1,000 martial arts athletes participated in the Sixth International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts in 2016.

On the afternoon of August 1^st, 2016 Mr. Nguyen Van Dung – Director of Binh Dinh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts 2016 attracted more than 50 martial arts schools and more than 1,000 martial arts athletes, instructors and masters. There are 16 international martial arts schools from 8 countries, including: Morocco, Italy, France, America, Russia, Algeria, Canada and Portugal. The festival entitled “Preserving and promoting of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts” lasts from August 2^nd till August 4^th, 2016.

Many national and international martial arts schools participated in the International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional martial Arts. Photo: Minh Hoang

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh – Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh People’s Committee emphasized the Sixth International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts – Binh Dinh 2016 aimed at preserving, honoring and promoting the national cultural characteristics, including Binh Dinh traditional martial arts.

The festival is an opportunity for martial arts schools, both national and international to meet, exchange, preserve and promote Vietnamese traditional martial arts and publicize the image of Binh Dinh to international friends so as to enhance tourism development and attract the investment.

Binh Dinh is preparing documents and reporting to the Government submitting to UNESCO for the recognition of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts the humanity intangible cultural heritage in the coming time.

Martial arts athletes performed at the Sixth International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts – Binh Dinh 2016 at Quy Nhon City (Binh Dinh Province) Photo: Minh Hoang

Binh Dinh leaders said it is honored when Binh Dinh traditional martial arts are the cradle of Vietnamese traditional martial arts, recognized by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism the national intangible cultural heritage in December 2012.

"The festival is an opportunity to confirm the value of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts, inviting national and international friends to Binh Dinh martial arts land to experience, preserving and promoting the quintessence of Vietnamese traditional martial arts.” Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh said.

Nguen Duc Thang (source: news.zing.vn)