Ho Chi Minh City opens 2025 int’l martial arts festival
Ho Chi Minh City on Friday opened its 2025 International Martial Arts Festival on Le Loi walking street, featuring performers from 10 countries and 15 Vietnamese teams.
A drum performance opens the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
The festival, held under the theme ‘Vietnamese Martial Arts – Connecting for Peace,’ aims to promote Vietnamese martial arts and expand cultural and sports exchanges, according to the organizers.
Vovinam led the opening demonstrations, followed by taekwondo and karate.
Vovinam practitioners perform during the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
A taekwondo performance directed by world poomsae champion Chau Tuyet Van drew the largest crowd reaction.
Muay Thai fighter Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat performed with other Ho Chi Minh City athletes, while international teams presented Filipino stick fighting, Indonesia’s tarung derajat, India’s sqay, China’s wushu and South Korea’s hapkido.
Karate athletes perform during the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
The program closed with a taekkyon and calligraphy performance by Lee Jin Hyeok.
Competitions and group demonstrations will continue on Saturday and Sunday.
Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat performs a Muay Thai demonstration at the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
Kendo practitioners perform during the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
Philippine and Vietnamese practitioners demonstrate stick fighting at the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
Two Indian performers demonstrate the martial art of sqay at the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
Pencak silat performers take part in the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
A member of China’s wushu delegation performs a fan routine during the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
An aikido technique is demonstrated during the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
A child watches martial arts performances with her mother during the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
Ho Chi Minh City deputy chairwoman Tran Thi Dieu Thuy (R, 4th) and city culture and sports director Tran The Thuan (C) present commemorative awards to foreign martial arts delegations at the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City International Martial Arts Festival 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, November 21, 2025. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre
Bao Anh - Nguyen Khoi / Tuoi Tre News
Link nội dung: https://news.tuoitre.vn/ho-chi-minh-city-opens-2025-intl-martial-arts-festival-103251122110511645.htm