Tiếng ViệtVovinam is bustling with activity this spring in Thanh Hoa Province.
On the afternoon of the 4th day of the Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse), Lam Son Square in Hac Thanh Ward (Thanh Hoa City) seemed to “explode” with a vibrant martial arts atmosphere as hundreds of Vovinam practitioners gathered to deliver spectacular performances rich in national identity, marking the beginning of a dynamic new year for the mass sports movement.
Athletes participating in the 11th Thanh Hoa Province Vovinam Club Festival. Photo: Anh Tuan.
In the lively atmosphere of the early spring days, on the afternoon of February 20 (the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse), the 11th Thanh Hoa Province Vovinam Club Festival – “Celebrating the Party and Welcoming the Spring of the Year of the Horse 2026” took place at Lam Son Square, Hac Thanh Ward.
The event was jointly organized by the Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Thanh Hoa Vovinam Federation, and the People’s Committee of Hac Thanh Ward.
This is a traditional annual activity held on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, aiming to honor the values and beauty of Vovinam – Vietnamese Martial Arts, while creating a joyful, enthusiastic, and healthy atmosphere at the beginning of the new year.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, a representative of the Organizing Committee affirmed: “The festival is not only an opportunity for martial arts practitioners to interact and learn from one another, but also a practical activity that contributes to preserving and promoting the essence of national martial arts in modern life.” Through this event, the organizers seek to further spread the “National Movement for Physical Training Following the Example of President Ho Chi Minh,” fostering an active and healthy lifestyle within the community.
This year’s festival brought together a large number of clubs and athletes of various age groups, competing in a wide range of events.
For ages 7–11: individual cross-style boxing for boys and girls; team dragon–tiger boxing for boys; and team cross-style boxing for girls.
For ages 12–15: men’s Four-Pillar Fist, women’s Dragon–Tiger Fist, men’s and women’s Two-Principle Sword Technique, and Dual Training 1.
For the age group of 16 and above: men’s Five-Form Fist, men’s Four-Form Staff Technique, women’s Dragon–Tiger Fist, women’s Two-Form Sword Technique, women’s self-defense (1 woman, 1 man), and attacking leg techniques (4 men), all requiring high technical proficiency and physical endurance.
A vibrant and impressive lion dance performance by Vovinam practitioners at the 11th Thanh Hoa Province Vovinam Club Festival. Photo: Anh Tuan.
In addition, two events attracted significant attention from the audience: lion dance (with a team of seven athletes) and martial arts with music (with a team of ten male and female athletes). The highlight of the festival was the lion dance competition, featuring performances that were both graceful and powerful, exuding authority and vitality.
Daring yet precise acrobatic stunts and high-climbing maneuvers, combined with the rhythmic interplay of drums, music, and martial arts movements, frequently filled Lam Son Square with resounding cheers and applause.
According to the organizers, the success of this year’s festival demonstrates the strong vitality and steady development of the Vovinam movement in the province.
Beyond being a sporting activity, Vovinam is gradually becoming a cultural space that connects generations of practitioners, fostering a spirit of chivalry and pride in the nation’s martial arts heritage.
At the end of the competition, the Hoang Loc Commune Vovinam Club won first place overall with six gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals. The Sam Son Vovinam Club came in second with four gold medals, four silver medals, and four bronze medals. The Sy Anh Duong Club finished third with two gold medals and four silver medals.
The Organizing Committee awarded medals, certificates, and prizes to athletes who placed first, second, and third in each event. However, the lion dance and martial arts with music events were awarded joint third place.
The festival concluded in the joyful atmosphere of the early spring days, leaving a lasting impression of a vibrant martial arts spring in Thanh Hoa Province.
Source: Van Hoa newspaper