VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2026 became a colorful festival with creative cosplay costumes, spreading positive energy and showcasing passion and community spirit in Hanoi.
More than just a race of speed and endurance, the VPBank Hanoi International Marathon (VPIM) 2026 also became a vibrant stage for creativity, with many runners appearing in unique cosplay costumes, transforming the journey to conquer Hanoi’s iconic route into an inspiring festival of color.
For a long time, unique cosplay costumes have been an integral part of the culture of amateur running events around the world . More than just a way for runners to express their personality, cosplay also brings positive energy, creating inspiring moments along the route.
And at this year’s VPBank Hanoi International Marathon (VPIM), that vibrant energy continued to flourish as hundreds of athletes appeared in creative costumes, transforming their journey of exploring Hanoi into a lively visual festival, where each step told a unique story of passion, identity, and community connection.
A group of athletes dressed up as iconic cultural elements of Hanoi , such as sidewalk tea stalls, pho restaurants, and street vendors, perfectly embodying the “Hanoi vibes – The City move” message of this year’s race.
Notably, the group features an image of a male figure in a red jacket, embodying the iconic singer from BIGBANG’s 2026-2027 WORLD TOUR IN HANOI – a mega-concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of the “Kpop Legends,” taking place on the nights of October 24th and 25th, 2026 at My Dinh National Stadium.
Along the race route, participants can easily spot familiar superhero characters, pop culture icons, cartoon characters, or costumes inspired by Hanoi itself.
Nguyen Nhat Long, a runner participating in cosplay for the third time at this year’s VPIM race, transformed himself into the fallen angel Lucifer. “The image of Lucifer often evokes aspirations to transcend boundaries and choose a different path. It’s not only the choice of strong personalities but also a unique characteristic of Hanoi: calm yet profound, not blending into the crowd, and always maintaining its own distinct identity,” Nhat Long shared.
Athlete Nguyet Anh transformed into a beautiful witch to participate in the Full Marathon. She said that this was a challenge she set for herself because “running the marathon was already tiring, and adding cosplay really increased the difficulty. But luckily, I overcame it.”
The 1981 Runner Club members dressed up as chickens for the race. Besides cosplaying as chickens, club members also transformed into little worms with the goal of “the worms running ahead, the chickens following behind to provide extra motivation to reach the finish line.” 1981 Runner is one of 200 clubs participating in this year’s race, with most members running the 21km distance.
Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the marathon, the image of a female runner in a Spider-Man costume stands out with her radiant smile, radiating a positive sporting spirit and enthusiastic energy. An interesting aspect of this year’s event is that the athletes participating in the cosplay are runners competing in the Full Marathon and Half Marathon distances.
This year also marks the fourth consecutive year that VPIM has launched a cosplay contest for participating athletes. According to the organizing committee, the total prize money for this year’s Cosplay contest amounts to 28 million VND, with a structure including 1 first prize, 2 second prizes, 3 third prizes, and 1 prize chosen by the judges. More than just material rewards, this is also a recognition for individuals who contribute to creating a unique and festive atmosphere for the event.
Taking place from October 16-18 with the participation of over 11,000 domestic and international athletes, VPIM 2026, with the concept “Hanoi Vibes – The City Moves,” recreates a youthful, dynamic, and constantly moving Hanoi. Athletes competed in four distances: 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km, along iconic routes passing through Ho Guom Lake, Ho Tay Lake, O Quan Chuong Gate, Hanoi Flagpole, Long Bien Bridge, Nhat Tan Bridge, Dong Tru Bridge, and many cultural and historical heritage sites of the capital city.
Now in its 7th consecutive season, the VPBank Hanoi International Marathon continues to innovate the experience for participants. Besides international professional standards, real-time timing systems, water stations, medical facilities , and professional operations, the race increasingly focuses on the experience, connection, and inspiration for the running community.
The creative cosplay costumes displayed along the iconic routes of the capital city contributed to a new look for VPIM 2026: where each step not only leads to the finish line but also tells its own story, spreading joy and recreating the spirit of “Hanoi Vibes – The City Moves” in the most vibrant way.
(Vietnam+)
Original article
https://www.vietnamplus.vn/sac-mau-cosplay-bung-no-tai-vpbank-hanoi-international-marathon-2026-post1142723.vnp
Tag:CosplayAthletecreative#VPBank Hanoi MarathonHanoisportsmanshipFestival
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