The mass performance was jointly organized by the Department of Education and Training Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Vovinam Federation, and Nestlé Vietnam Ltd. – Nestlé Milo brand. The event was organized in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the city's education and training sector, contributing to the promotion of healthy physical training habits within schools. It also fostered solidarity and nurtured national pride among students through the practice of Vietnam’s traditional martial art.

Students from schools across Ho Chi Minh City actively practiced the martial arts–music routine under the guidance of trained physical education teachers, with additional support from coaches of the Ho Chi Minh City Vovinam Federation. 

Their efforts not only aimed to deliver a visually impressive mass performance, but also to instill in students the deeper values of Viet Vo Dao (the philosophy of Vietnamese martial arts) - fostering discipline, confidence, and compassion.

To make this activity possible, the Vietnam Vovinam Federation worked closely with the Department of Education and Training Ho Chi Minh City over the past period to organize Vovinam martial arts and music training sessions in three regions: Ho Chi Minh City, the former Binh Duong area, and the former Ba Ria–Vung Tau area. With months of coordinated practice, tens of thousands of students from 165 schools across Ho Chi Minh city were able to perform the Vovinam Music Exercise No. 1 simultaneously at the designated time, achieving a high level of uniformity in movement and rhythm.

Vovinam (short for Võ Việt Nam, meaning "Vietnamese Martial Arts"), officially known as Việt Võ Đạo (meaning "Vietnamese Way of Martial Arts") is a Vietnamese martial art founded in 1938 by Nguyễn Lộc. It is based on traditional Vietnamese eclectic sources. Vovinam today is considered by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to be a "National Intangible Cultural Heritage" as of November, 2023. Vovinam, based on the principle of "hard and soft", involves the use of strikes, elbows, kicks, knees, and wrestling moves, as well as weapons such as swords, knives, chisels, claws and fans that serve as training devices for reaching optimal control of body and mind. Students also learn defense techniques and forms. 

Students from 165 campuses perform the Vovinam Music Exercise No. 1

The traditional blue uniform of Vovinam practitioners

Official world record recognition

At the main venue - Saigon River Park (An Khanh Ward) - the performance was directly adjudicated by the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings), with representatives of the World Records Union (WorldKings) witnessing the event onsite. Based on the combined verification of both organizations, a total of 60,000 students participating simultaneously in the on-site and online mass performance was officially confirmed, thereby establishing a new national record and a new world record for Vietnam.

5,000 students from 17 schools gathered at the main venue (Saigon River Park) to take part in the mass performance. 

In the online format, the coordinated performance was joined remotely by students from Colette Secondary School, Tran Van On Secondary School, and Hau Giang Secondary School, all connected to the main venue via livestream.

Three participating schools were connected to the main stage at the Saigon Riverside Park via livestream for simultaneous participation in the performance. (Photo: VietKings)

Representatives of the World Records Union (WorldKings)and the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings)attending the event included: Ms. Uta Hanna Dehnert, A member of the Global Council of the World Records Union; Dr. Nguyen Van Vien, Vice President of the Vietnam Record Association, Standing Committee of the Establishment Council of  VietKings and a member of the Global Council of the World Records Union; Mr. Tran Hoang, Chairman of the Vietnam Marketing Association and Standing Committee of the Establishment Council of  VietKings; Mrs. Nguyen Thi Quynh Ngoc, Deputy Secretary-General of the Vietnam Record Association and Secretary-General of VietKings; and Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuong Van, Deputy Secretary-General and Head of the International Relations Department of VietKings,  Deputy Secretary-General of World Records Union, together with members of the adjudication and editorial teams.

The event was attended by high-ranking delegates from the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings) and the World Records Union (WorldKings). (Photo: VietKings)

The ceremony also welcomed representatives from the Department of Education and Training  Ho Chi Minh City , theVietnam Vovinam Federation, and Nestlé Vietnam Ltd. – Nestlé Milo brand, along with participating students and their instructors.

The national and world records were awarded to the three co-holder organizations: the Department of Education and Training  Ho Chi Minh City , the Vietnam Vovinam Federation, and Nestlé Vietnam Ltd. – Nestlé Milo brand, under the criteria: ‘The Vovinam Martial Arts and Music Mass Performance, conducted simultaneously in both in-person and online formats across multiple schools, recorded the world’s highest number of participating students.’

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuong Van - Deputy Secretary-General and Head of the International Relations Department of VietKings,  Deputy Secretary-General of World Records Union announced Official Notice from WorldKings on establishment the new world record. (Photo: VietKings)

Ms. Uta Hanna Dehnert and Dr.Nguyen Van Vien - members of the Global Council of the World Records Union conferred world record certificates, trophies and medals to the representative of the Department of Education and Training Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Vovinam Federation, and Nestlé Vietnam Ltd. – Nestlé Milo brand. (Photo: VietKings)

 Additionally, the event also set a National Record with the same title.

Recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage, VOVINAM embodies discipline, benevolence, and national identity. The mass performance demonstrates not only the organisational capacity for a large-scale synchronised event but also the growing strength of school-based Vovinam development. The programme highlights Ho Chi Minh City’s commitment to renewing physical education, fostering cohesion, and promoting an active student community.