At a press briefing on the event held on November 6, Nguyen Nam Nhan, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, said the festival is expected to welcome delegations from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil and others.

Under the theme Vietnamese martial arts: Connecting for peace, the festival aims to honor the cultural and spiritual value of Vietnam’s martial heritage and promote international cultural exchange through the language of martial arts.

The event also serves to highlight Vietnam as a friendly, peace-loving nation and to honor the cultural depth of its martial legacy.

“Vietnamese martial arts are not only combat techniques or physical training; they embody cultural and spiritual values shaped over thousands of years. In every movement, every drumbeat and breath, martial artists express affection, national pride and a desire for peace,” Nguyen said.

Throughout the three days, Le Loi Street will host performances and exchanges featuring martial arts schools from around the world. An open-air stage will present displays from disciplines including Vovinam, traditional Vietnamese martial arts, taekwondo, karate, judo, wushu, muay, aikido, pencak silat, MMA and lion-dragon dance troupes.

Visitors and tourists may also join interactive spaces such as the “Vietnamese martial arts historical wall,” which illustrates the development of national martial heritage and Ho Chi Minh City through displays of weapons, uniforms and portraits of master practitioners.

A technology exhibition will show martial arts applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), offering a contemporary perspective on martial arts in the digital era.

The festival is expected to become an annual international cultural and sports event, spotlighting Vietnam’s martial heritage and strengthening understanding, cooperation and connection.

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