Martial arts 

HÀ NỘI — The inaugural Hà Nội International Martial Arts Festival will showcase not only the city's rich martial arts heritage but also its distinctive culture and long history.

The festival, the largest of its kind ever held in Hà Nội, will take place from August 7 to 9 at venues across the capital.

It will feature around 2,000 martial arts masters, practitioners, athletes, coaches and performers from Vietnamese and international dojos and federations, including those from countries with long-established martial arts traditions.

It is organised by the city's People's Committee and spearheaded by the Department of Culture and Sports, with the coordination of relevant agencies to ensure a professional, safe and effective execution.

"The festival is to honour the Vietnamese martial arts spirit and promote the values ​​of the country's traditional martial arts, as well as showcase Hà Nội as a major national cultural and sports hub," said Phạm Xuân Tài, the department deputy director.

"The event will also be an opportunity for associations, federations and organisations of different martial art genres to gather to exchange knowledge, information and experiences. They can also connect for further cooperation and deeper understanding for strong development of martial arts.

"Through the festival, we also expect to spread the beautiful images of the country and people of Việt Nam and Hà Nội in particular, to international friends."

 

Tài added that the event would contribute to the effective exploitation of heritage values ​​associated with the development of tourism, cultural industries and the sports economy.

Hà Nội could also prove itself as a centre of culture and sport in Việt Nam and set the festival as an annual event in the international martial arts calendar.

Under the theme The Spirit of Thăng Long – The Essence of Vietnamese Martial Arts, the festival will feature various activities such as martial arts demonstrations, competitions and cultural exhibitions. Admission is free for fans to attend and witness the diversity of styles, techniques and martial arts philosophies from various cultures. 

The opening ceremony will be held on August 7 at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel.

"The opening programme will combine martial arts performances, traditional music and modern technology to create a unique and highly immersive cultural atmosphere," said general director Hoàng Công Cường.

"It serves not only as an artistic event but also as an opportunity to promote the spirit of martial arts and the culture of Thăng Long-Hà Nội to both domestic and international friends."

Cường promised that all participants and audiences would feel like they're watching a historical movie, a narrative spanning from the nation's founding to the present day. They would witness stories and figures like Saint Gióng, the Trưng Sisters, Ngô Quyền and Tây Sơn forces all within a grand, one-hour spectacle.

"In line with the Politburo's Resolution No 80 on the development of the cultural industries, the festival promotes Hà Nội's destinations through martial arts," said Cường.

"Each performance highlights one of the city's landmarks, telling its story and illustrating its cultural significance and influence on local communities."

He said it was not merely a stage performance, but a story of the nation's culture and history.

 

The festival will also feature seminars on the history of Hà Nội’s traditional martial arts, as well as strategies for investment and resource development.

This will be an opportunity for martial arts masters, coaches, athletes and experts to share knowledge and experiences, while also seeking solutions to enhance training quality and foster martial arts development in the context of global integration.

A dedicated space will showcase historical, cultural and martial arts values ​​through images, artefacts, equipment and digital technology applications. Visitors can explore martial arts uniforms, training and competition equipment, martial arts-related items and souvenirs, gaining a deeper understanding of the history, cultural significance and spirit of both traditional and modern disciplines.

Martial arts competitions and exchange programmes will also be key points of the festival, bringing together a wide range of disciplines including traditional Vietnamese martial arts, vovinam, karate, pencak silat, taekwondo, wushu and mixed martial arts.

These events offer a platform for domestic and international martial artists, students and coaches to interact and exchange skills and tactics, thereby fostering the growth of various martial arts schools.

The competitions also incorporate interactive digital technology, allowing the audience to actively participate and gain an authentic feel for martial arts movements and techniques. VNS