How’s your French? Seriously — how can you fully appreciate news about the upcoming La Vie Color Me Run to be staged on 27th May at District 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam without a smattering of the world’s most romantic language? For your first lesson, we urge you to memorise “Bonne chance et amusez-vous bien,” because you’ll want to repeat this phrase to your Singapore teammates. Translation? Good luck and have fun!

Events like the 5km La Vie Color Me Run can be serious business if a personal best is at stake, but you’re required to have fun. Find out how you will be drenched in colour in three languages (English, Vietnamese and French) by beating a path to the Spacebib website’s La Vie Color Me Run page and get yourself registered now (tout de suite!).

About La Vie Color Me Run Ho Chi Minh City

If you have no sense of humour and can’t understand the joy and enthusiasm one can experience when being doused with colourful powders, this event may not be worth your time and effort. On the other hand, if your photo is in a dictionary (French or English) under the words “spontaneous,” “up for anything” and “I’m a wild child,” check the expiration date on your passport so you're travel ready, because this race has your name written all over it.

You’ll show up at the start line dressed in the official uniform of the day that includes a white t-shirt that’s your blank canvas, and from the moment that flag waves you off for your 5km run, you will be showered in colour — as will everyone around you. Making friends during this event isn’t just likely but probable since it’s impossible to keep a straight face as you watch everyone around you turn pink, purple, green and yellow.

If you’re feeling hesitant about taking a colour bath, relax. Those powders are made from food colourings and they’re safe for all ages. That stated, if your skin is sensitive or you suffer a respiratory disease or are highly allergic, you may want to check in with your doc. And don’t be worried about your outfit. The colours may wash out in the laundry post-race, but don’t count on it. Leave your elegant duds at home.

A location as colourful as the race

If you’ve never before visited Vietnam — and Ho Chi Mihn City, particularly — prepare yourself for a beautiful running environment. The city is awash in contradiction: Mother Nature teams up with myriad architectural styles so while French-styled Notre Dame Cathedral with its two bell towers (all of the building materials were shipped from France) is typical of European styling, it’s the ethnic pagodas that will stop you in your tracks as you whisper, “Magnifique!”

If your work schedule allows, take an extra day to see local sites, but if you can’t, the run route will expose you to the city’s vibe, history and splendour as you walk, run or jog the circuit within the festival atmosphere organisers will stage to entice every runner to get into the spirit of this lively competition. You'll love the soundtrack! There will be a rousing musical backbeat that surrounds every runner before, during and after the race courtesy of DJs, hot performers and bands. It’s a party, too!

Bien plus encore

That means: there’s so much more. You’ll be given an event t-shirt to “decorate” without lifting a finger courtesy of all of that flying powder disbursed by organisers and fellow runners, a race bib, bag and your own packet of Color Me Run powder so you can undertake a little mischief on your own if you happen to pass a runner who hasn’t been baptised with enough colour.

When it comes to practical details, you’ll be happy to know that there are both early and late entitlement pick-up time options for travellers, and while you can bring necessities to the race, leave anything of value behind. There’s no bag drop and you won’t want to risk losing something valuable.

Be on your best behaviour!

Don’t try to hide croissants, cigarillos or a fine French wine on your person when you get to the start line because personnel will check you out and if you’re in violation of the food, tobacco and drink rule, you could get Le Boot! You wouldn't want to admit to your friends back home that you travelled that distance but didn't compete because there was a brioche stash in your backpack, right?

Need more information about this vibrant run? Event organisers will keep everyone in the loop on the Spacebib site. That said, Nous vous souhaitons beaucoup de chance et espérons que vous gagnez! That’s French for “we really, really hope you win!”

Do you practice your language skills when you compete abroad? If yes, how many languages do you speak?