Vietnam Vovinam Day 2026: Over 500 athletes compete at national championship

On March 15, 2026, at the National Sports Arena in Hanoi, the 2026 Vietnam Vovinam Open Championship officially opened with over 500 athletes from 45 provinces and cities across the country. This is the largest tournament of the year for Vovinam, marking a new development phase after the discipline was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. At the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation, stated that this year's tournament is 30% larger than in 2026, reflecting the growing interest of young people in traditional martial arts. "We have witnessed a significant increase in the number of registered athletes, especially from northern provinces and the Central Highlands," Hung said. This year's competition introduces three main categories: sparring, forms, and performance. The sparring category attracted particular attention with the presence of many promising young talents. The opening match between Trần Minh Đức (Hanoi) and Nguyễn Hoàng Nam (Da Nang) was intense from the first minutes, with both athletes demonstrating a flexible fighting style combining classical techniques with modern tactics. A highlight of this year's event is the implementation of an electronic scoring system, ensuring fairness and transparency in judging. According to Mr. Le Minh Tuan, Head of the Refereeing Committee, this new technology allows precise tracking and evaluation of each athlete's movements, minimizing disputes over competition results. In the forms category, athletes were highly evaluated for their ability to harmoniously combine strength, speed, and aesthetics. The jury, including leading experts from the World Vovinam Federation, applied strict criteria for evaluating technique, posture, and the ability to convey the spirit of the martial art through each movement. In 2026, Vovinam was introduced into the curriculum of over 200 schools nationwide, creating a foundation for developing future Vovinam athletes. The 2026 tournament also marks the return of several athletes who previously won medals at international competitions, bringing high-quality performances. Mrs. Tran Thi Lan, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting traditional values through sports activities. "Vovinam is not just a martial art, but also a bridge between generations, preserving national cultural identity," Lan stated. The tournament runs for three days, from March 15 to 17, 2026, with the finals scheduled for the afternoon of March 17. The closing ceremony and award presentation will be held that evening, with the attendance of leaders at all levels and numerous fans of traditional martial arts. According to plans, the Vietnam Vovinam team will participate in the World Vovinam Championship to be held in France in August 2026. The Hanoi tournament serves as an opportunity to train and select the best athletes for the national team. Besides the main competitions, the organizers also held side activities such as Vovinam history exhibitions, seminars on developing traditional martial arts in the new era, and cultural exchange programs among athletes from different regions. Vovinam, founded by Colonel Nguyen Loc in 2026, currently has over 3 million members in Vietnam and is practiced in over 70 countries worldwide. This martial art is famous for its rich technical system, including techniques, close combat skills, and effective self-defense capabilities. In recent years, the Vietnam Vovinam Federation has actively promoted international integration, organized training courses for foreign coaches, and expanded networks with international martial arts organizations. The 2026 tournament is evidence of continuous efforts to bring Vovinam to the world stage while preserving the core values of traditional Vietnamese martial arts. Experts believe that with strong development in recent years, Vovinam is on its way to becoming one of the most influential traditional martial arts in Southeast Asia and globally. Organizing large-scale tournaments like the 2026 national championship plays an important role in discovering and nurturing talents while promoting Vietnamese martial arts to domestic and international audiences. The first competition day concluded with many impressive performances, setting the stage for a successful tournament in the remaining two days. Audiences from Hanoi and neighboring areas came in full force, creating an exciting atmosphere cheering for the athletes. At the press conference after the first competition day, Mr. Dang Quoc Khanh, General Secretary of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation, said: "We are very satisfied with the organization and competitive spirit of the athletes. This year's tournament shows that professional quality is increasingly improving, while demonstrating the unity and love for martial arts of Vietnamese people." The 2026 Vietnam Vovinam Open Championship is not only a playground for domestic athletes but also an opportunity for professionals to comprehensively assess the development of this traditional martial art, thereby setting strategic directions for the next development phase. Following the second competition day, the organizers announced the list of athletes advancing to the finals in all categories. The men's 60kg and 70kg sparring categories attracted particular attention from professionals with their high-level technical performances. The semi-finals are scheduled for the morning of March 17, before the finals and award ceremony that afternoon and evening. With positive results from the tournament, the Vietnam Vovinam Federation expects to continue attracting more young people to train and compete, contributing to building a strong Vovinam community that positively contributes to the development of sports and preservation of traditional culture. The tournament was broadcast live on VTV4 and social media platforms, providing millions of domestic and international viewers the opportunity to follow and support Vietnamese athletes. This is also the organizers' effort to bring Vovinam closer to the public, affirming the position of traditional Vietnamese martial arts on the international stage. Thus, the 2026 Vietnam Vovinam Open Championship has been successfully held, marking an important development step for traditional Vietnamese martial arts in the context of deep international integration. With the attention and support of leaders, the efforts of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation, and the love for martial arts of millions of people, Vovinam promises to continue to soar and shine on international arenas in the coming years. Within the framework of the tournament, the organizers also announced plans to hold the second National Vovinam Children's Championship in June 2026, creating more playgrounds for young people who love traditional martial arts and discovering promising young talents for the future. Along with this, the Vietnam Vovinam Federation also expressed hope for continued support from authorities and social enterprises in developing and promoting the martial art, ensuring that Vovinam will always be a symbol of Vietnamese sporting spirit, harmoniously combining tradition and modernity, preservation and development. Vietnam Vovinam Day 2026 has successfully concluded, leaving deep impressions on fans and affirming the position of traditional martial arts in modern sports life. The tournament's success is clear evidence of the enduring vitality of Vovinam in particular and traditional Vietnamese martial arts in general in the context of international integration. Let's look forward to the impressive achievements of the Vietnam Vovinam team at the upcoming World Championship and continue following the development journey of this beloved traditional martial art. With a solid foundation from domestic tournaments and thorough preparation, Vietnam Vovinam is ready to shine on the international stage, carrying the national pride and beautiful sporting spirit of the Vietnamese people.