Vovinam Viet Vo Dao was founded by Master Nguyen Loc in 1938 and is based on both traditional Vietnamese martial arts as well as a combination of foreign martial arts. It is one of the most popular Vietnamese martial arts and is practiced on all continents.

The philosophy of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao centers around the principles of yin-yang and the belief that a strong body and rational mind produce an invincible will for independence and liberty. Often called simply Vovinam, Vovinam Viet Vo Dao uses a combination of holds and grips as well as kicking, chopping, elbowing and falling. Offensive movements often center around sending an opponent falling to the ground and keeping him pinned. More advanced techniques involve the use of some weapons. A Vovinam Viet Vo Dao practitioner is constantly in motion, rolling with falls and always transforming stances so that the opponents have no idea what to expect next.

The spiritual component of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao centers around a respect for honor, a refusal to succumb to temptation and a determination to serve in life in order to build a better and more productive society. Training consists of making practitioners focus on their strengths, including speed, strength, toughness, accuracy and flexibility, the principle being that quick practitioners can use their skills to defeat stronger, slower ones, or tough combatants can outlast weaker ones.