More than 2,500 martial arts masters, coaches, and athletes from 128 delegations have gathered in HCM City for the first HCM City International Traditional Martial Arts Championship and the 19th HCM City Open Traditional Martial Arts Festival, which officially began on July 23. The events bring together participants from several countries, including France, the US, Italy, Algeria, Ireland, Russia, Morocco, India, Belarus, and across Việt Nam, celebrating the country’s rich traditional martial arts heritage.
Competitors are taking part in a wide range of events, including individual and team forms, weapon demonstrations, sparring performances, wellness exercises, martial arts music displays, and full-contact contests. The international championship also features compulsory and optional routines designed to showcase the techniques, discipline, and cultural values of Vietnamese traditional martial arts.
Organisers said the festival serves as an important platform for cultural exchange, allowing domestic and international participants to share experience while preserving and promoting Việt Nam’s martial arts legacy. The opening ceremony featured artistic performances, lion and dragon dances, tributes to martial arts ancestors, and a large-scale martial arts demonstration. The events will continue through July 25, further strengthening cultural and sporting cooperation between HCM City, other Vietnamese localities, and international partners. — HanoiPost
