Do Tac Thoat, a resident in Hai Phong city’s Do Son district, celebrates the victory after his buffalo won the first prize in 2018 competition. (Photo: VNA) Hai Phong (VNA) – The traditional Do SonBuffalo Fighting Festival will take place at Do Son district’s Stadium in thenorthern city of Hai Phong from August 27 to September 11, according to Pham Hoang Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Do Son People's Committee.
He said the festival includes two parts – spiritual rites and festivities - with the first part comprising activities such as incense offeringand flag raising ceremonies, and procession, among others.
Sixteen buffaloes will take part in the competition.
To ensure the festival’ssafety, the organising committee will erect and reinforce the yard with three layers of fences, and arrange emergency exits for buffaloes and staff serving the competition.
A range of activitieswill be organised within the framework of the event, including a Bolero musicnight live show on September 2 evening and an electronic dance music (EDM) festival on September 3. The street music programmeand Vietnamese village fair will be held on the occasion.
The organisers will coordinate with relevant agencies to offeropportunities for tourists to experience other tourism products of Do Son.
Buffalo fighting is aunique and traditional festival of the local people.The festival is not only associated with Water Goddess worshiping andsacrificing customs, but also illustrates the planning and strategy and trainingcapacity of buffalo owners. It has become an indispensable part inHai Phong people’s spiritual life.
The traditional festival, which is heldannually on the ninth day of the eighth lunar month, not only expresses themartial spirit of the local people but also helps promote the locality’s imageand tourism potential.
The Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival was recognised as one of 15official national festivals in 2000 and a national intangible cultural heritagein 2012./.
