Director of the Department of Sports and Physical Education, Dang Ha Viet (left), presents the Certificate of Vovinam - Vietnamese Martial Arts as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage to the Vovinam - Vietnamese Martial Arts school.
Cultural Ambassador
This is the second time the World Vovinam Championship has been held in Vietnam, following the first in 2011. This year's tournament is particularly special, boasting the largest number of participating countries and members in history, with over 650 officials, referees, coaches, and athletes from 35 countries with developed Vovinam movements across four continents: Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. To make the tournament even more special and impress international friends, the host country has provided free accommodation, meals, and domestic transportation for all participating delegations. More importantly, the host country has been, is, and will continue to strive to organize a successful tournament, leaving a strong impression on international friends, thereby showcasing the culture, image, country, and people of Vietnam through the national martial art of Vovinam - Vietnamese martial arts.
In these days when Vovinam practitioners around the world have the opportunity to return to Vietnam, this is a "golden" chance for Vovinam to affirm its growing development and strong integration into the international sports community. Vovinam has been and continues to be an effective cultural diplomatic ambassador for Vietnam, promoting the culture, image of its people, and the S-shaped country with its rich national identity to international friends through festivals and political , cultural, and social events organized in Vietnam and abroad. This is a great source of pride for the Vietnamese people in particular and martial arts fans worldwide in general. Through this, it affirms the level and capacity of Vietnamese sports and Vovinam in organizing and managing large-scale sports competitions.
In his welcoming remarks to the participating delegations, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai affirmed: “This event welcomes international friends not only to compete, but also as an opportunity to learn, share, and better understand the land and people of the homeland of Vietnamese martial arts, to more deeply absorb the spirit of chivalry – the spirit of Vietnamese martial arts, so that we may further cherish, preserve, and develop Vietnamese martial arts throughout the world. Since hosting the last event in 2011, Ho Chi Minh City in general and the city's sports sector in particular have undergone many changes, especially witnessing the strong development of Vovinam to more than 70 countries and territories. Vovinam has been and continues to be a cultural ambassador connecting the international community in the spirit of chivalry, the spirit of Vietnamese martial arts.”
Vovinam has been and continues to be a cultural ambassador connecting the international community in the spirit of martial arts and Vietnamese martial philosophy.
A historic step forward
2023 was considered a special year for Vietnamese Vovinam. Prior to the world championships, Vovinam celebrated the 111th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Nguyen Loc, the 85th anniversary of the school's establishment, and the successful conclusion of the 3rd Congress of the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF) (2023-2027). Another significant event was the recognition of Vovinam – Vietnamese martial arts – as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. According to a decision signed by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyen Van Hung, on November 10, 2023, Vovinam – Vietnamese martial arts – was included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage (under the category of folk performing arts and folk knowledge). This is the result of the efforts of generations of Vovinam practitioners over the 85 years of the school's formation and development, and a historic step towards Vovinam becoming a World Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Dr. Mai Huu Tin, President of the World Vovinam Federation and President of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation, stated: “Vovinam is practiced in 70 countries and territories across five continents, with millions of practitioners. Many countries have very strong movements and are fully capable of competing with Vietnam, such as Algeria and Cambodia... World Vovinam Championships, European Championships, Asian Championships, and Southeast Asian Championships are also held annually. The recognition of Vovinam as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage is the result of generations over 85 years of formation and development of the martial art. This is a necessary step towards making Vovinam a World Intangible Cultural Heritage.”
Over its 85 years of formation and development, Vovinam has made immense contributions to Vietnamese and world martial arts. With its nationalistic, scientific, practical, and creative techniques, along with its chivalrous philosophy, Vovinam has helped introduce Vietnamese culture, country, and people to the international community. Vovinam contributes to building well-rounded individuals, cultivating a better life, and training both physically and spiritually to become people with willpower, determination, tolerance, virtue, and a commitment to living for others and seeking common happiness for their families and society.
Today, Vovinam is present in over 70 countries and territories. Several continental and regional Vovinam organizations have been established in Asia, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Arab world. World championships and several continental, regional, and national championships and cups are held regularly, thanks to the efforts of many foreign practitioners. In Vietnam, the Vovinam Federation is pursuing a strategy to preserve, protect, and develop Vovinam both domestically and internationally. The Federation will develop Vovinam in all 63 provinces and cities, further promote the Vovinam movement in schools, and improve the number and quality of practitioners.
VINH HY
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