On the running track, tourists will enjoy more exciting experiences

It was not until the recent national marathon that many tourists discovered that the walking path along the Perfume River is a great running track for early morning run.

A group of tourists, my friends, were from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue on business; among them are the runners who have to jog for at least 10km every morning, otherwise they are  "uncomfortable". They brought sneakers in their backpacks and asked me where they could jog in the morning in Hue. I said you just went to Truong Tien Bridge, overlooked both banks of the Perfume River, you would see.

After running a lap along the riverside track as far as Thien Mu Pagoda, my friend could not hide his happiness and immediately posted a bunch of photos of the running route at dawn on the Perfume River, with ecstatic comment: "This is probably the cleanest and most beautiful running track in Vietnam!!!”

Finishing the comment, he said anxiously, “Is it an exaggeration to say so? I think if anyone has ever jogged every morning on the streets crowded with cars and people in big cities, he will see that you are not exaggerating. He said he had been to Hue many times, but this morning's run on the banks of the Perfume River was the most surprising discovery about Hue.

“I have always thought that upon arriving in Hue, one should dress politely to visit mausoleums and temples. My wife was also surprised why I brought running shoes to Hue. Now I find myself logical!"

Mr. Kim Vivian, an expert from the International Marathon Association (AIMS), judged that the VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue 2022 running track is a great route, not only spacious, straight, and convenient for athletes to run but also ravishing in the landscape with ancient architecture and a system of green trees on both sides of the route.

“Especially for the suburban roads at a distance of 42km, I think the runners from big cities will be very excited, feel like being in harmony with nature when running through the fields. This scenery is hardly seen in big cities," said Kim.

VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue 2022 attracted more than 4,700 runners from all 63 provinces, cities and foreigners. Every runner who came to Hue brought his family and friends with him. In addition, there was a huge force in charge of organization and service. After running, they stayed to visit, had fun and rested.

The running tournament was on the holiday of the Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary. Therefore, this marathon helped Hue tourism industry to receive a huge number of tourists.

Thua Thien Hue Department of Tourism statistics show that there were more than 15,000 tourists to Hue on April 9 and 10, and about 20,000 tourists who stayed for 5 days (from April 8 to 12). Room occupancy on April 9 and 10 in Hue was up to 70 - 80%; some hotels reached over 90% or were fully booked. The figures are "as beautiful as a dream", especially when the tourism industry starts to revive after two years of stagnation due to the pandemic.

However, VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue is only held once a year. Therefore, Hue tourism needs to organize a few other running tournaments and many sport events that draw such a large number of tourists, along with many programs of Hue Festival throughout the four seasons.

However, tourists to Hue are not just for running on a professional marathon track. When running is already a mass sport, it only takes a pair of shoes and a path to run.

Therefore, tourist operators should invite tourists to Hue to have fun and remind them to bring shoes with them to run early in the morning or every afternoon, on the road along the Perfume River, on the roads lined with green trees, or run between suburban rice fields that few cities have.

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, author of the book “What I Say When Talking about Running”, summed up, “Most people run not because they want to live longer, but because they desire to live fully."

In his view, running will evoke new emotions because it awakens unusual observations we normally cannot see. According to that summary, when running with Hue, you will discover another beauty of the Perfume River, of the Inner Citadel, of Hue villages... that you normally cannot see.

From now on, I will always tell my friends, upon reaching Hue, to remember to bring sport shoes with them for jogging. Get up early and jog to the Perfume River to welcome the dawn together with Hue people in the fresh and cool atmosphere. That refreshment will definitely get you to better enjoy a bowl of bún bò (beef rice noodle) and spend a day visiting the Imperial City and mausoleums without fatigue from the hot sun. You will enjoy a very deep and novel Hue experience!

Story: Minh Tu - Photo: Hoang Hai