Frequently asked questions

Yes! Most clubs in Vietnam welcome complete beginners, and many have a dedicated beginner or walk-run group. Use the Beginner friendly filter on the club directory or look for Beginner / walk-run sessions in the calendar.

You don't need to be fast or fit to start. Group runs are "no-drop" far more often than you'd expect, which means nobody gets left behind. Read our guide Your first group run to know what to expect.

There is no minimum. Beginner groups often start with intervals such as 1 minute running, 1 minute walking for 20–30 minutes. If you can walk briskly for half an hour, you are ready. Our 8-week Couch to 5K plan takes you from zero to running 5 km without stopping.

• Comfortable running shoes (they don't need to be expensive, just comfortable)
• Light, breathable clothes (it's hot!)
• Water, or a little cash for a drink, if the session is longer than 45 minutes
• Your phone with some ID and a contact number
• A small towel and a change of shirt if you'll stay for coffee

Many club profiles have a What to bring section with specific tips.

In the south (Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Vung Tau) it is warm all year, so most groups run between 5:00 and 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. In Hanoi and the north, winter (November–March) is cool and pleasant at any time, but summer mornings are hot and humid. Avoid running hard between 10 am and 4 pm in the hot season. See Running in heat and humidity.

A pair of proper running shoes that fits well makes running more comfortable and lowers the risk of blisters and niggles. You don't need the latest carbon-plated racer. Visit a running specialty store for a fitting if you can, and read How to choose running shoes.

Many groups are completely free. Some ask for a small donation for water or a coach, and a few clubs charge a monthly membership that includes coaching, a club shirt or race-entry discounts. Each club profile shows the fee type (Free, Donation, Membership or Paid) and the details.

For most social and beginner runs you can just turn up 10 minutes early and introduce yourself to the organiser. Some clubs prefer a quick message first, for example through their Facebook, Zalo or WhatsApp group, especially for track sessions or runs with limited space. The club profile tells you how to get in touch.

Absolutely. Many clubs in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang and Hoi An run in English or mix Vietnamese and English, and runners are famously welcoming. Use the English speaking filter in the club directory. Learning "Chào mọi người!" (Hello everyone!) is always appreciated.

Think about:

1. Location and time. Choose a group that runs close to home at a time you can make every week. Use the distance search on the calendar.
2. Level and pace. Profiles list levels and pace ranges.
3. Session types. Social runs, long runs, track, trail…
4. Atmosphere. Competitive training group or coffee-and-chat crew?

Try two or three clubs; you are allowed to run with more than one!

A no-drop run means the group waits for everyone, or a sweeper stays with the slowest runner, so nobody is left behind or gets lost. It's ideal for beginners and people new to an area.

Group running is one of the safest ways to run in Vietnamese cities: groups are visible, stick to known routes and look out for each other. Wear something bright or reflective in the dark, carry your phone and ID, and follow the group's route. Read Staying safe in traffic.

Slow down. Your pace can drop by 30–60 seconds per km on a hot, humid day and that is completely normal. Drink before you are thirsty, use electrolytes for runs over an hour, wear light clothes and a cap, and run early. Give yourself 10–14 days to get used to the heat if you have just arrived. Full tips: Running in heat and humidity.

Check the AQI (Air Quality Index) on IQAir or a similar app. As a rough guide: below 100 is fine for most people, 100–150 means taking it easy (especially with asthma), and above 150 is a day to run indoors, swap for a gym session or rest. Air is usually cleaner in the early morning and after rain. See Air quality and running.

Parks, lakes, riverside paths and new urban areas are your friends: think Tao Dan, Gia Dinh Park, Thao Dien and Phu My Hung in Saigon, or Hoan Kiem, West Lake and Thong Nhat Park in Hanoi. Clubs know the best routes, which is one of the big benefits of joining. Every city page (for example Ho Chi Minh City) lists clubs and where they meet.

There are races all year, but the busiest season runs from October to April, when it is cooler, especially in the north and central regions. Big city marathons, midnight races and many trail events take place in these months. See the upcoming races and the full calendar on runaway.fit.

We show the next upcoming races on our Races page. For the complete, searchable calendar of every race in Vietnam, from 5 km fun runs to 100-mile ultras, visit our friends at runaway.fit.

Go to the club directory or the calendar, then pick your city, press Use my location, or click Pick on map to choose any spot (home, office, hotel). Then choose a radius such as 5 km or 10 km. Results are sorted by distance and show the next run of each club.

Yes. Every club page has an Add to calendar link (iCal feed) that works with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook. It updates automatically when the club changes its schedule.

A free profile lets you follow clubs, mark the clubs you are a member of, submit stories for the Featured section, suggest new clubs and (if you organise a club) manage your club's page. You decide whether your profile is public or private.

Log in and choose Submit a story in your account. Tell us about your club's special event, a charity run, a first marathon or a great new route, and add a photo. Our editors review every story before it is published in the Featured section.

Yes. Finding clubs, using the calendar and creating a runner profile are free, and listing a running club is free too.

Create a free account and choose Add your club in your account. If club self-registration is temporarily closed, contact us with your club's details and we'll add it for you. Every new club is reviewed by our team before it appears on the site, so the directory stays accurate and trustworthy.

Open your club's page and press Manage this club (you need to be logged in). Tell us your role in the club; once we've verified it you can edit the profile, timetable and one-off events yourself, and your club gets a Verified badge.

Club managers can edit the weekly timetable, add one-off events (special runs, socials, club races) and cancel a single date, for example because of a holiday or bad weather, without touching the regular schedule. Changes appear immediately on the club page and in the calendar.

A clear cover photo, an accurate weekly timetable with exact meeting points (drop the pin on the map!), the levels and paces you cater for, how to contact you, and a short first-timer section that tells newcomers exactly what happens when they show up. See our club profile checklist.