VNG IRONMAN Vietnam (Da Nang)
Da Nang, Vietnam · May · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Warm sea swim (27 °C (81 °F) / 81 °F) with a beach start
- Flat, fast-looking bike toward Hoi An
- Debut edition: 89% finish rate and a 17-hour cutoff
- Beach finish at Bien Dong Park
- Abundant hotels and food in Da Nang, airport about 5 km (3 mi) away
Watch out for
- Extreme heat and humidity (30-36 °C (86–97 °F) / 86-97 °F, heat index about 39 °C (102 °F) / 102 °F) with little shade
- Monotonous out-and-back beachfront run loop
- Only one full-distance edition; most reviews are for the 70.3
- Jellyfish stings reported at 70.3 swims
- Intersections held by police rather than fully closed; Da Nang is spread out
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
Only one edition, with largely official coverage and an 89% finish rate. Most first-hand reviews cover the 70.3, heat index 39 °C (102 °F). · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
70.3 reviewers praised registration and aid, but 2026 had long resident waits from road closures, police-held intersections and midnight finishes. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.8
A flat course, warm sea and 17-hour cutoff help, but extreme heat, a long unshaded run and night finishes hurt. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.6
Flat, but the men's winner went 8:45:47 (against 7:36:38 at Vitoria), so heat of 30-36 °C (86-97 °F) suppresses times heavily. · Low confidence
- Course easeVery tough2.4
Flat, but with a heat index around 39 °C (102 °F), humidity and an unshaded run. The 89% finish rate shows it is survivable. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarely1.0
Typical water is 27 °C (81 °F), above the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit, so wetsuits are not legal in practice. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable1.7
At 27 °C (81 °F) the water is at the hot end of the scale. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.0
Calm at the 2026 start, but the sea was choppy in 2017 and 2018 70.3 reports. Open-coast surf varies. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.2
An Australian exit, a physical mixed-gender rolling start and jellyfish, in 27 °C (81 °F) water without a wetsuit. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
A warm sea (27 °C (81 °F) / 81 °F), beach start and two laps with an Australian exit. The mixed rolling start is physical; jellyfish reported. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.8
The surface is good per 70.3 reports. We found no full-distance rider feedback. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.1
Police held intersections rather than fully closing the 2026 route, which crossed the provincial border, and residents waited long. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.8
Coast, bridges and paddy fields toward Hoi An (about 30 km (18.6 mi) / 19 mi south). · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
A coastal headwind on the return per the 70.3, though nothing unmanageable. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.9
Flat with a good surface and bridges, and a headwind on the return per 70.3 reviews. The winner's 8:45 overall shows the heat toll. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.7
Described as flat, with only bridges to climb. We found no elevation figure, but assume under 600-800 m (2,000-2,600 ft). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
Flat coastal roads and bridges, but junction traffic and a border crossing. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
2026 had beachfront crowds and cafes with music into the night, while a 2016 70.3 reviewer reported almost no spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
70.3 reports praised ice, sponges, water and volunteers spraying water. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.3
A beachfront run with sea views, but a repetitive out-and-back (4 loops) called monotonous. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard1.9
Heat and humidity with little shade. Night running lowers temperatures for slower finishers, but expect sand at the finish and monotony. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.7
Flat beachfront out-and-back loops. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureExtreme1.1
Typically 30-36 °C (86-97 °F) with high humidity and a heat index around 39 °C (102 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
May is Da Nang's dry season, so heat is predictable, with cloud at the 2026 start. No storms were reported. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
A beach city with the Son Tra peninsula and Hoi An nearby. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
A multi-lap swim and run designed for spectators. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Sea level (about 5 m (16.4 ft) / 16 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityPlentiful4.5
Large resort and boutique stock along My Khe beach. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.1
Guest-review snippets point to value options near the beach. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
Da Nang is spread out, so stay near the race hotel or Bien Dong Park. The airport is about 5 km (3 mi) away. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
Da Nang International airport is about 5 km (3 mi) away, but long-haul needs Asian hub connections. Bike vans are available. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
70.3 reviewers found T1 awkward (300-400 m (984–1,310 ft) / 330-440 yd walk, bag hooks). Bike transport vans exist. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.5
A popular holiday destination with abundant food, and Hoi An nearby. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Da Nang, Da Nang, Vietnam
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 10 May 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- First held
- 2026
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish 17:00
- Swim venue
- East Sea (Bien Dong) Park, Da Nang coast (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 27 °C (81 °F)
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Thuan Phuoc Bridge
- Run laps
- 4
- Run shade
- Little; reviewers of the 70.3 describe no shade and burning tarmac
- Air temperature
- 30–36 °C (86–97 °F)
- Humidity
- High; heat index around 39 C at 2024 70.3
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Da Nang International (DAD), 5 km (3 mi) away
- Where to stay
- My Khe Beach, My An, Near Bien Dong Park
- Booking
- My Khe Beach strip and My An area have many resort and boutique hotels; Da Nang is spread out so stay near the race hotel/start. Book early for race week.
