The event will see performances from 98 teams, including 13 foreign ones, in many categories, including mass, duel and individual fights with bare hands or weapons.
Le Kim Hoa, Chairman of the Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Federation of HCM City, said the international festival and the 14th HCM City Traditional Martial Arts Festival, which are taking place at the same time, are a chance for Vietnamese martial artists to share experience with their peers from other countries and other localities.
The opening ceremony featured performances by more than 1,000 domestic and foreign martial artists.
The fifth HCM City International Traditional Martial Arts Festival is scheduled to last until July 25.