4:08:53 PM | 11/2/2026
The IRONMAN Group today announced the launch of the IRONMAN® 70.3® Ha Long Bay triathlon, adding a spectacular destination on Vietnam’s northern coast to the global IRONMAN 70.3 race calendar.
Scheduled for 21 March 2027, the inaugural event will welcome athletes from Vietnam and around the world to race against the extraordinary backdrop of Ha Long Bay, renowned for its limestone towers, forested islands and distinctive seascape.
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994, Ha Long Bay will provide athletes and supporters with an unforgettable setting for the newest addition to Vietnam’s growing endurance sports calendar. The event will also encourage participants to extend their stay and experience the bay, local cuisine and the wider attractions of Quang Ninh and northern Vietnam.
The addition of the IRONMAN 70.3 Ha Long Bay triathlon builds on the continued growth of triathlon in Vietnam and expands the IRONMAN 70.3 event series into a new region of the country.
Michelle Pepper, Managing Director for Asia-Pacific for The IRONMAN Group, said the organisation was excited to bring a new race to one of the region’s most remarkable destinations.
“We are incredibly excited to launch the IRONMAN 70.3 Ha Long Bay triathlon and welcome our global community to this extraordinary destination. Ha Long Bay is an extraordinary destination, with its iconic limestone landscape, rich culture and warm hospitality creating a truly memorable setting for athletes, their families and supporters,” said Pepper. “We look forward to working with Sunrise Events Vietnam and our destination partners to deliver a world-class event that showcases the very best of the region to the global IRONMAN community.”
Bang Trinh, Co-Founder and Chairman of Sunrise Events Vietnam, said the new event would bring the best of the world to Vietnam while showcasing the best of the region internationally.
“Bringing the IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon to Ha Long Bay represents another important step in the development of endurance sports in Vietnam. What began with our first event in Da Nang in 2015 has grown into a vibrant community of athletes, partners and supporters across the country. Expanding into northern Vietnam gives us another opportunity to connect communities through sport while showcasing the region to the world. Together with The IRONMAN Group, our government partners and the local community, we look forward to establishing an event that athletes can be proud of and that contributes to the long-term development of sport and tourism in the region.”
A spectacular new race experience in northern Vietnam
The IRONMAN 70.3 Ha Long Bay triathlon will challenge athletes across a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run.
From the sands of Hòn Gai Beach to a coastal road overlooking limestone islands, the planned course brings athletes to the meeting point of Ha Long’s city waterfront and its extraordinary seascape.
Begin at the water’s edge
Race day begins on Hòn Gai Beach, where athletes will enter the bay from the sand and return to the same shore, with transition waiting just beyond the beach. This waterfront venue anchors the day, from the anticipation before the swim to the achievement of crossing the finish line.
Ride beside a limestone skyline
On the coastal sections of Trần Quốc Nghiễn, the view opens across the water to the limestone formations that give Ha Long its unmistakable character. These stretches offer a different perspective on the destination: the bay seen from the saddle, with rocky islands offshore and the city’s waterfront tracing the shoreline.
Run where the city meets the bay
The planned IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon run follows the waterfront past seaside parks and the striking black-glass Quảng Ninh Museum and Library complex. The museum’s bold, reflective façade adds a distinctive architectural landmark to a course shaped by water and limestone.
Ha Long Bay is accessible via Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh and Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong, providing domestic and international travel options for athletes and their supporters.
The IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon will be held on Sunday 21 March, and will be preceded by a 5150 triathlon, Sprint Distance triathlon, and IRONKIDS events on Saturday 20 March, creating an action packed multisport, multiday, festival.
General registration for the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Ha Long Bay triathlon opens on 4 November 2026. For event information and registration, visit https://www.ironman.com/races/im703-ha-long-bay
By Vietnam Business Forum
