A boat race team at the event (Source: http://www.hanoimoi.com.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The open dragon boat race 2019 kicked off at West Lake in the capital city of Hanoi on February 16, attracting thousands of locals and visitors. Attended the opening ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung, and leaders of centrally-run agencies. Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports To Van Dong said the festival drew over 700 professional and amateur racers of 43 teams. They are from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Laos as well as 12 cities and provinces across Vietnam, namely Quang Binh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Hai Duong, Binh Thuan, Quang Tri, Ben Tre, Hung Yen and Hai Phong. At the opening event, visitors were treated to special art performances, including dragon and lion dances staged by 150 members from the Hanoi Martial Art Association. The race is part of … [Read more...] about Hanoi open dragon boat race 2019 kicks off
A boat race
A temple festival boat race cooks rice, catches a duck
The Bach Hao Temple Festival is held on the 5th and 6th day of the first lunar month every year in Thanh Xa Commune, Thanh Ha District, Hai Duong Province, 60km east of Hanoi. The main ceremony starts on the morning of the 6th day of the Lunar New Year, with competitors from five villages arriving at the venue with five trays of offerings and grave markers of three village tutelary gods, who are three generals of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400) that served the legendary commander Tran Hung Dao. This festival involves many folk games, the most striking of which is a boat race that involves rice being cooked even as the boats are rowed. The boat race is held to commemorate the day King Tran Nhan Tong, the third emperor of the Tran Dynasty, visited Hai Duong Province to pray at the Bach Hoa Temple. Male and female teams take turns to compete in the morning and afternoon. Five boats from five villages will race on Cua Chua River. The race is more than one km long and the … [Read more...] about A temple festival boat race cooks rice, catches a duck
Huế holds boat race to maintain tradition
Cheerful audience on a boat. — VNS Photo Hoàng HảiViet Nam News THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — Huế held a boat race on Wednesday on Hương (Perfume) River as an annual tradition. But this year’s race was one day behind schedule due to the ongoing biennial Huế Festival. Nine boat teams from Huế and its outskirt districts, including Phong Điền, Quảng Điền and Phú Vang, competed on the 300m stretch of the river running through the city’s centre. There were two separate tournaments designated for male and female athletes. Each boat was manually sailed by 10 crew members and one skipper, all of whom were fishermen and farmers, and had to make two return laps by crossing the river and three along the river. A total of 200 athletes competed in the race. According to the organisers, the boat race is a post-harvest tradition. During the imperial rule of the Nguyễn Dynasty (1802-1945), … [Read more...] about Huế holds boat race to maintain tradition
Traditional boat race livens temple festival
Viet Nam News PHÚ THỌ — A traditional boat race was organised early morning on April 24, which added to the bustling atmosphere of the ongoing Hùng Kings Temple Festival in northern Phú Thọ province. Hundreds of local people and tourists gathered on the banks of Lô River to cheer up nearly 200 athletes from six teams, namely Bạch Hạc 1, Bạch Hạc 2, Dữu Lâu, Phượng Lâu, Trưng Vương and Sông Lô. Bạch Hạc 1 won the race, while Bạch Hạc 2 and Sông Lô secured the second and third positions, respectively. Traditional boat race is a custom reflecting the artful practice of navy troops under the rule of the Hùng kings. According to historical documents, during the Trần Dynasty (1225-1400), Trần Nhật Duật (1255-1330), who was the sixth son of King Trần Thái Tông and younger brother of Trần … [Read more...] about Traditional boat race livens temple festival
Preparations for Hanoi boat racing festival
Boat racing festival in Dam Village in Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi, is scheduled to be held on April 23-25, attracting the participation of hundreds of local men. Participants in the event are already practising. The training is taken as seriously as an official competition. The participants are divided into six teams. Each team have 18 people on board, including one person who steers the boat, one who bails out the water, one who waves a flag and another who strike a wooden bell. Visitors The Dam boat racing festival has been recognised on the list of national intangible cultural heritage. Besides the Dam boat racing festival, Hanoi has the Truong Lam Communal House Festival in Long Bien District and Tan Vien Mountain God worshiping in Ba Vi District on the list. Dtinews … [Read more...] about Preparations for Hanoi boat racing festival