Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi will host its inaugural International Martial Arts Festival from August 7–9 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and other venues across the capital, bringing together thousands of martial arts practitioners from Vietnam and overseas.
Speaking at a press conference on July 15, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Pham Xuan Tai said the festival will serve as a major international cultural, sporting and diplomatic event, celebrating Vietnam’s martial arts heritage while promoting the enduring values of traditional martial arts in modern society.
The choice of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as the main venue underscores Hanoi’s commitment to integrating heritage preservation with international cultural exchange and cooperation, while developing a signature cultural and sporting event for the capital, Tai said.
The festival is expected to draw between 1,500 and 2,000 martial arts masters, practitioners, coaches, athletes and performers from Hanoi, provinces and cities nationwide, and international delegations. Organisers anticipate 10,000–15,000 on-site spectators and more than 100,000 online viewers through digital platforms.
Designed as a blend of culture and sport, the event will feature art performances, martial arts demonstrations, competitions, exhibitions, community exchanges and interactive cultural experiences. Outdoor stages equipped with modern sound, lighting and performance technologies will provide a dynamic setting while highlighting Vietnam’s traditional martial arts legacy.
The programme will include opening and closing ceremonies, demonstrations of traditional and contemporary martial arts, exhibitions of martial arts costumes, weapons, historical artefacts and documents, hands-on activities for visitors, and programmes showcasing Hanoi’s culture, tourism and heritage. Martial arts competitions, demonstrations and exchanges involving domestic and international teams will also take place at venues across the city.
The festival will also feature four international open tournaments: the Hanoi Open Taekwondo Championship, Hanoi Open Lion and Dragon Dance Championship, Hanoi Open Wushu Championship, and Hanoi Open Vovinam Championship.
At the grassroots level, communes and wards throughout Hanoi will organise community sports activities to encourage wider public participation and promote the city's martial arts tradition.
According to Tai, seven international delegations comprising 53 martial arts masters and practitioners, along with two domestic teams, have already confirmed their participation. In addition to competitions and performances, visitors will be able to explore exhibition and interactive spaces showcasing the history, culture and distinctive values of Vietnamese martial arts.
The Hanoi International Martial Arts Festival 2026 is expected to become a hallmark event on the capital’s cultural and sporting calendar, enhancing Hanoi’s international profile, promoting Vietnam’s martial arts heritage, and strengthening the city's credentials as a host of major regional and global events./.
