueling distances are the ones people most aspire to conquer. We believe that for anyone who enters the race, that spirit of perseverance becomes a permanent part of their character. This is why we have remained a steadfast partner for over a decade.”
“After more than a decade, IRONMAN in Viet Nam has grown into something far bigger than a race. What began with a small yet passionate community has evolved into a broader movement around health, resilience, and human potential. Hosting Viet Nam’s first full-distance IRONMAN is a milestone not just for the sport, but also for the community we have all built together over the past eleven years. We are deeply grateful to our long-term partners, especially VNG and the city of Da Nang, who believed in this journey from the very beginning. Their support has helped create a platform that inspires people to challenge themselves, connect through sport, and experience the spirit of Vietnam,” said Mr. Bang Trinh, Co-Founder & Chairman of Sunrise Events Vietnam.
This year’s event week will also feature two legendary figures in the sport: six-time IRONMAN World Champion Mark Allen and IRONMAN Hall of Fame inductee Yee Sze Mun, both widely recognized for their enduring contributions to the global triathlon community.
Embracing the spirit of “Anything is Possible,” Mark Allen will participate in a sharing session titled “Road to IRONMAN,” offering participants valuable insights and mental preparation to take on both the physical and psychological challenges of race day. Athletes and fans will also have the opportunity to meet Yee Sze Mun and receive signed copies of his memoir at the IRONMAN Village.
Alongside these international legends, many prominent Vietnamese athletes will also compete. Former national swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien will take part in the VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang relay category, while Lam Quang Nhat, a three-time consecutive national champion in the sprint distance, will mark his debut in the IRONMAN 70.3 distance in Da Nang.
In addition, familiar faces within the community, such as Dang Quoc Tuan (Tuna Dang), the country’s top performer in the full IRONMAN distance, will compete alongside Le Nhat Tai, Hoang Minh Quan, and Nguyen Thi Tra My (MyCa) in the VNG IRONMAN Viet Nam. Their participation contributes to a highly competitive field and reflects the continued growth of the sport in the country.
Beyond Sunday’s long-distance events, the festival week creates a seamless participant experience with its series of activities and races held over the preceding days. The week begins with the Newborns Vietnam Run Out charity run on the morning of May 8, followed by the SUNRISE SPRINT Viet Nam and IRONKIDS Viet Nam on May 9, broadening access to the sport for participants across all age groups and experience levels.
Throughout the week, IRONMAN Village will serve as the central hub, connecting athletes, spectators, and partners and showcasing experiential activities across the event period. Through this integrated approach, the event continues to strengthen its position as the region’s leading multi-sport festivals while contributing to Da Nang’s reputation as a premier sports tourism destination.
ABOUT US
IRONMAN GROUP
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events, including the iconic IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150TM Triathlon Series, Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, IRONKIDS®, and the World Triathlon Championship Series. Known for premier running events like the Standard Chartered Singapore MarathonTM and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail AustraliaTM, Epic SeriesTM mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events including Haute Route®, the IRONMAN Group brings endurance sports to more than a million participants worldwide each year. Founded in 1978 with a single race, the IRONMAN Group has expanded into hundreds of events across 55+ countries, inspiring athletes globally to prove that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE®. The IRONMAN Group is part of Advance, a privately-held, family-owned business. For more information, please visit www.ironman.com.
ADVANCE
Advance is a privately held, family-owned enterprise that invests in various sectors, including media, entertainment, technology, and education. With a focus on long-term growth and innovation, Advance’s portfolio encompasses prominent companies such as Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data, and Pop. Operating in over 29 countries and employing a workforce exceeding 17,000 individuals, Advance holds significant shares in companies such as Charter Communications, Discovery, and Reddit. For further information, please visit www.advance.com.
VNG
Established in 2004, VNG Group is a leading digital ecosystem in Vietnam, offering a diverse portfolio of products and services across four main areas: Online Games, Zalo & AI, Fintech, and Digital Business. Guided by its mission to “Build Technologies and Grow People. From Vietnam to the world,” VNG’s innovations have significantly enriched global users’ digital experience. The Company currently employs 3,232 staff across 9 international cities.
SUNRISE EVENTS VIETNAM
Founded in 2015, Sunrise Events Vietnam (SEV) is the exclusive licensee of the World Triathlon Corporation for organizing IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3, 5150 Triathlon, and IRONKIDS events in Vietnam. Driven to inspire individuals to achieve their best, SEV creates premier mass participation events that elevate Southeast Asia’s sports tourism, promote health and wellness, and support sustainable community impact. SEV also organizes flagship endurance events like the IRONMAN Viet Nam, IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang, IRONMAN 70.3 Phu Quoc, 5150 Phu Quoc, SUNRISE SPRINT Viet Nam, IRONKIDS Viet Nam, IRONKIDS Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon, Hanoi International Marathon, and KIDS RUN. For more information, visit www.sunriseevents.com.
DA NANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
