Opening Ceremony of the 8th World Vovinam Championships

The 8th World Vovinam Championships 2025 officially kicked off on the afternoon of November 2 in Bali, Indonesia. The tournament not only features exciting and skillful matches but also marks an ambitious step forward — a path toward integrating the essence of Vietnamese martial arts (Việt Võ Đạo) into the global Olympic sports movement.

The 8th World Vovinam Championships 2025, organized by the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF), takes place in Bali, Indonesia, from November 2 to 8, 2025. This year’s championship welcomes over 600 athletes from 26 countries and territories across four continents — Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania — where Vovinam has developed a strong presence. Competitors will vie for medals in 45 events, including 26 performance (forms) and 19 combat categories.

Artistic performances before the opening ceremony

This is the most important arena for top martial artists around the world to demonstrate their talent, technique, and martial spirit. For national teams, especially the Vietnam Vovinam Team, the championship is an opportunity to affirm their leading position following their domestic successes in 2025. The event also serves as an accurate benchmark for assessing the technical level of Vovinam on the international stage.

Highlights from the ceremony

Vietnam Team

Algeria Team

Italy Team

Russia Team

The Head of the Organizing Committee delivered the opening speech.

The Governor of Bali gave a welcoming address.

Representatives of the athletes and referees took their oaths.

Representatives of the referees take oath

The grand opening scene showcased the unity and spirit of the 8th World Vovinam Championships 2025.

Vovinam has long been a cultural ambassador — an effective means of cultural diplomacy for Vietnam — promoting the image of the country, its people, and its rich cultural identity to international friends through festivals and major political, cultural, and social events. It is a great source of pride for the Vietnamese people and martial arts enthusiasts worldwide.

WVVF Executive Committee Meeting

Before the opening ceremony, the Executive Committee Meeting of the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF) took place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on November 2, 2025, at Lovina Haven Boutique Resort. The meeting discussed the Federation’s strategic action plan to pursue affiliation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

This move signifies a major transformation for Vovinam — from a traditional martial art into a professionally structured and internationally recognized sport.

Performances by Vietnamese athletes at the ceremony

Dr. Mai Huu Tin, President of the World Vovinam Federation, expressed his hope that this event would not only mark the successful organization of a world-class championship but also outline a concrete roadmap toward the professionalization of Vovinam.

He emphasized that the top priority discussed by the WVVF Executive Committee was the action plan for affiliation with WADA and the IOC. This is a crucial step — a foundation for Vovinam to be officially recognized as an Olympic sport, opening the door to global growth and sustainable development. This is also the final phase before Vovinam may be considered for inclusion in future Olympic Games. Previous collaborations with organizations such as VADA (Vietnam Anti-Doping Agency) have demonstrated Vovinam’s strong commitment to clean and honest sportsmanship — a solid basis for achieving this goal.

President of the World Vovinam Federation, Dr. Mai Huu Tin spoke at the opening ceremony.

Dr. Mai Huu Tin delivered his speech at the opening ceremony, reaffirming that targeting WADA and IOC membership reflects WVVF’s strategic vision to build a global Vovinam system that is transparent, professional, and responsible — laying a strong foundation for long-term growth.

A milestone on the path to the Olympic dream

This high-level sporting event is not only a competition among the world’s finest martial artists but also carries a historical mission: to realize the Olympic dream for Vietnam’s traditional martial art. The 8th World Vovinam Championships is guided by the strategic vision of the World Vovinam Federation.

Held in the cultural and tourist hub of Bali, the tournament serves as a bridge to promote the spirit and beauty of Việt Võ Đạo to international friends. Vovinam is not just a martial art — it is a recognized element of Vietnam’s intangible cultural heritage. Through performances, ceremonies, and the spirit of competition, the World Championships help convey the noble values of this martial art, inspiring more people around the world to learn and love Vovinam.