Tuesday, 06/10/2026

Tuesday, 06/10/2026

Foreign wrestlers compete at Mai Dong traditional wrestling festival

Friday, 17:58, 20/02/2026

VOV.VN - The Mai Dong Traditional Wrestling Festival opened on February 20 (the fourth day of the Lunar New Year) at Mai Dong Communal House in Tuong Mai Ward, Hanoi, in a vibrant and festive atmosphere. The annual event is a distinctive folk festival that reflects the historical and cultural heritage as well as the martial spirit of Thang Long, the former name of Hanoi.

The Mai Dong Traditional Wrestling Festival at Mai Dong Communal House in Tuong Mai Ward, Hanoi, is a long-standing folk festival held annually from the fourth to the sixth day of the first lunar month, drawing large numbers of local residents and visitors.

According to tradition, on the morning of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, at the sound of the drums from Mai Dong Communal House and the inviting melodies of quan ho folk songs, residents gather in the communal yard to join the procession carrying the palanquin of the Saint from the temple to the communal house

Elderly members of the Senior Citizens’ Association enter Mai Dong Communal House on the morning of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse.

The ceremony continues with festival drum performances, lion dances, martial arts displays and the opening wrestling bout, performed by two veteran wrestlers of Mai Dong Communal House and two young wrestlers.

Opening festival drum performance

Two veteran wrestlers perform the ceremonial opening bout at the Mai Dong Traditional Wrestling Festival.

Martial arts performance by practitioners of the Thien Mon Dao Club

Martial arts practitioners of the Thien Mon Dao Club perform a qigong demonstration, lifting buckets of water with their eyelids.

Quan ho folk melodies invite residents and visitors to the Mai Dong Traditional Wrestling Festival.

In the afternoon, the most important and eagerly awaited part of the festival begins, as official wrestling matches get underway.

This year’s festival features competition for first, second and third prizes, as well as the Neo prize and a children’s category. Several foreign wrestlers are also taking part in the tournament.

According to the organising board, the children’s, Neo and third-place categories are scheduled to take place on the opening afternoon.

The second- and first-place competitions will be held on the following days, with the final bouts taking place on the afternoon of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, marking the close of the festival.

Spectators cheer enthusiastically for the wrestlers to the lively beat of festival drums.

Two wrestlers, Rafael (Russia) and Smith Harry (United Kingdom), compete for the third-place prize amid enthusiastic cheers from residents and visitors.

Rafael (in the red belt) delivers the decisive move to secure victory less than a minute after the opening whistle.

Spectators cheer enthusiastically for the wrestlers competing at the festival.

According to the organizing board, the annual festival serves as an occasion to honour the forebears who contributed to the nation and the people, helping to educate younger generations about patriotism and national pride, strengthen community solidarity, and create a joyful atmosphere as residents enter the new year with renewed determination and aspirations for success.

Wrestling festival excites crowds in early Spring

Wrestling festival excites crowds in early Spring

VOV.VN - The Sinh village wrestling festival kicked off on the 10th day of the first lunar month, January 31 this year, in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, luring thousands of excited visitors.

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