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| The Bay Nui region in An Giang Province where the bull racing takes place in early October this year - Photo: Mong Binh |
In the Bay Nui (seven mountains) region in An Giang Province and surrounds, the locals are all talking about the annual Vietnamese version of a chariot race.
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| A competitor in a previous Dolta Festival bull race spurs on his team in front of the crowd - Photo: Courtesy of Victoria Chau Doc Hotel |
As usual, the festive activities feature colorful parades, cultural shows, dancing and family dinners. But the most-awaited part of the festival is the bull races, which are open to contestants from An Giang and nearby provinces. This year’s races are already heating up the usually-quiet temple courtyard of Ta Miet in Tri Ton District.
According to the rules, each bull pair must drag a 1.2-meter-long rake with 50-centimeter teeth and two teams compete in each race. Two young nai (jockeys) control and use a rattan rod to drive their bull on over the 120 meter muddy track.
To further complicate their task, the bull teams must run forward in a straight line and are disqualified if they veer off the paddy field course. Red and green flags mark the start and finish lines.
Owners of bull teams from Tri Ton, Tinh Bien, Chau Thanh, Chau Phu and Thoai Son districts of An Giang Province as well as Hon Dat and Kien Luong districts of Kien Giang have registered to compete at the 19th annual races. The organizers also expect registrations from bull drivers from Cambodia’s Takeo region.
This exciting and often hilarious event is a spectacle with a crowd of locals and visitors banging pots and pans with cooking utensils to drum up the mood from morning till afternoon.
In celebration of this unique festival, Victoria Chau Doc Hotel will launch a fun-filled package from October 4 to 6. Priced at US$224 per person on a twin-share basis, the package covers a welcome drink and fruit basket upon arrival, two nights stay at the colonial-style hotel on the banks of the Bassac River, trips to the bull racing and Sacred Sam Mountain, a boat tour to the floating fish farm and unique Cham village, and a 45-minute Vietnamese massage.
The boat tour will take you on a journey to discover the life and culture of families living on the banks of the river for a welcome chillout after race day.
