With their own martial arts foundation and techniques, the Unicorn-Lion-Dragon Dance troupes in Binh Duong have become folk martial arts, crystallizing the cultural quintessence of many regions. In Binh Duong, the cultural dance has become a competitive sport in tournaments. It is also an opportunity for troupes to exchange, learn and constantly improve the sport.
Rich playground
The Unicorn-Lion-Dragon Dance Art in Binh Duong not only preserves the essence of traditional cultural values but is also expanding strongly into the world arena. With large-scale competitions and festivals taking place regularly in cities such as Thu Dau Mot, Thuan An, and Di An, it has become an ideal playground for famous troupes to compete, exchange, and develop.
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Receiving us during a break after practicing to prepare for the upcoming tournament, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of the Nam Wah Vietnam Unicorn-Lion-Dragon Dance Club, said that the 2025 Binh Duong Festival, organized on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025 and the upcoming Party Congresses at all levels, is an opportunity for the Nam Wah troupe to perform vibrant, attractive and exciting performances. “This is an opportunity for the lion and dragon dance troupes to learn from experience, hone their skills, and at the same time enhance their competitive spirit. Such festivals not only create a joyful atmosphere in the community but also help the troupes improve their performance skills, combining the quintessence of folk culture with traditional martial arts,” said Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam.
According to Tan Hang of Hang Anh Troupe from Ho Chi Minh city, who is also the President of Vietnam Dragon Dance Association, the attendance of well-performing troupes would make up professional and arresting movements in Binh Duong province.
Meanwhile, Mr. Thai Minh Phong, Deputy Head of the Chan An Duong Lion Dance Troupe (under the Provincial Youth Activity Center), said that when hearing that Binh Duong will organize the Binh Duong Lion Dance Festival to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2025 and welcome the Party Congresses at all levels, the members of the troupe were very excited and planned to increase their practice to be able to bring the audience beautiful and meaningful performances. The troupe's performances include Festival Drum, Four Noble Lions, Dragon Dance and Lion on dojo ladder. Mr. Vo Hoang Tanh, Head of the Quang Nghe Troupe, said that the 2025 Cho Lon - HTV International Lion Dance Competition in District 5 will gather lion dance troupes from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and 45 lion dance troupes nationwide. This will be an opportunity for Binh Duong troupes such as Quang Nghe, Phuoc Anh Duong, Gia Thang to showcase their talents, while also exchanging, learning and improving their skills.
Take on the challenge
According to artist Luong Tan Hung, Head of the Hang Anh Troupe (Ho Chi Minh city), Vice President of the Vietnam Dragon Dance Federation, Binh Duong is one of the localities with strong development in the lion and dragon dance movement, with the participation of many strong troupes. The performance techniques of troupes in Binh Duong are increasingly professional and attractive. Many troupes of the province have achieved high results in national competitions, creating a strong impression on the audience.
Talking to us, Mr. Tran Thanh Son, Director of the Provincial Cultural Center, shared that lion and dragon dances are not only mythical images but also symbolize justice and extraordinary power. Seeing the lion or dragon on important occasions, people feel the resurrection of heaven and earth and are connected in the community. Therefore, in addition to the goal of competition and performance, lion and dragon dance troupes also play an important role in preserving and promoting folk cultural values.
With the continuous development of lion dance in Binh Duong, in the future, competitions and festivals will have many improvements, improving quality, from applying stricter evaluation criteria, to organizing competitions on a 1m high stage, a great challenge for participating teams. This is an opportunity for teams to be creative and experiment with difficult movements, while attracting the attention of the audience through television channels and social networks such as Facebook, YouTube. With enthusiasm and constant creativity, Binh Duong lion dance is growing stronger and stronger, affirming its position not only domestically but also internationally. Therefore, every spring, the sound of lion drums resounds loudly on all roads, bringing new hopes, aspirations to reach far, and love for national culture.
Briefing the Binh Duong Dragon Dance Festival 2025, Mr. Tran Thanh Son, Director of local Culture Center, informed that the festival taking place February 7 to 4, which is the 7th to 10th of Lunar January, would call for major troupes of Hang An, Nhan Nghia, Hai Nam Lien Huu of Ho Chi Minh city, Bay Ba Temple of An Giang Province, Dong Nai, Dong Thap and many others of well-known troupes of Binh Duong.
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Reported by Thuc Van – Translated by Vi Bao
