Hanoi Midnight marathon medal inspired by folk stories

The circular 90 x 96 mm medal is made from steel alloy plated with gold. This is the first time the VnExpress Marathon system has designed a medal with perforated background.

According to the organizers, the tournament will gather nearly 11,000 runners. Each athlete will have their own ideas, inspirations, and stories about Hanoi. Therefore, VnExpress Marathon wants to reserve the remaining part of the medal to be personalized.

"We emphasize individuality because the finisher medal represents the runner's efforts. The organizers will tell part of the story, the rest is in the medal background, the athletes are free to complete it," an organizer's representative said.

The VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2023 IONIQ5 Cup medal has a hollow-out design. Photo by Ngoc Thanh

The new Hanoi Midnight medal design combines folk tales and national culture. The frame is inspired by the motifs on Dong Son bronze drums - typical of Dong Son culture and the Red River civilization of ancient people during the beginning era of Vietnam.

The story of King Le Loi defeating the Ming invaders and returning the sword to the turtle deity are stories that inspired the design team. The rope hanger is shaped like a sword. The obverse of the medal embosses with the image of Turtle Tower and The Huc Bridge, while the reverse has the word "Finisher."

Both sides of the medal. Photo by Ngoc Thanh

The color scheme on the medal is inspired by Hanoi's Old Quarter. The background evokes the deep yellow color of the old row of houses, while the words "HANOI MIDNIGHT" are created from the moss green of Luc Thuy Lake and the betel residue of aging store signs.

The runners of four distances will receive the same medal but with different string colors depending on their distances. Runners of the 42 km distance will receive a medal with navy string, 21 km orange, 10 km blue, and 5 km purple.

Medals for four distances at VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2023 IONIQ5 Cup. Photo by Ngoc Thanh

VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2023 will be held on the night of Nov. 25 and early morning of Nov. 26, when Hanoi enters the transition period between autumn and winter. The route, with many improvements, will take athletes to explore ancient streets and famous landscapes mixed with places that are transforming with the pace of modern life.

In addition to the individual race, 52 clubs and teams, nearly twice more than in the previous season, will compete for the Team Award. Hyundai Thanh Cong Vietnam Automobile Joint Venture JSC accompanies the tournament.

Interested readers can follow more on the race here.