In short: HCMC Marathon 2027 runs on Sunday 17 January 2027, starting and finishing at 30/4 Park on Lê Duẩn, with 42 km, 21 km and 10 km races. Flying in from Japan, Taiwan or Singapore, the time difference is small; heat and an early alarm are the real challenges. Keep the days before calm with a float, and after the finish, go heat, cold, then float in Thảo Điền.
It is mid-January. At home the mornings are cold and dark; here in Saigon the air is soft and warm even before sunrise, and the city is already putting up red and gold for Tết. You flew in for a long weekend: one race, a few good meals, back at your desk on Tuesday. This guide is for that trip: what changes when you race in Ho Chi Minh City in January, how to keep the days before quiet, and a simple recovery plan before the flight home.
HCMC Marathon 2027 at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Race | HCMC Marathon 2027 (title sponsor Eximbank) |
| Race day | Sunday 17 January 2027 |
| Start and finish | 30/4 Park, Lê Duẩn, in the old District 1 |
| Distances | Marathon 42 km, half marathon 21 km, 10 km |
| Start times, bib pick-up, expo | See the official HCMC Marathon website |
Running the December race too, or choosing between the two? Our Techcombank HCMC International Marathon recovery guide covers that one, with a longer three-to-four-day plan.
A short flight, a January race: what is really different
Good news: Vietnam is only 2 hours behind Japan and 1 hour behind Taiwan and Singapore, so there is little jet lag to fight. Even better, an early race-morning alarm feels a little later to a body still on Tokyo or Taipei time. If you are coming from Europe or the Americas, our jet lag guide for Vietnam is the one to read.
What does catch short-haul runners out:
- The heat. January is the dry season and the mornings are the gentlest of the year, but you are coming from winter. Your body has not adapted to warmth yet. Start well hydrated and run your first kilometres easier than you would at home.
- The very early start. Like most races in the tropics, expect a start in the dark. That means an early night on Saturday, which is hard in a new city that is just waking up for the evening.
- The squeeze. A flight, a busy expo, a lot of walking, a race, then work on Tuesday. The tiredness piles up around the race, not just in it.
Before the race: keep it calm
The day after you land, shake out your legs with an easy jog, eat something familiar, and find an hour of real quiet. That is what a float is for. You lie back in about 25 cm of warm water holding around 500 kg of dense, mineral-rich Epsom salt, so your body floats on its own. The water is about 33–34 °C, close to skin temperature, and the private room can go fully dark and silent. For an hour, your head can stop rehearsing the race.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: Strong evidence, for float and stress. Several trials point the same way. We rate it Strong because, on top of these trials, user experience is overwhelmingly positive: in a 2025 survey of regular floaters, 92% reported relaxation and 77% less stress, echoed by thousands of reviews, Reddit threads and forums, and by athletes and public figures who float. See how we rate evidence on the Ōmni Evidence Scale.
With a start before dawn, book your pre-race float for Friday evening or Saturday afternoon rather than Saturday night, so you are still in bed early. Save the sauna and the cold plunge for after the race.
After the finish: heat, cold, then float
On race day, keep it simple: eat, drink, shower, sleep. Then, that afternoon or the next morning, try the order we suggest at Ōmni: a few rounds of heat and cold, then a float to land.
- Heat: 10–15 minutes in the infrared sauna with red light (45–55 °C), gentler than a classic hot sauna. Leave earlier if you feel unwell.
- Cold: the cold plunge (7–12 °C). First time, 30 seconds to 2 minutes; enter slowly and breathe out long and slow.
- Rest: 2–5 minutes sitting, sipping water. Do 2–3 rounds; more is not better.
- Float: 60 or 90 minutes of stillness to finish.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: Promising, for cold plunge and muscle recovery. Several meta-analyses of many small trials point to less soreness after hard exercise.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: Early evidence, for float and athletes’ recovery. Small trials in athletes found better mood and less soreness after a float; effects on performance are still unclear.
Many runners still say their legs feel lighter right after a float, and that is a good reason on its own. Our contrast therapy guide explains the rounds in detail, and our float and recovery guide for runners walks through the research. For the cold plunge, bring your own swimwear (we do not lend it); the sauna and the float need none.
