Martial Arts 

The first Hà Nội International Martial Arts Festival will be a festive event for local residents and visitors during three days in Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — The 2026 Hà Nội International Martial Arts Festival opened on August 7, featuring spectacular performances by martial artists and kungfu masters from different countries and regions.

The inaugural festival, the largest of its kind ever held in the capital city, is taking place from August 7 to 9 at venues across the capital with the opening ceremony organised in the sacred atmosphere of the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel.

Thousands of martial artists take part in the festival showcasing different genres of kungfu.

In her opening remarks, Vice Chairwoman of the Hà Nội People's Committee Vũ Thị Thu Hà said that throughout the nation's long history of building and defending the country, Vietnamese martial arts had been closely intertwined with patriotism, the spirit of self-reliance and solidarity, and the national aspiration for peace.

She said martial arts represented a proud cultural tradition that deeply reflected the identity and resilient character of a nation with a thousand-year history. Beyond promoting physical fitness, skills and fortitude, martial arts also fostered discipline, morality, compassion and a humanistic philosophy of life. 

Famous legend of Sơn Tinh-Thủy Tinh (Mountain God and the Water God) is recreated in the opening ceremony, focusing on martial art spirit and efforts to master nature of Vietnamese people. VNA/VNS Photo

"Hà Nội boasts a thousand-year legacy of civilisation and is a land of sacred spirit and outstanding talent. It is a place where the enduring values of Vietnamese culture, history and people converge, are nurtured and radiate outward," said Hà.

"The city embodies the heroic spirit of Thăng Long, fostering patriotism, self-reliance and a martial tradition while cultivating an elegant and civilised character. It also preserves the quintessence of the imperial capital's millennia-old martial arts heritage, which is closely intertwined with the nation's glorious history.

Martial arts, music and dance are combined in the stage of the Hà Nội International Martial Arts Festival.

 "Notable elements of this heritage include distinctive martial arts schools and dojos and traditional quyền (performance) forms that vividly reflect the cultural identity of Thăng Long-Hà Nội."

She said the festival was one of Hà Nội's practical activities aimed to implement the Politburo's Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnamese culture and Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW on the construction and development of the capital city in the new era.

Martial arts of karate in their performance.

It was also an effort to shape the city's brand and create cultural products deeply imbued with Hà Nội's identity, while simultaneously developing cultural activities linked to cultural industries, thereby gradually enhancing their quality, scale, and reach to a level comparable with regional and global standards.

Under the theme The Spirit of Thăng Long – The Essence of Vietnamese Martial Arts, the festival features various activities such as martial arts demonstrations, competitions and cultural exhibitions.

Beyond recreating the nation's glorious history, the opening ceremony programme also portrayed Hà Nội today – a capital city that preserves its cultural heritage and identity while actively embracing international integration.

Martial artists perform with bamboo flutes.

It also featured performances by martial artists incorporating flutes, fans and calligraphy, along with the segment "Martial Arts for the Ages – The Spirit of Five Continents", which highlighted the connections between Vietnamese martial arts and traditions from around the world, all rooted in solidarity and friendship.

In the next days, there are seminars on the history of Hà Nội’s traditional martial arts, as well as strategies for investment and resource development. Martial arts masters, coaches, athletes and experts can share knowledge and experiences, while also seeking solutions to enhance training quality and foster martial arts development in the context of global integration.

A dedicated space has been set up to showcase historical, cultural and martial arts values ​​through images, artefacts, equipment and digital technology applications. Martial arts uniforms, training and competition equipment, martial arts-related items and souvenirs are also available for visitors to gain deeper understanding of the history, cultural significance and spirit of both traditional and modern disciplines.

Indonesian martial artists join in the opening ceremony. Photo courtesy of organisers

Nearly 2,000 martial artists of 66 delegations including six international ones from Indonesia, Russia, France, Germany, Switzerland and Morocco will perform a wide range of disciplines including traditional Vietnamese martial arts, vovinam, karate, pencak silat, taekwondo, wushu and mixed martial arts.

According to organisers, the festival is organised to honour the nation's martial arts traditions, preserve and promote the values of traditional martial arts in contemporary life, and provide a platform for exchanges among domestic and international martial arts organisations, federations and schools. It also aims to foster professional cooperation while promoting culture, tourism and the image of Hà Nội. — VNS