ThaiHealth highlights the Mukdahan Model! Over 10 partner organizations collaborate to develop a prototype city, seamlessly connecting diverse physical activities over two full days, elevating the green tourism economic route.
The ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) promotes the Mukdahan Model as a healthy city prototype with high safety, collaborating with partners at all levels and sectors to organize the 2nd Iconic Run Festival under the concept RUN Mukdahan (Driving Mukdahan). This continues the campaign against NCDs (non-communicable diseases), encouraging reduced consumption of sugar, fat, and salt alongside establishing safety standards within communities. The event links diverse physical activities seamlessly over two full days, including dance, yoga, a community market, meetings, workshops, and creative menus. It introduces a new concept activity called “Slow Run Rally” — an 8 km run stopping at city communities to enhance the green tourism economic route, held 9-10 May at Mukdahan’s city center.
On 9 May 2026 at the former Mukdahan Governor’s residence, Mr. Krai Iamjula, Deputy Governor of Mukdahan Province, chaired the press conference announcing The Iconic Run Fest Thailand Series 2026 - Run Mukdahan (Driving Mukdahan). The event connects diverse physical activities seamlessly over two full days from 9-10 May 2026. Dr. Phairoj Saonuam, Deputy Director of ThaiHealth, along with executives, agency representatives, and participants attended.
ThaiHealth, in collaboration with Mukdahan Province, organized The Iconic Run Fest Thailand Series 2026 - Run Mukdahan (Driving Mukdahan), promoting the “Mukdahan Model” as a prototype healthy city with high safety through diverse physical activities. The event also stimulates the city and community economy, aiming to simultaneously advance public health, urban development, and community economic growth. The focus is to establish Mukdahan as a sustainable healthy city, using a festival-style format as a key mechanism to communicate the city’s image while reflecting environmental identity and local potential.
On the first day, 9 May 2026, the event was packed with activities including Race Pack Collection for registration, distributing bib numbers, shirts, and Slow Run Passports to prepare runners; Active Dance Contest for local youth from Mukdahan and nearby areas to showcase their dance talents and creativity; Healthy Workshops featuring green community markets inviting participants to learn about health care and sustainable living through workshops by local entrepreneurs, supporting community products and ingredients, creating positive experiences for both health and Mukdahan’s local economy.
VIP meets Communities enhanced the experience for attendees with a marketplace featuring local community vendors focusing on Healthy Community Products—unique local specialties and more—to stimulate circular economy within the area. The Welcome Performance included a traditional dance from Mukdahan’s local community called Baslob, held in front of Wat Srimongkol Tai Temple, complemented by the distinctive Mekong riverside atmosphere. The Mukdaharn Yoga Showcase & Live Photo @Klong River offered a healthy community experience through group workouts in the evening, including dance, movement, and yoga sessions.
The Community Safety Standard Workshop: CPR DEMO provided knowledge on basic safety standards to communities and participants through hands-on training sessions. The Sunset Active Dance by Mekong showcased “Cultural heritage extending sustainable economic heritage,” presenting beautiful performing arts that tell the stories of Mukdahan’s distinctive traditions and culture. The Mekong Wellness Cuisine activity involved crafting local health-focused dishes elevated to national-level menus, highlighting the province’s food and ingredient potential, created by a renowned Mukdahan chef.
The second day, 10 May 2026, featured the “Run and Stop at City Communities” event—a Slow Run Rally covering 8 km. Starting and finishing at the former Mukdahan Governor’s residence, the route passed through 11 community checkpoints. This fun rally combined adventure, learning, physical activity, and content creation into a single event.
Participants explored key city routes and landmarks while completing tasks at each checkpoint through SEEK (answering questions), SELFIE (taking photos), STAMP (collecting stamps), and SHARE (posting experiences on social media). Each participant received a SLOW RUN RALLY PASSPORT to collect stamps at all 11 checkpoints. Only those who stamped all points received a finisher’s medal.
The 11 community checkpoints included the City Pillar Shrine, Muk Street Art, 5-Way Community Morning Food Street, Vietnamese Temple, Pai Thang Jia Aunt Kham’s Fried Dough, Wat Srimongkol Tai and the Two Ladies Shrine, Indochina Market, Wat Sribunruang, Kanchanaphisek Chalermphakdi Tower, and Thai Kitchen Ice Cream Porjai—all prominent landmarks of Mukdahan Province.
The registration fee for the run was 350 baht per person, which included a souvenir shirt, finisher’s medal, runner’s bib number, and accident insurance.
For those interested, more details are available on the Facebook page The Iconic Run Fest: https://www.facebook.com/theiconicrunfest