14th National Ethnic Minority Sports Festival – Region II opens in Dong Nai

Nearly 600 athletes from eight provinces and cities across the country took part in the 14th National Ethnic Minority Sports Competition, Region II, 2025, held in Dong Nai.

The musical performance Tieng chay tren soc Bom Bo (the sound of rice-pounding pestles in Bom Bo hamlet) is presented at the opening ceremony.

The organizing committee presents commemorative flags and flowers to the units participating in the competition. Photo: Huy Anh

On the evening of November 17, at the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center Gymnasium (Facility 2, Binh Phuoc ward), the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Viet Nam Sports Authority, organized the opening ceremony of the 14th National Ethnic Minority Sports competition, Region II, 2025, in Dong Nai.

Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Sports Authority and Head of the Central Organizing Committee, speaks at the opening ceremony. Photo: Huy Anh

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism delivers opening speech at National Ethnic Minority Sports Competition, Region II. Photo: Huy Anh

Also in attendance were Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Sports Authority and Head of the Central Organizing Committee; Nguyen Huu Dat, Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City; Giang Thi Phuong Hanh, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairwoman of the People’s Council of Binh Phuoc ward; Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Le Thi Hoang Yen (right), Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Sports Authority and Head of the Central Organizing Committee, presents a flag to the local organizing committee. Photo: Huy Anh

Delivering the opening remarks, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated that Dong Nai is honored to be selected by the Viet Nam Sports Authority to host the 14th National Ethnic Minority Sports Competition, Region II, in 2025. The competition is a recurring event organized by the Viet Nam Sports Authority in coordination with provinces and cities across various regions. It holds profound political and social significance, reflecting the Party and State’s attention to grassroots sports movements.

The units participate in the National Ethnic Minority Sports Competition, Region II. Photo: Huy Anh

The competition helps strengthen solidarity and close bonds among ethnic minority communities across regions and provinces, while preserving and promoting their traditional sports. It also serves as an opportunity for ethnic minority groups to interact, compete, and share experiences. The organization of sports activities and movements within these communities contributes to enriching their cultural and spiritual life. At the same time, the event offers Dong Nai a valuable opportunity to promote its people, culture, and local potential to other provinces and cities in the region.

Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Sports Authority and Head of the Central Organising Committee (in yellow ao dai), poses for a photo with the local organising committee and leaders of provinces and cities participating in the competition at the opening ceremony. Photo: Huy Anh

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Sports Authority and Head of the Central Organizing Committee said that: The competition is a cultural and sporting activity aimed at promoting and encouraging ethnic minority communities to develop regular habits of physical exercise and sports, enhancing cultural and spiritual life, and contributing to the development of grassroots sports. It also seeks to preserve and promote traditional cultural values associated with ethnic sports, helping younger generations understand, appreciate, and carry on the heritage of their ancestors. It evaluates the current state of the sporting movement, thus proposing appropriate policies to develop comprehensive sports within ethnic minority communities.

The competition takes place from November 15 to 24 at the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center Gymnasium (Facility 2, Binh Phuoc Ward), bringing together nearly 600 male and female athletes from eight southern provinces and cities: Da Nang, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Quang Ngai, Ho Chi Minh City, and host province Dong Nai. Dong Nai is participating with more than 70 athletes. Competitions are held in eight sports: football, men's and women's volleyball, stick pushing, tug of war, stilt-walking, cross-country running, crossbow shooting, and slingshot.

On November 18, competitions in all eight sports will officially begin. The closing ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 24.

By Huy Anh – Translated by Thu Hien, Minho