Guardian Girls Vovinam Seminar Debuts in Hanoi, Viet Nam

A day after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to formally launch the global partnership between Guardian Girls International (GGI) and the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF), the Guardian Girls Vovinam (GGV) Seminar was held at the Youth Sports Training Center 10-10 in Hanoi. The seminar was organized by the Viet Nam Vovinam Federation in close collaboration with WVVF, UNFPA Viet Nam, the Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam, Guardian Girls Viet Nam, and GGI.

The Guardian Girls Vovinam Seminar is one of the flagship activities of the GGV project, designed to empower women through introductory self-defense training led by experienced female Vovinam instructors certified by GGI and WVVF in each country. 

Ms. Nia Lyte, President of GGI, served as emcee and opened the event with a warm welcome to the women participants, distinguished guests, and partner organizations. She introduced the attending dignitaries, including:

• H.E. Mr. Ito Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to Viet Nam, who delivered special greetings.

• Mr. Shin Koyamada, Board Chairman of GGI.

• Mr. Matt Jackson, Country Representative of UNFPA Viet Nam.

• Grand Master Tran Van My, President of the Viet Nam Vovinam Federation.

• Ms. Khúc Thị Hoa Phượng, Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Viet Nam Women’s Union and Director, Editor-in-Chief of the Viet Nam Women’s Publishing House.

• H.E. Ms. Camila Polo Flórez, Ambassador of Colombia to Viet Nam.

Women participants joined the training in newly designed GGV uniforms—blue t-shirts for instructors and white t-shirts for participants—symbolizing unity and empowerment. The seminar was broadcast nationwide by VTV, Viet Nam’s national television network, bringing the initiative to audiences across the country.

During the training, Dr. Bui Dang Hong Nhung, a certified GGV instructor, demonstrated foundational self-defense techniques, supported by assistant instructor Bac Thi Nhung. Women participants, aged 18 and above, actively practiced the techniques with enthusiasm. Many expressed excitement at learning Vovinam self-defense for the first time, remaining fully engaged as they discovered the empowering foundations of this martial art.