The Vietnam Lion-Dragon Dance Federation, in collaboration with the Vovinam-VietVoDao World Federation in France, has organised a performance, featuring spectacular lion-dragon dances and traditional martial arts in Paris.
Lion and dragon dances, along with performances of Vietnamese martial arts sects in France wow audience at the event. (Photo: VNA)
Paris (VNA) – The Vietnam Lion-Dragon Dance Federation, in collaborationwith the Vovinam-VietVoDao World Federation in France, has organised a performance,featuring spectacular lion-dragon dances and traditional martial arts in Paris.
The Novement 4 eventaimed at introducing the Vietnamese folk dance to the international community. This was the first actvitiy abroad held by the Vietnam Lion-Dragon Dance Federation established on April 15, contributing to promoting the development of the folk dance art as well as the image of Vietnam to international friends.
AmbassadorLe Thi Hong Van, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Delegation to the UnitedNations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), beat the drum to open the event.
Lionand dragon dances, along with performances of Vietnamese martial arts sects inFrance, such as Vovinam-Viet-Vo-Dao, Son Long Quyen Thuat, Minh Long, wowed audience at the event.
Chairmanof the Vietnam Lion and Dragon Federation, Master Pham Quang Longhighlighted the history of the Vietnamese lion and dragon dance, whileexpressing his hope that the art will become a strong sport of Vietnamand be included in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). He expected tosoonestablish the World Lion and Dragon Dance Federation so as to promoteVietnameseculture to the international community.
Chairmanof the World Council of Vovinam-VietVoDao Masters Tran Nguyen Dao said thatVovinam has been developed in Europe for nearly five decades. This isa favourable condition for the expansion of the lion-dragon dance to the world, he added.
Accordingto Dao, i๊t is necessary to develop the lion-dragon dance on the basis ofmartial arts associations, then gradually expand it to other groups. Itis meant that the lion-dragon dance can be expanded throughoutEurope as well as the world via V🦋ovinam-VietVoDao./.
The fourth national lion dragon dance championship kick-started in Le Huu Phuoc Park, Ninh Kieu district, the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho on February 3.
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.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Lion and dragon dances, along with performances of Vietnamese martial arts sects in France wow audience at the event. (Photo: VNA) 
