The 1st Ho Chi Minh City Vovinam Club Festival in 2026 takes place in a vibrant atmosphere, part of a series of events in response to the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Sports Festival in 2026, and also to celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of the South, national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2026), International Labor Day May 1 and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Thu Dau Mot University. The event is organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports in coordination with Thu Dau Mot University and related units on April 24 and 26, 2026.
The opening ceremony took place on the morning of April 24 at Thu Dau Mot University (Phu Loi ward, Ho Chi Minh City) with the participation of Mr. Mai Huu Tin - President of the World Vovinam Federation; Mr. Tran Van My - President of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation; Mr. Le Tuan Anh - Secretary of the Party Committee of Thu Dau Mot University; Mr. Doan Ngoc Xuan - Rector of Thu Dau Mot University; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao Nguyen - Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council; Mr. Cao Van Chong - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, Head of the Festival Organizing Committee; along with representatives of departments, agencies, sports federations, related units, coaches and more than 300 athletes.
Speaking at the festival, Mr. Tran Van My - Chairman of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation emphasized that the festival contributes to improving the quality of the movement, strengthening exchanges and solidarity in the Vovinam Viet Vo Dao community, and at the same time is a step to prepare the next generation of athletes towards national tournaments.
Mr. Doan Ngoc Xuan - Rector of Thu Dau Mot University expressed his honor to be trusted to host the festival, and affirmed that the school has coordinated to prepare facilities, aiming to organize a safe, professional and effective festival.
Mr. Phan Van Lam - Director of Binh Duong Sports Training and Competition Center said that bringing Vovinam into the official competition program at the Ho Chi Minh City Sports Games 2026 is an important milestone, with competition content taking place from May 22 to May 30, 2026 at Thoi Tu Stadium (Dong Thanh commune, Ho Chi Minh City).
The festival takes place in two days, April 24 and 26, gathering more than 300 martial artists from 31 units and clubs, competing in 17 competition categories. The organizers said that the event contributes to spreading the spirit of martial arts, enhancing the Vovinam training movement and promoting the development of the sport in the new period.
