Binh Dinh Invest

Tay Son festival boasts local martial arts, opera

18 July 2008

A festival in the birthplace of Vietnam’s famed Tay Son peasant revolution will feature traditional martial arts and theater this August.

Tay Son battle drum to be introduced to visitors

on Tay Son - Binh Dinh Festival in August

The Tay Son – Binh Dinh festival will center on the theme Hoi tu va phat trien (Converging and Developing), aiming to show off the central province of Binh Dinh’s recent economic development while promoting the province as a major tourist destination.

The event will coincide with the International Festival for Traditional Martial Arts, in which both international and local clubs will compete in various forms of martial arts from 30 countries and regions around the world.

In 1773, the three Nguyen brothers – Hue, Nhac and Lu – led a peasant revolution from Tay Son District.

The farmers’ revolution overthrew Vietnam’s feudal lords and unified north and south Vietnam, which had been previously ruled by the Trinh and Nguyen lords respectively, for the first time in the nation’s history.

In the years that followed, Binh Dinh, where Tay Son is located, became famous for Vo Tay Son, also known as Vivodo or Vo Binh Dinh, a martial art that developed in the area.

Nowadays, Binh Dinh martial arts are practiced not only in Vietnam but as far and wide as in France, Switzerland, Italy, and other countries.

The Tay Son – Binh Dinh festival will feature a beauty contest, in which Binh Dinh women will also show off their Vo Tay Son skills.

Binh Dinh is also the birthplace of Tuong – Vietnamese classical drama – a kind of operatic theater that to the untrained eye may resemble Chinese opera.

The festival will include Tuong performances by troupes from around the country.

The three-day event will take place in Quy Nhon, the capital of Binh Dinh, and the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, which are linked by the Thi Nai Bridge.

Nhon Hoi is symbolic of central Vietnam’s development, as the region has always been considered one of Vietnam’s less-prosperous areas.

Night festivals with flower garlands and colored lanterns, fireworks and traditional musical performances by local and international artists will run throughout the event.

A traditional handicraft and culinary fair featuring specialties made by local villagers will also be a highlight of the festival.

Source: Thanh Nien