Organisers from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the provincial administration said at a press briefing on July 26 that contestants, estimated to reach 1,250 including over 750 foreigners, would have to demonstrate the specifics of Vietnam’s traditional martial arts.

However, participating teams will perform special martial arts of their own schools in both weapons and non-weapons.

The festival will include a “martial art beauty contest”, an event exclusive for female martial artists aged from 18 to 25.

The organising board said the event will be opened with a torch and athlete parade.

An art performance, with the participation of 1,200 school children, entitled “Friendship Bridge”, looking towards the Thang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary, will wrap up the opening ceremony, they said.

The host location of Binh Dinh was the native land of farmer-turned King Quang Trung and is also a cradle of traditional Vietnamese martial arts.