Vietnam's Martial Arts Vie for UNESCO World Heritage Status

Binh Dinh Province in central Vietnam is making an all-out bid to put its traditional martial arts on UNESCO's world intangible cultural heritage list. The four-day festival recently attracted nearly 1,000 martial artists from Vietnam and overseas. Domestic participation included 650 individuals from martial arts schools and clubs, while 260 representatives from 16 delegations across nine countries, including Thailand and Laos, joined the event. Nguyen Nam Nhan, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports and head of the organizing committee, stated, "Vietnamese traditional martial arts embody the essence of martial arts excellence, fostering a philosophy of life that upholds the values of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, while continuing to gain recognition among the international community." The festival aims to foster the martial spirit, strengthen national pride, promote cultural exchanges, and reinforce the aspiration to bring Vietnamese traditional martial arts to a wider international audience. Beyond mere combat techniques, Vietnamese traditional martial arts encompass epic narratives inspired by folk legends, such as those surrounding Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, blending themes of family, love, brotherhood, unwavering loyalty to the sovereign, and noble sacrifice. In recent years, travelers are increasingly choosing trips centered on sport, wellness, and immersive experiences. Sporting competitions are becoming a key driver of travel planning. By capitalizing on this trend, Vietnamese martial arts aim to enhance their international profile and solidify their status as a cultural heritage. This initiative can be interpreted as part of Vietnam's cultural promotion policies under its one-party system, seeking to showcase domestic cultural resources on the international stage and bolster its soft power. Furthermore, while Vietnam has historically complex relations with its neighbor China, maintaining and developing friendly ties through cultural exchange is also considered beneficial for geopolitical stability. Source: VietnamPlus English