During holidays, the Lunar New Year, and cultural festivals, these traditional games attract a vast number of participants, creating a vibrant atmosphere and strengthening community bonds. From simple playgrounds at the grassroots level, traditional sports have gradually become more systematically organized, evolving into a vital component of the mass physical education movement. Engaging in these activities not only improves health but also contributes to the preservation and promotion of the cultural beauty of various ethnic groups in the province.

Historically, folk games appeared primarily during festive occasions; however, they have now been integrated into official competition systems, becoming formal events in local sports festivals. This transition implies that ethnic sports are being approached through a more scientific lens, featuring specific technical standards, training methods, and performance evaluations.

At the First Chà Tở Commune Sports Festival in 2025, the organizational style and selection of events clearly reflected this mindset. Out of six total disciplines spanning 24 events, four belonged to the traditional category, including crossbow shooting, tù lu (top spinning), tung còn (con ball throwing), and stick pushing.

Lường Văn Toán, Deputy Director of the Chà Tở commune General Service Center, emphasized that including ethnic sports in competition programs is a consistent mission for developing grassroots sports. These activities are deeply rooted in the daily lives of local people, and when organized professionally, they effectively enhance physical fitness while conserving traditional cultural values. The goal now is to build a core force and form local movement hubs in every village.

Festivals continue to serve as a lively environment for the practice of traditional sports. At the Hoàng Công Chất Temple Festival, held at the Bản Phủ Citadel national historical and cultural site in Thanh An commune, numerous folk games are organized in a synchronized manner, creating a colorful athletic tapestry. From tug-of-war and stick pushing to tung còn, stilt walking, cockfighting, and sack racing, each activity draws large crowds of residents and tourists, authentically recreating communal cultural life.

Within this space, the elements of competition and experience blend together, motivating the public, especially the younger generation, to embrace traditional sports. Lò Minh Phúc, a student at Thanh An Primary and Secondary School, shared that after starting stick pushing in the ninth grade for fun, the guidance of teachers on balance, force, and technique made the sport truly captivating. Participating in formal competitions revealed that achieving high results requires serious training, endurance, and skill.

The mass sports movement in the province is being bolstered by specific targets and a synchronized system of solutions. Đào Hồng Hà, Head of the Sports Management Division under the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, noted that in the first quarter of 2026, the provincial mass sports movement maintained positive momentum. The rate of regular practitioners reached 35.3%, while sports-oriented households stood at 24.3%. The province currently boasts 465 grassroots sports clubs operating stably. In total, 70 tournaments have been organized, attracting over 10,000 participants, many featuring traditional disciplines.

The enduring vitality of ethnic sports in modern life is evident in events like the Olympic Run Day for Public Health or the sports segments of the Ban Flower Festival, which have become major highlights. Linking traditional sports with cultural events expands the participant base and raises community awareness about the value of physical training paired with identity preservation. As more people, particularly the youth, engage in training and competition, traditional sports will continue to be passed down and promoted. This serves as the foundation for a sustainable mass sports movement, enhancing spiritual life and building healthy, united communities from the grassroots level.