More than 800 runners raced in the first Trang An Marathon at the Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh on September 9. (Photo: VNA).

The race, jointly held by the Vietnam Athletics Federation and the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, forms part of sports activities marking the 1,050th anniversary of the establishment of Dai Co Viet, the first feudal state of Vietnam.

Through the event, Ninh Binh aims to promote the image of people and landscape of the UNESCO-recognised Trang An Landscape Complex to domestic and foreign friends, contributing to local economic and tourism development.

The Trang An Complex boasts several nationally recognized sites like the Trang An eco-tourism site and Hoa Lu, Vietnam's capital in the 10th and 11th centuries.

The area also has many other temples, pagodas, paddy fields, villages and other sacred sites.

It is home to around 500 flora species, 73 species of birds and 41 species of other animals and has a diverse ecosystem with unique geological characteristics.

Dai Co Viet (Great Viet) was the first centralized feudal state in Vietnam which existed from 968 to 1010 AD. It was also the native land of three royal dynasties: the Dinh, the early Le and the Ly. Hoa Lu was the first capital of the country until King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long (now Hanoi) in 1010.

The 300-ha Hoa Lu ancient capital is now a popular tourist destination in Ninh Binh, famous for beautiful landscapes with magnificent lime mountains and rivers.

Source: NDO/VNA