The land of martial arts welcomes friends worldwide. Photo V.L

The festival is being held to preserve and uphold the national culture, and also in celebration of Ha Noi's 1,000th anniversary, say organisers.

More than 1,000 martial arts masters and trainees from about 35 teams nationwide and 80 international groups are taking part in the event, which will run through Wednesday. They will perform in events using both bare hands and weapons.

A beauty contest will also be organised for the female participants.

Festivities will take place in Quy Nhon City, Tay Son, An Nhon, Phu Cat and Tuy Phuoc districts.

The opening ceremony, which included the participation of 1,200 actors and actresses, expressed the warm salutations from Viet Nam and shared the respectful spirit of martial arts.

"Vietnamese traditional martial arts has a very long-standing history of development," said provincial People's Committee vice-chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh.

"They were developed and consolidated while Vietnamese people fought against natural disasters and enemies to build and preserve the nation.

"They are integrated with our awareness of the undaunted independence of a nation which always loves peace and friendship," she said.

Nguyen Danh Thai, deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the arts have now spread to many countries, especially in Europe, America and Africa. This was clearly shown through the success of two previous festivals in 2006 and 2008, he said.

"These events have helped connect the hands of international friends and created important marks for Vietnamese traditional martial arts as a unique intangible cultural heritage of the nation," said Thai.

"I was so moved to be invited to this year's event," said elder martial arts master Ho Sung, who identified himself as being a Binh Dinh traditional martial artist for more than 60 years.

"For me, the arts have become my skin and flesh, my bones and blood, and all my life," he said. "I am very happy to see the quintessence of our traditional martial arts being spectacularly performed by instructors and students in these events, as well as the way they are spreading throughout the world."

"This is the third time I've come here to this fine martial arts land," said martial arts master Andre Joubier, who represents foreign delegations. "Every time I return here, I always feel the pride and happiness in my heart."

"Though our country has a lot martial arts schools, we choose to practise Vietnamese arts because they provide us with healthy physical exercise and an effective mode of self-defence," he said.

Yesterday afternoon, martial arts groups attended an incense-offering ceremony at the Quang Trung Museum, an activity held to pay tribute to Emperor Quang Trung, who was a native of Binh Dinh and one of the nation's outstanding leaders in politics and military affairs.

An exhibition displaying traditional Vietnamese martial art's weapons and clothes also opened yesterday at the provincial Centre of Culture.

During the event, participants and tourists will have the opportunity to visit Binh Dinh's popular martial arts schools, say organisers.

Binh Dinh is widely known as a land of great martial arts masters.

• Source: VNS