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The International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts serves as a cultural exchange platform where martial arts connect nations and foster a shared desire for peace, according to provincial officials and event organizers. Over 2,240 martial arts masters, instructors, and practitioners gathered for the ten-day event, running from July 26 to August 5, to participate in widespread demonstrations and competitions.
Global Delegations Gather for International Festival
Delegations from 10 countries and regions joined 41 domestic martial arts delegations and 45 groups from Gia Lai province at the festival. Hala El Sisen, a practitioner from Morocco’s Vovinam martial arts school, has trained in Vietnamese traditional martial arts for over 23 years and attended the international gathering for the third time. According to El Sisen, practicing Vietnamese traditional martial arts helps build courage, willpower, and chivalry while offering opportunities to connect with international peers who share a passion for the discipline.
France-based Son Long Quyen Thuat delegation head Xavier President expressed enthusiasm for participating in the festival hosted in the birthplace of Vietnamese traditional martial arts. According to President, taking disciples to visit historic sites such as the An Khe Truong relic site, the Quang Trung Museum, and Long Phuoc Pagoda allows practitioners to showcase their training while deeply experiencing the essence of Vietnamese martial arts and the Tay Son Thuong Dao region.
Extensive Schedule of Cultural and Sporting Events
The 10-day event featured a diverse itinerary aimed at preserving and promoting martial heritage. According to the event schedule, participants took part in flower and red-incense offering ceremonies at the Kinh Thien Monument and the Quang Trung Museum, a red-flame procession stretching from the Tay Son Tam Kiet Temple to Nguyen Tat Thanh Square, joint martial arts performances, and the 15th National Traditional Martial Arts Club Championship.
Le Xuan Khanh, a master at the Le Xuan Khanh martial arts school in Gia Lai province, noted that his school has participated since the festival’s inception. According to Khanh, the latest iteration stood out due to its larger scale and more systematic organization, reflecting the enduring vitality and humanistic values of Vietnamese traditional martial arts in modern society.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee and head of the festival organizing committee, stated that the various programs created an exceptional space for cultural exchange, positioning martial arts as a common language linking nations through friendship, mutual respect, and a shared yearning for peace.
Preserving Heritage and Expanding Cultural Tourism
Binh Dinh traditional martial arts are closely tied to the nation’s history of defense and state-building, earning designation as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2012. The Vietnamese government has submitted dossiers to UNESCO seeking recognition of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee, stated that the province views the preservation and promotion of traditional martial arts not merely as safeguarding a discipline, but as protecting part of the nation’s memory, character, and cultural identity. Tuan noted that the province aims to integrate martial arts, culture, education, sports, and tourism to foster traditional arts as a distinctive cultural product and core tourism asset, encouraging younger generations to study and embody martial values.
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