What racers and reviewers say
- Danang Fantasticity (city tourism portal) - 2026 wrapRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Official-side recap: calm sea and cloud at the start, then tough tropical weather. 89% of full-distance starters finished; winner Sharipov praised spectators and volunteers but called conditions tough. Bike route runs from the coast toward Hoi An, twice for the full distance.
- Vietnam News Agency (QDND) - event week wrapRaced 2026 · article · Positive
State media report on the race week with about 5,000 participants, listing the full-distance podiums and the 89% completion rate. Confirms 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike and marathon on the first edition.
- RaceCheck - Amy K. (70.3 2016)Raced 2016 · aggregator · Positive
70.3 review rated 3.9/5 for the same coastline. Warm sea with jellyfish, a very fast flat bike with a headwind back, a monotonous out-and-back run with no spectators and good aid, and brutal heat of low-to-mid 30s. Praises registration and welcome banquet, advises staying close to the race hotel.
- Cheryl Tay (70.3 2017)Raced 2017 · blog · Mixed
70.3 report: mixed-gender rolling start was physical and choppy, bike flat but wind turned on the return, and run was unshaded in about 40 °C (104 °F) heat so she bonked. Transition felt awkward with bag hooks and a 300-400 m (330-440 yd) walk.
- Vietnam News (70.3 2015)Raced 2015 · article · Mixed
Pro reactions at the 2015 70.3: winners called it tough and hot, praised course and organization, and asked for more green space; second-place woman flagged several junctions as traffic problems.
Show 8 more
- Tuoi Tre (70.3 2024)Raced 2024 · article · Mixed
Reports a heat index peaking at 39 °C (102 °F) for the 2024 70.3, with volunteers spraying water on athletes. Organizers added water, medical support and traffic coordination after congestion the previous year; loops designed for spectators.
- VietnamNet (70.3 2018)Raced 2018 · article · Positive
Profile of a first-time 70.3 finisher: very choppy sea, burning sun and humid climate, but family support and a surprisingly manageable finish.
- Danang Fantasticity - record athlete numbersRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Official promo piece on record entries for the debut full distance and the 70.3. Source of the headline details (two-lap 'Aussie exit' swim, two-loop bike, four-loop run); no athlete criticism.
- Da Nang to Hoi An airport transfer pageRaced 2026 · hotel-review · Positive
Local operator offers van transfers with bike carriage for race week, showing bike transport from Da Nang airport is available. Commercial page, not a review.
- Hawk's Nest Substack - B. Hawkins PhamRaced 2026 · blog · Positive
First-person account from a Vietnam-based finisher (affiliated with a race sponsor, so read as partial). Two-lap warm ocean swim with a jellyfish sighting, a bike toward Hoi An crossing the provincial border with police holding intersections rather than full closures, and a night marathon with a low around km 28 (mile 17). He describes strong beachfront crowds, cafes with music and volunteers, and says all 14 of his company's starters finished.
“We felt like pioneers”
- Tuoi Tre (Vietnamese) - results and local athletesRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Vietnamese-language report noting the race ran late into the night and that road closures caused long waits for residents. Top Vietnamese woman finished about 10:04, a big personal best, and was one minute off the overall podium.
- Bao Van Hoa (Vietnamese) - tourism and athlete feedbackRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Reports international athletes praising the professional organization, course quality and friendly locals. Notes short travel times between airport, hotels and venues, and that some athletes stayed on to holiday around Da Nang and Hoi An. Local-press tone, so treat as upbeat.
- DY365 - Deepan Medhi finisher storyRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Short profile of an Indian age-grouper who finished the inaugural full in 13:11:24, well inside the 17-hour cutoff. Gives no split, weather or course detail, so it adds only a data point on the mid-pack finish time.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for VNG IRONMAN Vietnam (Da Nang)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.