Ho Chi Minh City will host an international marathon next month, with participants being both locals and foreigners and their journey going around iconic streets and places.

More than 6,500 local and foreign people have registered for the International Marathon Techcombank 2018 while it is expected to welcome 8,200 marathoners, the organizers said on Thursday.

The marathon covers four distances, 42.195km, 21.1km, 10km, and 5km, they said, adding that a special run of 1.5-3km will be organized for 300 children aged six to 14.

The short 5km distance is meant to encourage everyone to join this marathon, the organizers said.

The marathoners will travel past such downtown icons as the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Municipal Theater, and City Hall while running on major roads like Le Duan, Dong Khoi, Ton Duc Thang, and Nguyen Hue on December 2.

The organizers will donate VND10,000 (43 U.S. cents) on every kilometer the marathoners cover to a fund to help the poor and another to support young talents in the city.

Last year, VND600 million ($25,700) was given to charities this way.

The foreign winner will receive $5,000 while the local one will be awarded $3,000.

The municipal Department of Tourism will assist professional foreign marathoners in participating in this running race, Le Truong Hien Hoa, director of the department’s tourism promotion center, said.  

The department added that the international marathon is intended to introduce the city’s culture and tourist industry to visitors of all kinds.