Vietnamese fighters eye Asian MMA titles in China

Vietnamese fighters will target championship honours when they compete at the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championships 2026 in China, aiming to build momentum and ranking points on the continental stage.

Tran Ngoc Luong (right) is one of Vietnamese athletes in the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championships 2026 in China. (Photo: VNA)
Tran Ngoc Luong (right) is one of Vietnamese athletes in the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championships 2026 in China. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Vietnamese fighters will target championship honours when they compete at the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championships 2026 in China, aiming to build momentum and ranking points on the continental stage.

The third edition of the tournament will take place from January 9 to 11 in Luzhou, Sichuan Province. Athletes will earn points from their bouts to qualify for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the 2026 Riyadh Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games later this year.

Vietnam have 10 contenders, including SEA Games champions Tran Ngoc Luong and Quang Van Minh, alongside rising stars Lo Thi Phung and Vo Vu Le, who have shown strong performances in both domestic and international events.

They will compete across traditional and modern disciplines in the men’s 56kg, 60kg, 65kg, 71kg and 77kg categories, as well as the women’s 49kg and 54kg divisions.

Vietnamese referee Ngo Viet Phu has also been assigned to officiate at the tournament.

At their first appearance at the championships in 2023, Vietnam secured one gold, one silver and two bronze medals./.

VNA

See more

The pho museum provides a spot for domestic and foreign visitors to learn more about Vietnam's renowned dish, Pho, and experience its flavour. (Photo: VNA)

First-ever pho museum opens in HCM City

Located in an 800-square-metre area in Ben Thanh ward, the museum is the first private culinary museum in Vietnam licensed by the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports. The museum features three floors offering visitors a journey through pho's 100-year history via a souvenir area, show kitchen, cinema room and cultural exhibition space.

Cover page of Viet Nam hanh phuc (Happy Vietnam) book (Photo: VNA)

VNA publishing house launches books to mark 14th National Party Congress

The three books published by the VNA Publishing House contribute to promoting Vietnam’s image at home and abroad. They also serve as valuable external information products, helping nurture confidence, aspiration and determination to build and safeguard a socialist Vietnam as it advances firmly into a new era of prosperity, strength, civilisation and happiness.

A ceremony to see off the Vietnamese sport delegation to compete at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand is held at Noi Bai International Airport on January 15, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese delegation sets off for 13th ASEAN Para Games

Vietnam sends 185 members, including 140 athletes, competing in 11 sports including athletics, swimming, weightlifting, badminton, table tennis, chess, judo, boccia, archery, tennis, and fencing. The country aims to win 40–50 gold medals and strives to rank among the top 4–5 countries.

Nguyen Van Than, Chairman of the Vietnam Classical Music Association (VCMA), speaks at a press briefing in Hanoi on January 13. (Photo: The organisers of the concert)

Concert to be held to celebrate 14th National Party Congress

The programme, jointly organised by the VCMA and the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, will feature nearly 150 artists, performers and musicians, representing the finest of Vietnam’s and the international classical music scene.

Visitors to Vietnam's booth at International Cultural Festival 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese image introduced at International Cultural Festival 2026 in Greece

The Vietnamese Embassy in Greece took part in the International Cultural Festival 2026, organised by the UNESCO Club of Piraeus and Islands in Greece, marking the embassy’s first activity of the new year and highlighting its efforts to bring the image of Vietnam closer to the Greek public and international friends through traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

A dish of Vietnamese fried spring rolls (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese rice paper makes way into European kitchens

Vietnamese rice paper is increasingly winning the hearts of European diners thanks to its versatility, easy preparation and ability to pair well with a wide range of Western ingredients. This culinary exchange not only broadens the reach of Vietnamese cuisine but also enriches the multicultural culinary landscape of Belgium and many other countries.

A visitor to the exhibition (Photo: VNA)

Colours of Friendship: Hanoi welcomes Vietnam-RoK artistic encounter

The harmonious mingling of works by artists from both nations conjures a multi-layered, dynamic space where distinct visual languages intersect with shared emotional depth, aesthetic thinking and creative spirit. The result is a rich and refreshing visual experience.

Artists take part in a parade at the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024. (Photo the HFCD organiser)

'Creative Meetup' programme takes place in Hanoi

The 'Creative Meetup' programme in Hanoi showcases initiatives from the creative community across eight cultural industry sectors, celebrating creativity and innovative solutions within the creative community.

A student from Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese bilingual school participates in a story-telling competition in Vietnamese with the theme "Vinh Moc Tunnel - Quang Tri, where life is immortal" (Photo: VNA)

Culture expected to remain pillar of Vietnam’s sustainable development: ethnologist

Ha noted that the upcoming congress is also expected to improve institutions and infrastructure for cultural industries, intellectual property and the creative economy sector. These fields are not only drivers of identity-based economic growth but also key tools for strengthening soft power and projecting the national image in an increasingly interconnected world.