Starboard Dream Rider Lim Sujeong is set to compete at the HANOI DRAGON BOAT-SUP OPEN 2026 in Vietnam. Starboard Korea Magazine looks at the event as we support her next challenge.
The competition takes place on October 3–4, 2026, around Hồ Tây (West Lake) in Hanoi. Traditional dragon boat racing and SUP come together for an international gathering on the water.
Lim Sujeong shares her thoughts ahead of Hanoi
Ahead of the Hanoi event, Lim Sujeong shares her thoughts on the race. She thanks everyone for their encouragement and support during her preparations, says it gives her strength, and looks forward to finishing the season well.
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Dragon boats and SUP on Hanoi’s West Lake
Hosted by the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the event celebrates the 72nd anniversary of Hanoi’s liberation. Dragon boat teams from across Vietnam will join SUP athletes from Vietnam and overseas.
Alongside bringing traditional and contemporary paddle sports together, the event promotes water-sports exchange and environmental protection for West Lake.
Event at a glance
- Event
- HANOI DRAGON BOAT-SUP OPEN 2026
- Dates
- Saturday–Sunday, October 3–4, 2026
- Host location
- Hồ Tây (West Lake), Hanoi, Vietnam
- Main event venue
- Lý Tự Trọng Flower Garden and West Lake
- Location
- Around Nguyễn Đình Thi and Thanh Niên roads, Tây Hồ, Hanoi
- Host organization
- Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism
- Main disciplines
- SUP and dragon boat racing
- Registration status
- Official website marked registration closed when checked on September 17, 2026
Which SUP disciplines are on the program?
The SUP program includes Sprint, Technical, Family+ Relay and SUP Team Challenge. The main distances and formats are listed below.
Family+ is a relay pairing one adult aged 18 or over with one child aged 10–12. The pair does not have to be related. The Team Challenge is subject to conditions including team numbers, equipment and the rescue plan.
Dragon boat races cover 500 m. Detailed team formats, eligibility and equipment requirements are set out in the regulations. The table lists the full event program; Lim Sujeong’s individual entries have not yet been announced.
- SUP Sprint Solo
- 250 m, men’s and women’s individual
- SUP Technical Solo
- 2,000 m, men’s and women’s individual
- Family+ Relay Race
- 500 m (2 × 250 m relay), one adult and one child
- SUP Team Challenge
- 500 m, teams of six; subject to operating requirements
SUP highlights and provisional schedule
SUP heats and semifinals are scheduled for the afternoon of October 3, with finals on the afternoon of October 4. The opening ceremony is on October 4, a day after SUP racing begins.
The SUP and main event schedule follows. All times are local to Hanoi and may change with conditions on site.
The website schedule lists the technical meeting for October 3, 08:30–09:00, while the English regulations list October 2, 09:30–10:30. How these meetings relate has not been confirmed; competitors should check the date and time they need to attend with the organizers.
- Thursday, October 1
- 08:00–10:00 · Online heat and start-position draw; SUP course maps released
- Friday, October 2
- All day · Team check-in, training and course familiarization
- Saturday, October 3
- 08:30–09:00 · SUP technical meeting
- Saturday, October 3
- 09:00–10:00 · Team training and course familiarization
- Saturday, October 3
- 13:30–17:00 · SUP heats and semifinals
- Sunday, October 4
- 08:00–09:00 · Opening ceremony
- Sunday, October 4
- 13:30–17:00 · SUP finals and dragon boat semifinals and finals
- Sunday, October 4
- 17:00–18:00 · Closing and awards ceremony
Official information and enquiries
As of September 17, the official website marked registration closed. Although the English regulations give a deadline before September 23, contact the organizers directly about any possibility of additional entries.
Email: hanoidragonofficial@gmail.com
Official contact: 0972 289 699 (Nguyễn Văn Lâm; Vietnamese local number)