Opening of the first National Lion-Dragon-Unicorn Championship, 2025.

On the evening of May 12, at the historical-cultural relic of Ho Son Pagoda, Lien Minh commune, Vu Ban district, Nam Dinh province, the Vietnam Lion-Dragon-Unicorn Federation, the Department of Physical Training and Sports (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nam Dinh province, and Vu Ban district jointly organized the opening ceremony of the first National Lion-Dragon-Unicorn Championship, 2025.

A dragon dance performance in the opening night of the tournament.

This year's Lion-Dragon-Unicorn Championship took place from May 12 to 14, attracting the participation of 9 clubs, Lion-Dragon-Unicorn Federations with more than 200 athletes from the provinces: Nam Dinh, Thai Binh , Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City.

Within the framework of the tournament, the lion-dragon teams compete in the following categories: Traditional dragon dance; optional dragon dance; speed dragon dance; luminous dragon dance; traditional lion dance - "Dia buu" (lion dance on the ground); speed lion dance; "Hoa mai thung" lion dance (lion dance on a high pole) for men; "Hoa mai thung" lion dance for men and women.

Lion dance is a traditional folk art form popular in many Asian countries, of which Vietnam is one of the countries where lion dance art is strongly developed, bearing its own unique mark, imbued with national cultural identity.

With the combination of martial arts, performing arts, traditional music and folk beliefs, lion-dragon dance is not only an entertaining art form but also an intangible cultural heritage that needs to be preserved, conserved and promoted in modern life.

According to the tournament's organizing committee, this is an opportunity for Vietnam's leading dragon-lion-unicorn clubs and federations to show off their skills and performance techniques; athletes have the opportunity to exchange, compete, and improve their professional skills.

Through the tournament, we contribute to preserving and promoting the unique cultural values ​​of traditional lion-unicorn-dragon art, spreading the spirit of solidarity, pride and cultural identity, and martial spirit of the Vietnamese people.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/khai-mac-giai-vo-dich-cac-doi-manh-lan-su-rong-toan-quoc-lan-thu-nhat-nam-2025-20250513153734164.htm