5 reasons to choose VM Green Paradise Can Gio for jogging travel

Taking place on May 1, VnExpress Marathon Green Paradise Can Gio is not only a new tournament for the system, but also opens up a different race-cation combined travel experience. Runners have the opportunity to run in the space “through the forest next to the sea”, combining holidays with multi-experience eco-tourism.

With the advantage of moving close to the inner city and receiving bibs right in the city center, the tournament attracts both achievement-oriented runners and groups who love experience.

The greenest road ‘through the forest, next to the sea’ in the system

The biggest attraction of VM Green Paradise Can Gio lies in the unique identity of the running track. All four distances 5, 10, 21 and 42 km start and finish at Thoi Dai Avenue, Vinh Tien area, part of the 2,870-hectare Vinhomes Green Paradise ecological megacity. The spacious coastal space, large density of trees and natural cool breeze create a pleasant feeling right from the first kilometers until the finish line.

Unlike many urban races that often go through residential areas and crowded intersections, the route here takes runners through the Rung Sac axis, a prominent ecological highlight of the entire route. This is an area characterized by mangrove forests, with stretching green areas, fresh air and a landscape that is considered the green lung of Ho Chi Minh City.

Not only is it beautiful in terms of scenery, the route also has clear advantages in terms of competition. According to the organizers, the entire route’s terrain is almost flat, the altitude above sea level fluctuates below 20 m and the number of bends is very small. These technical characteristics create conditions for runners to maintain a stable pace, limiting the loss of energy due to constantly changing directions, creating advantages for both groups who want to conquer achievements and those who prioritize experience.

Organized in time for the long holiday

VM Green Paradise Can Gio takes place on May 1, coinciding with the holidays of April 30 and May 1. This year, these two days fall on Thursday and Friday, connecting with the weekend, creating a 4-day holiday in a row. This is a big advantage of the tournament, as runners have more time to combine competition, rest and explore Can Gio without having to rush back the same day.

On this occasion, participants can also visit the Rung Sac War Zone, a place associated with the Rung Sac special forces during the resistance war and is one of the typical historical sites of Can Gio. In the atmosphere of celebrating April 30 and May 1, the journey to the running race therefore not only has a sporting meaning, but also expands into a trip associated with history, nature and local experiences.

Experience diverse ecotourism

The long holiday period also opens up opportunities to combine multi-experience travel for runners. Athletes can combine jogging with local exploration through many typical activities such as river tours, mangrove tours, boating, visiting Monkey Island, exploring Vam Sat eco-tourism area, home to many wild birds such as storks and cauldrons, or experiencing the community tourism space in Thieng Lieng, Thanh An.

The attraction of the destination also lies in the typical coastal cuisine. After crossing the finish line, runners can sit around at noon or in the evening, enjoying local dishes such as oysters, mantis shrimp, snails, and typical gifts such as water coconuts, sand mangoes and dried pineapple fish. The combination of sports, eco-tourism and local cuisine makes the travel and jogging journey more complete.

Convenient moving

Can Gio is about 50 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, creating favorable conditions for runners to proactively arrange plans. From the inner city, visitors can travel by personal vehicle in the direction of Binh Khanh ferry, then go to Rung Sac street to get to the competition area. The distance is not too far, making the tournament a convenient choice for both runners who want to go home quickly and groups who combine competition with rest and exploration.

The organizing committee also created conditions for athletes to be more proactive about the competition schedule by arranging bib reception points at Thao Dien on April 29 and at the competition area on April 30. This arrangement helps runners living and working in the inner city to get their items early, while the group moving to Can Gio close to the race day can still complete the procedures right at the tournament area.

Unique medal, featuring mangrove forests

For many runners, a medal bearing the mark of the organization can be the reason for deciding to participate in the tournament. At VM Green Paradise Can Gio, the completion medal creates a unique attraction for participants.

Inspired by the Can Gio mangrove ecosystem, the medal design depicts the image of mangrove trees and their spreading roots, symbolizing enduring vitality and the interaction between land and sea. Surrounded by embossed details such as storks, monkeys, and ripples, recreating the typical nature of this land, while reminding the value of biodiversity and spreading the message of environmental protection to participants. For tourists participating in the race combined with tourism, this is a gift that completes the race-cation journey in Can Gio.

Hai Long