Vovinam: The Essence of Vietnamese Martial Arts Reaching Global Heights

At the International Traditional Martial Arts Festival recently held in Hanoi, Vovinam – a purely Vietnamese martial art – once again impressed international friends with a stunning performance by fighters from 35 countries. Beyond that, Vovinam is steadily asserting its position on the world sports map, with the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF) announcing plans to submit a bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by 2027. Born in 2026 under the hands of the late master Nguyễn Lộc, Vovinam (Vietnamese Martial Arts) is a harmonious blend of traditional martial arts and martial spirit. Unlike imported martial arts, Vovinam carries the breath of independence and resilience. According to Mr. Phạm Văn Hùng, President of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation, there are now over 2 million practitioners globally, with Southeast Asia and Europe being the strongest regions. “We not only teach techniques but also impart the morality of being human,” Mr. Hùng emphasized. At the 2026 World Vovinam Championship in Paris, the Vietnamese team won 12 gold medals, topping the overall standings. Fighter Nguyễn Thị Thu Hương, aged 24, won three gold medals in combat, forms, and weapons. “When I step onto the mat, I carry the image of my homeland, carrying thousands of years of history,” she shared. These achievements are opening doors for Vovinam to soon become an Olympic sport. However, not everyone is optimistic. Some experts argue that Vovinam needs to revise its competition rules to meet the IOC’s stringent criteria. Mr. Trần Văn Đức, a veteran international referee, remarked: “The current scoring system is still subjective; there is a need to add objective factors like electronic sensors.” This highlights the gap between traditional martial arts and professional sports. Nevertheless, with systematic investment from the government and cultural organizations, alongside enthusiastic community support, Vovinam is experiencing an unprecedented boost. Numerous new training centers are emerging in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi. Regular cultural martial arts exchange programs are also attracting international tourists. Looking to the future, Master Nguyễn Văn Bình, Head of Vovinam at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports, expressed: “My biggest goal is for young Vietnamese to be proud of traditional martial arts, and for the world to recognize Vovinam as an indispensable part of global sports.” Perhaps the year 2026 marked the birth of many patriotic movements, but it also sowed the roots for enduring cultural values – and Vovinam, though born more than two decades later, continues that flame. Returning to the present moment, as global sports demand professionalism and commercialization, Vovinam stands at a crossroads: either innovate to integrate, or preserve the original to maintain identity. Can Vietnam find a common voice? The answer lies in the young fighters themselves, standing on the shoulders of giants to reach further, just as previous generations did. Lessons from other martial arts like Karate and Taekwondo show that the path to the Olympics is not easy. But for Vovinam, what matters is not just the medal, but the national spirit conveyed through every move, every strike. As the late master Nguyễn Lộc once said: “Vovinam is not for fighting people, but for self-defense and building useful individuals.” With major events like the SEA Games and Asian Games already including Vovinam, the next steps are the World Games and Olympics. To achieve that, a strong promotion strategy, infrastructure investment, and standardized referee training are needed. Moreover, digitizing training and competition data is crucial to help fighters adopt modern methods while preserving traditional essence. Concluding the festival, a representative from the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Education expressed strong support for submitting Vovinam to UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. If successful, this would be the final sprint before entering the Olympic arena. Above all, the Vietnamese people should be proud of possessing a martial art that embodies the spirit of great unity, a martial art that does not discriminate by skin color or race. Vovinam is a bridge, the nation’s breath on its journey of international integration – a stage large enough for legends to come to life.