Manulife Danang International Marathon, the world-famous destination run came roaring back to the city on March 20, attracting more than 5,000 participants looking to embrace an active lifestyle as part of the weekend long celebration.

Manulife Danang International Marathon

The return of the marathon, after a two-year pandemic related hiatus, offers a sense of collective optimism and signals a positive outlook for the year ahead.

The event, sponsored by Manulife Vietnam, marks a return to in-person, large-scale running events and symbolizes a step forward beyond the pandemic.

In coordination with the marathon, the event, ManulifeMOVE HealthFest, gave runners and attendees the chance to connect with the event through free entertainment, fun activities, and prizes. 

“As title sponsor of the Manulife Danang International Marathon we are excited about the event’s return to the running calendar. Activities such as this send an important message of hope to the community, at the same time providing an opportunity for people to come together and openly celebrate active and healthy living,” said Sang Lee, CEO of Manulife Vietnam.

It is clear that an increasingly health-conscious population has begun building new and healthy habits due to the pandemic, which has continued to spotlight the value of healthy living.

More than half (53%) of those surveyed in Vietnam have increased their exercise since the outbreak of the pandemic, with 55% exercising every day and 78% doing so at least four days a week, according to the most recent Manulife Asia Care Survey released in March.

Manulife Vietnam's runners.

In the survey, a majority identified the benefits of regular exercise as a means to boost immunity (72%) and improve mental health (75%). The survey also revealed that mobile apps to monitor and track health status are popular, with 95% of people saying they are using a health and wellbeing app. 

“Manulife understands that health is a top concern for everyone in Vietnam and we are always looking for innovative ways to support and enable the community to build healthy, sustainable habits,” added Lee. “By making health and wellness a more convenient experience we hope to help more people live better every day.” 

Manulife Vietnam is one of the country’s leading insurers and providers of healthy living solutions. With a focus on empowering sustained health and wellbeing, its free-to-use ManulifeMOVE platform integrates healthcare features and motivates healthy habits with users through attractive offers, rewards and other in-app programs.

The ManulifeMOVE platform was recognized at the Global CSR Awards 2021 for its positive impact on society, taking out top honors in the ‘Product Excellence’ category. 

Manulife Vietnam is part of the Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services provider. The Company has been associated with the Manulife Da Nang International Marathon since 2016.