The fourth International Vovinam (traditional Vietnamese martial arts) Festival in Binh Dinh province from August 1st to 3rd ended successfully and left good impression on both Vietnamese and international visitors. The event attracted the participation of 40 Vietnamese martial art troupes and 53 others from 26 countries and territories.
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Martial art instructor Phi Long Vinh from Phi Long Vinh martial school performing at the fourth festival
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Achievements of a new tourism model
The three-day event is considered a success as it formed a new tourist style, the tour to the cradle of martial arts. The event had attracted thousands of Vietnamese and international martial art instructors and disciples and ten thousands of domestic and international visitors. Most of visitors said that they came to the Festival because of their love for martial arts, the province landscapes and the hospitality of Binh Dinh people.
Le Hoai, a visitor cum a martial art disciple from Hanoi said that many people in the capital city have studied Binh Dinh Martial Arts and all of them wish to visit Binh Dinh province – the hometown of martial arts. Whenever they come to the province, they receive warmly welcome from Binh Dinh people.
“My friends told me that they have been usually invited to stay in martial arts schools whenever they come to the province. They said that experiences in these schools are the most fantastic ones in their life,” said Mr. Hoai.
Other visitors also shared interesting but moving stories during their stay in the hometown of martial arts on the occasion of the Festival. They not only had an opportunity to meet their idols but could also learn more about martial arts techniques and enjoy special dishes of Binh Dinh province.
Some others confided that at first, they came to the Festival because of their curiosity but after taking part in the Festival, enjoying martial arts performances and meeting with Binh Dinh people, they felt in love with martial arts and its hometown. Nguyen Hong Thai, team leader of youths from CDCM travel Club said that they came to Binh Dinh province as tourists but after enjoying beautiful martial arts performances, they decided to stay longer in the province to contemplate more beautiful performances.
At closing ceremony, Mai Thanh Thang, Deputy Chairman of Binh Dinh provincial People’s Committee affirmed that the Festival is an excellent opportunity to popularize image of Binh Dinh province to attract more Vietnamese and international visitors to further develop its tourism. The success of the Festival affirmed Binh Dinh’s tourism brand name, “Travel and enjoy martial arts performances”.
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International martial arts practitioners at the festival
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The attraction of the hometown of martial arts
Binh Dinh province has always been selected to host the international martial arts festival because of its long history of martial arts with many schools, such as Ly Xuan Hy and Le Xuan Canh in An Nhon commune. These schools are famous for martial arts with different kinds of weapons.
30 members of the Martial arts club of Long Phuoc Pagoda had entertained with 20 outstanding performances while Phan Tho martial arts schools impressed audience with performances of women, youths and children.
According to Professor Dinh Ba Hoa, Director of Binh Dinh Museum, who spent years studying martial arts, said that Binh Dinh martial arts appeared long time ago but the art was simple until Tay Son Dynasty. In this dynasty, it developed strongly and became a subject in examinations. Also, excellent martial arts learners were trained to be generals. Later, martial art was applied creatively in wars against invaders and has been ceaselessly developing until today.
It is the spirit of Tay Son – Binh Dinh and Binh Dinh martial arts and culture that have attracted Vietnamese people and international friends from countries and territories to come to the province and made international martial arts festivals a success over the past years.
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