Which distance, which plan
| You ran… | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| 10 km | Brunch, then sauna and cold plunge the same afternoon; you will probably feel fresh enough to explore after. |
| 21 km | Nap first. Late afternoon: a 60-minute float, or heat and cold followed by a float. |
| 42 km | Eat and sleep on race day, with an easy 90-minute float in the evening if you like. Monday: the full heat, cold, then float. |
| A group from your running club | Book the whole sauna and cold plunge room together (up to 4 people, 60 minutes), then float in turns. |
A long weekend plan for short-haul runners
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Friday 15 January | Land, drop your bags, easy walk. Arriving before check-in? See our early arrival guide. |
| Saturday 16 January | Short shake-out run, collect your bib, afternoon float, early dinner, early bed. |
| Sunday 17 January | Race at 30/4 Park. Eat, shower, sleep. Evening: a gentle float if your legs ask for it. |
| Monday 18 January | Check out, leave your bags at Ōmni (up to 4 suitcases), heat, cold, float, then the airport. More ideas in our last-day guide. |
Stay a little longer: Saigon before Tết
Race day falls about three weeks before the Lunar New Year: the first day of Tết 2027 is Saturday 6 February. In January the city fills with kumquat trees, yellow apricot blossom and red lanterns, and the markets get busier by the day. If you can add a day or two, it is a lovely time to wander. Looking for something to take home? See our Tết gift ideas. Staying near us? Here are things to do in Thảo Điền. And for the rest of the year’s races and fairs, our events calendar for Ho Chi Minh City lists the confirmed dates.
Getting to Thảo Điền
The easiest way is Grab, Vietnam’s ride-hailing app: car or motorbike, with the price shown before you book. Type “Ōmni Space, 16C Quốc Hương”. Metro Line 1 also has a Thảo Điền station, handy if you are staying near the line. Travel time depends on traffic, so leave some buffer in the evening rush.
When you come to Ōmni Space
Ōmni Space is at 16C Quốc Hương, Thảo Điền, open 9:00–21:00 every day; the last float starts at 20:00. A float is 1,500,000 VND for 60 minutes or 2,000,000 VND for 90 minutes; floating as two in the Couple Room is the single price plus 700,000 VND. The infrared sauna or the cold plunge is 450,000 VND on its own, or 200,000 VND added to a float. The whole sauna and cold plunge room for up to 4 people is 900,000 VND for 60 minutes. Online booking is paid by bank transfer, and international cards are accepted at the counter. The team behind Ōmni opened Vietnam’s first float centre, Float Vietnam, in 2017, and guests rate Ōmni 4.8 ★ across 72 Google reviews (25 October 2026). Race weekend means a busy weekend, so check prices and book your slots early.
Never floated before? See what a float in Vietnam is like →
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Frequently asked questions
When and where is HCMC Marathon 2027?
Sunday 17 January 2027, starting and finishing at 30/4 Park on Lê Duẩn in central Ho Chi Minh City, with 42 km, 21 km and 10 km races. Check start times and bib pick-up on the official website close to the date.
Should I float before or after the marathon?
Both work. Before the race, a float in the afternoon or early evening helps you switch off without cutting into sleep. After the race, the heat, cold, then float order is our favourite.
Is a cold plunge good after a marathon?
Many runners like it. On the Ōmni Evidence Scale, cold plunge for muscle recovery is Promising: several meta-analyses found less soreness after hard exercise. Start with 30 seconds to 2 minutes and bring your own swimwear.
Can I store my luggage at Ōmni on my last day?
Yes. Ōmni keeps up to 4 suitcases while you sauna, plunge, float and shower, so you can go straight to the airport.
Can our running club book together?
Yes. The sauna and cold plunge room can be booked whole for up to 4 people for 60 minutes, and the float rooms can be booked side by side. Book early for race weekend.
Written by the team at Ōmni Space – Float Saigon in Thảo Điền. General information, not medical advice; race details and prices checked on 4 November 2026.
Sources
- HCMC Marathon, official website: HCMC27, 17 January 2027, start and finish at 30/4 Park, Lê Duẩn.
- Racinais S et al. (2015). Consensus recommendations on training and competing in the heat. British Journal of Sports Medicine 49(18): 1164–1173.
- Driller MW, Argus CK (2016). Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy and napping on mood state and muscle soreness in elite athletes: a novel recovery strategy? Performance Enhancement & Health 5(2): 60–65.
- Broderick V, Uiga L, Driller M (2019). Flotation-restricted environmental stimulation therapy improves sleep and performance recovery in athletes. Performance Enhancement & Health 7(1–2): 100149.
- Kjellgren A, Westman J (2014). Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention: a randomized controlled pilot trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 14: 417.
- Hilpert K, Chis Ster I (2025). Experiences and perceptions of regular floatation-REST users: results from an online survey. Journal of Clinical Images and Medical Case Reports 6(5): 3600.