He emphasised that the competition reaffirms the strong development of the art of kylin - lion - dragon dance, which continues to captivate both locals and international audiences. It also enhances the stature of this unique art form, a distinctive cultural product of the southern metropolis, while contributing to the promotion of tourism, he added.

The championship brought together 45 domestic troupes from across the country and three international troupes from Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

In the traditional dragon dance category, the organising committee awarded the first prize to the Hai Nam Lien Huu troupe from District 5. The second prize was secured by the Tinh Anh Duong troupe, also from District 5, while the Lan Su Rong Nam Hoa troupe from Phan Thiet city of Binh Thuan province claimed the third place.

In the Kylins Climb a Mountain category, the Mieu Bay Ba troupe from An Giang province achieved the top position. The Chung Huy Duong troupe from Tan Binh district of HCM City and the Lan Su Rong Xuan Long troupe from Malaysia won second and third prizes, respectively.

Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Vice President and General Secretary of the HCM City Kylin - Lion - Dragon Dance Federation, remarked that this year’s participating troupes showcased exceptional preparation, with many performances adhering to the themes of love for the homeland and pride in the Vietnamese people. However, some teams lacked technical expertise and fluency in certain coordinated movements.

The competition was co-organised by the federation, the District 5 People’s Committee, and HCM City Television (HTV)./.