Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich and Head of the festival's organizing committee, joined delegates and martial arts teams in the ceremonial activities, which marked the start of the festival's program.
The opening rituals began at the Kinh Thien (Heaven-praying) Altar in Binh Phu Commune, where Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich delivered the ceremonial tribute before participating in the incense offering alongside domestic and international martial arts representatives.
The delegation then traveled to the Quang Trung Museum in Tay Son Commune to lay flowers at the statue of Emperor Quang Trung in tribute to his contributions, as well as those of previous generations, to the nation's development, defense and the preservation of Vietnamese traditional martial arts.
At the Tay Son Tam Kiet Temple, Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich conducted another incense offering and read a ceremonial tribute before receiving the sacred flame. The flame was then carried to the Ancestral House of Binh Dinh Traditional Martial Arts at the Quy Nhon Stadium complex in Quy Nhon Ward.
The sacred flame procession symbolizes the martial spirit, resilience and the transmission of Vietnamese traditional martial arts values, particularly those associated with Binh Dinh, to practitioners and visitors from around the world.
Held under the theme "Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts – Shining Essence," the festival runs from Aug. 2 to Aug. 5. It features 16 international martial arts delegations from France, Switzerland, Germany, Burkina Faso, Thailand, Morocco, Italy, Russia, China and Algeria, alongside dozens of martial arts schools and teams from Gia Lai Province and other parts of Vietnam.
Following the morning's ceremonies, the festival's official opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on the evening of Aug. 2 at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Quy Nhon Ward.
A series of cultural and martial arts activities will be held throughout the festival in Quy Nhon Ward and several other wards and communes across Gia Lai Province.
The program includes a photo exhibition showcasing Vietnamese and international martial arts schools at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square from Aug. 1 to Aug. 5, large-scale martial arts performances and exchanges at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square and Chien Thang Square on Aug. 3, and a martial arts exchange combined with visits to the An Khe School historical site, the Quang Trung Museum and Long Phuoc Pagoda on Aug. 4.
On the morning of Aug. 5, participants will visit Banh It Tower, Lang Song Minor Seminary and the Center for Science Discovery and Innovation before the festival concludes with a closing ceremony that evening at the Gia Lai Provincial Convention Center in Quy Nhon Ward.