Opening of the “First Vietnamese Martial Arts Festival

The event celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hue Liberation Day (March 26, 1975 - March 26, 2025), within the framework of Hue National Tourism Year 2025 and is one of the Spring Festival programs of Hue Festival 2025.

The opening ceremony was staged in an epic style with a majestic drum performance and the participation of many famous artists and singers. The quintessential martial arts of Vietnam were elaborately integrated and staged, combining fire command shooting and pyrotechnics. In the beautiful spring weather of Hue, thousands of spectators gathered at Ngo Mon Square to witness a unique and attractive art - martial arts program.

The program opened with the performance “Sacred Non Festival Drum” and the song “Red Blood, Yellow Skin” performed by actors and artists of the Hue Royal Traditional Arts Theater. In particular, the art program “Hao khi non song” – Recreating the history of Vietnamese martial arts through eye-catching martial arts performances from the martial arts schools Vo Kinh Van An, Vovinam, Taekwondo, Karatedo; the Hiphop performance “Hue Martial Music” is a combination of tradition and modernity…

Taking place on March 21 and 22, the “First Vietnamese Martial Arts Festival - Hue 2025” is a series of cultural, sports and tourism activities to honor and promote the values of martial arts and the martial arts traditions of the Vietnamese people in the history of building and defending the country. At the same time, it spreads the good meanings and profound humanity of Vietnamese martial arts to many international friends. This is also an opportunity for martial arts groups and schools to meet, exchange and discuss the work of preserving and promoting the values of traditional Vietnamese martial arts in the country and around the world.

According to Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center Hoang Viet Trung, being held for the first time, "The Quintessence of Vietnamese Martial Arts Festival" is not only a place for martial arts schools and groups to return to a sacred space to worship their ancestors and commemorate the heroes and generals of the nation, but also a place to promote their strengths through competitions, performances, exhibitions, etc. The event promises to bring the public through many emotions and immerse them in a legendary artistic space bearing the imprint of martial arts and culture of the ancient capital.

Previously, on the morning of March 21, the ceremony took place with activities such as the Announcement and Incense Offering Ceremony at The Mieu, the Dragon Procession on the Perfume River, the Sacrificial Ceremony at Vo Mieu... The festival included activities: Program to exchange the quintessence of Vietnamese martial arts, Seminar on the quintessence of Vietnamese martial arts, Visiting the Imperial City, Puzzle and martial arts performance. The festival also had the participation of many famous martial arts troupes representing Vietnamese martial arts schools: Vo Kinh Van An, Vovinam, Vo Binh Dinh...

“Through this Vietnamese Martial Arts Festival, the organizers hope to contribute to “reviving” martial arts relics in Hue such as Vo Mieu, Xien Vo Tu… and linking them with daily martial arts activities, making Hue a destination for the martial arts community in particular and for all people; aiming to build the Vietnamese Martial Arts Festival into an annual activity that is systematically organized, gathering many martial arts groups and schools around the world. In the future, events related to traditional Vietnamese martial arts will also be held at this location, to build a unique cultural institution associated with martial arts,” said Mr. Trung.

Some photos at the opening night of the Vietnamese Martial Arts Festival: