European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science ISSN: 2501 - 1235 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1235 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved 69 Published by Open Access Publishing Group ©2015. 10.5281/zenodo.61719 Volume 2│Issue 2│2016 THE ROLE OF VOVINAM IN THE LIFE OF VIETNAMESE PEOPLE Vo Van Dung 1i , Bui Thi Khanh Vy 2 , Phan Thanh My 3 1 Ph.D., University of Khanh Hoa, Viet Nam 2 MA., University of Khanh Hoa, Viet Nam 3 Vietnam National University Hochiminh city, Ph.D., University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam Abstract: Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao (Vovinam) is a Vietnamese martial art which is considered one of the useful means for training self-defense and fighting skills, raising spirit and educating learners’ morality and personality. Vovinam is a creative combination of many different domestic and foreign martial arts aiming at selecting techniques and strikes to diversify exercises system and program contents. Vovinam techniques are incorporated easily creating excitement and interest for learners especially the young generation. Keywords: Vovinam; martial art; martial art philosophy; fair-play spirit; Vovinam technique system; 1. Introduction Martial arts in general or Vovinam in particular is regarded as one of the effective methods to train morality, spirit, will, health, self-defense, combat skills of all people, of the army not only in the war time but also in the peace. In comparison with some traditional martial arts of Vietnamese people having existed for a long time such as traditional martial art, Vietnamese wrestling, and with some adopted from foreign countries like Kung Fu of Chinese, Karate, Judo and Aikido of Japanese, Taekwondo of Korean, etc., Vovinam has formed and developed much later. However, the birth of Vovinam has encouraged the development of other martial arts, enriched the world’s martial arts and contributed to: