A "#Run4Turtles" event will be held in Hanoi in early December to raise community awareness of the threats facing turtles and to encourage turtle protection in Vietnam.

This is the 8th Hanoi Half Marathon and will be held in Ciputra Urban Area after the success of #Run4WildlifeHN themed "Wildlife is not medicine" held in November 2022 attracting 350 athletes from 25 countries. 

The logo of the “#Run4Turtles” tournament which will be held on December 3 in Hanoi. Photo: The organizer

Organized by Sporting Republic with the support of Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) and the Department of Fisheries Inspection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), this year's tournament will feature different categories, namely 21km half marathon, 10km challenge, 5km run/walk for families, and 1km for children.

In addition to participating as individuals, participants are encouraged to run in groups and highlight them with their unique style. All registrations can be made online at https://hanoihalfmarathon.com/register, with a deadline of November 12.

In addition to being a social event to foster physical fitness, this year's annual run also aims to raise community awareness and funds for turtle conservation activities in Vietnam.

Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about turtles, visit turtle photo exhibits, take selfies with turtle mascots, participate in a costume photo contest on the race course, have their faces painted, and play games to win prizes, among other activities.

Besides five species of marine turtles, Vietnam is also home to 26 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles. Twenty-three of them are listed as endangered or critically endangered (IUCN Red List). Of these, eight species are strictly prohibited from exploitation and commercial use.

Although strictly protected by law, most of these native turtle species are threatened with extinction in their natural habitat due to human activities. Turtles are often poached and traded for the purpose of keeping them as pets, "releasing" them as a religious practice or using them as food.