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Inside Saigon’s Secret World of Kung Fu and Lion Dance
Step into a 40-year-old martial arts school and discover a family's traditions.
5.0
|1 Review
Group size
Up to 10 guests
DURATION
1.5 hours
Booking type
Private trip
MEET UP
At location
Group size
Up to 10 guests
- Experience highlights
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Availability
- More Info
- Host
- Reviews
Meet the family keeping Kung Fu & lion dance alive in Saigon
Hidden behind an unassuming door in Saigon’s Chinatown is a world most travellers never get to enter. Here, one Cantonese-Vietnamese family has kept its martian arts and lion dance traditions alive for generations. For 1.5 hours, you’ll be welcomed into their private ancestral hall and 40-year-old school to discover the rituals, stories and traditions behind this way of life.Your host, Mr Buu, was born into this world. He grew up surrounded by lion heads, martial arts training, temple rituals and festival performances — but also the values of loyalty, respect, discipline and brotherhood that came with them. Through his family’s story, you’ll see how martial arts became much more than fighting: it was also a way for Chinese-Vietnamese families to pass down their culture and values.You’ll explore the family’s ancestral hall, filled with old weapons, lion heads, training objects and lineage records. Along the way, Mr Buu will reveal the meaning behind the movements, colours and rituals of lion dance, and how they connect to Choy Lee Fut martial arts.Then you’ll get to try it yourself, with a beginner-friendly introduction to Choy Lee Fut and wooden dummy training. No experience is needed! It’s about getting a feel for the rhythm, posture and discipline behind the movements.This is a deeply personal look at the rituals, values and traditions that have shaped one family for generations, and how martial arts can become a way of carrying culture, identity and community forward.What to ExpectPrivate 1.5-hour cultural sessionGuided visit inside a private ancestral hall and heritage spaceEnglish-speaking host from a multi-generation lion dance and martial arts familyClose-up look at traditional lion heads, old weapons, training tools, photos, and lineage recordsStories behind lion dance symbolism, rituals, and its role in Chinese-Vietnamese community lifeBeginner-friendly introduction to basic Choy Li Fut martial arts movementsWooden dummy demonstration and chance to try a few basic movementsGood to KnowNo prior martial arts experience is neededThis is a cultural learning experience with light physical activity, not intensive martial arts trainingTransport to and from the meeting point is not includedLion dance performance is not included by default and is available as an add-onWear comfortable clothes if you’d like to join the movement practice
Experience highlights
What You’ll be Doing
Explore Cantonese Vietnamese Lion Dance & Martial Arts Heritage
Show Details
What’s Included
Guided introduction inside a private ancestral hall and heritage space
English-speaking host
Beginner-friendly Choy Lee Fut martial arts practice
Wooden dummy demonstration and hands-on try-out
Use of basic training equipment during the session
Water
Show Details
Next Available Dates
Prices shown in USD
Select Time for 23 Sep 2026
Additional Information
Where we'll meet
Start Point
Meet-up at 1549/1 3/2 Street, Minh Phung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City(Singyi Ancestral Hall, Đường 3 Tháng 2, Vietnam)
- Meet at selected timeslot
End Point
- End at Start Point(s)
Start & Ends
Daily
Guests can choose any start time between
09:00AM - 05:00PMSuitability / Accessibility
- Child Friendly (No Minimum Age)
Cancellation & other policies
Cancellation
Cancel 3 days before activity for a full refund
From
610.385đ
/person5.0(1)
Show Prices
Meet your host
Buu grew up in Ho Chi Minh City in a Cantonese-Chinese family where martial arts and lion dance were part of everyday life. By the age of three, he could already perform a full ground lion dance routine on his own. As a teenager, he moved to Australia to study design, hoping to bring modern ideas back to traditional lion and dragon dance. He later returned early, took on a cultural and communications role, and now helps guide the troupe’s direction. What makes him stand out is how he bridges old and new—training seriously in martial arts while also writing and preserving lion dance traditions for the next generation.
Experience: 3 years
Speaks: Fluent English, Chinese
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