2 million students in Ho Chi Minh City to perform Vovinam to set new record

Citywide participation

At the rehearsal, Huynh Le Nhu Trang, deputy director of the Department of Education and Training, said the city is preparing for a record-setting Vovinam mass performance on November 30 with about 50,000 students from 164 schools.

The event will take place at a main site along the Saigon River and 151 additional locations, both in-person and online.

The department is also planning a larger attempt on December 1, when more than two million students across all levels, from elementary to secondary and continuing education, are expected to perform simultaneously.

Vovinam, recognized as national intangible cultural heritage, is being promoted in schools as part of efforts to strengthen cultural identity, Trang said.

Pham Thi Be Hien, rector of Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, said the school wants students to join the citywide effort marking 50 years of the local education sector.

She added that the activity encourages physical fitness and gives students a deeper understanding of the martial arts' cultural value.

Vovinam: A martial art that reflects Vietnam’s cultural identity

The rehearsal brought energy to the Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted campus as students practiced a Vovinam music-martial arts routine.

World champion Vovinam athlete Tu Cuong and his teammates, who struck gold at the 2025 Vovinam World Championship, said they are delighted to see the traditional martial art becoming more accessible to students.

Cuong said incorporating Vovinam into the mass performance not only inspires young people but also strengthens pride in a martial art deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture.

Students expressed their excitement as well.

Nguyen Vo Thu Uyen, a 10th-grade student, said she had been training for nearly a month and looked forward to learning more about Vovinam.

“It's not just a major event, but also a milestone for the city's education and a way to honor teachers. We understand Vovinam better and feel proud practicing it,” she said.

Another student, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Y, said she was curious when first learning the moves and planned to continue practicing Vovinam for fitness and self-defense.

Students also enjoyed meeting singer Orange, a former Le Hong Phong student, during the rehearsal.