HCM City International Martial Arts Festival 2024 opens
The Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2024 officially opened on December 21, with the theme "Pride in Vietnamese Martial Arts – International Integration."
Korean martial artists perform at the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2024. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) - The Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts F♛estival 20♍24 officially opened on December 21, with the theme "Pride in Vietnamese Martial Arts – International Integration."
In his opening speech, Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee, emphasised that this is a special event not only to honour the tradition of Vietnamese martial arts but also to provide a platform for martial artists from different countries to share and introduce the essence of global martial arts.
The three-day festival features martial arts delegations from across Vietnam, along with international teams from the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and the Philippines.
It aims to honour the cultural values and essence of Vietnamese martial arts, particularly Vovinam (Vietnamese traditional martial arts) and wrestling, while also promoting traditional martial arts from other countries, including taekwondo, karate and Muay Thai, to visitors.
Attending the event, along with 47 martial artists and coaches from the RoK, Kim Kyu Jig, Secretary General of the International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement (ICM), said that learning and exploring martial arts is not only for practitioners to improve their physical health, strengthen their willpower, determination, and martial spirit, but also to cultivate and better personal qualities and ethics, and preserve and develop cultural heritage, and national spirit.
Within the framework of the festival, there are also scientific seminars on martial arts, specialised workshops with in-depth training in such types of martial arts as Taekyon, Hapkido, and Muay Thai, and a photo exhibition./.
Markwoman Trinh Thu Vinh has moved her attention to titles at the sixth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG 6) which will be held in November in Thailand.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
