Several localities have opposed to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s decision to only give permission to the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival. Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival in Hai Phong Province will continue At a recent conference held by the ministry to review the shortcomings of festivals in the previous year and to make plans for cultural festivals and activities held this year, deputy minister, Trinh Thi Thuy, confirmed that they would only give permission for the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival which has been recognised as an example of national intangible cultural heritage. “All other buffalo fighting festivals including those held in Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Nghe An and Quang Nam provinces will be banned because they involved violence that may have a bad influence on the community, especially children,” Thuy told the conference. The ministry’s announcement was faced with opposition from representatives of several localities which host annual buffalo fighting festival. Director of Tuyen Quang Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyen Vu Phan, claimed that the traditional buffalo fighting festival in Chiem Hoa District has been licensed for a long time. He also expressed opposition when the same festival is honoured in one place but banned in another. “The buffalo fighting festival shares the same elements as those in Tuyen Quang and Do Son,” Phan said. “Why are they recognised as national intangible heritage in Do Son but banned in Tuyen Quang? Many people from Do Son are coming to Tuyen Quang to find… [Read full story]
Buffalo fighting festival recognised as intangible cultural heritage The Do Son buffalo fighting festival in the northern port city of Hai Phong will be recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage on Thursday when the festival takes place. The announcement will be made at the festival's opening ceremony. Hundreds of artists will perform to celebrate the event and re-enact the buffalo fighting on stage. The traditional festival, which is held annually on the ninth day of the eighth lunar month, not only expresses the martial spirit of the local people, but also helps promote the locality's image and tourism potential.…... [read more]
The death of a buffalo owner during a buffalo fighting festival in northern Vietnam has once again stirred up the debate on whether the ‘sport’ should be banned.
On Saturday, a man was mauled to death by his own buffalo that he had brought to the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival in the northern Vietnamese city of Hai Phong.
The decades-old festival is an annual spectacle where thousands of locals in Do Son District gather around a giant ring to cheer water buffalo as they are made to fight one another until a single contender is crowned…... [read more]
(VOV) -Despite the inclement rainy weather, thousands of people are flockingto Hanoi's PhucTho stadium to attend a buffalo fighting festival - the first of its kind in the capital city. Ham Yen buffalo fighting festival attracts crowds Buffalo fighting festival recognized as national intangible heritage Buffalo fighting festival in PhuTho The February 22-23 event saw tough battles between 32 buffalos in 16 matches in the qualifying round to select the best competitors for the finals. Competitors, aged between 8 - 15 and weighing at least 550kg, come from different localities hosting traditional buffalo fighting festivals, such as Do Son (Haiphong),…... [read more]
In the old days, Hai Luu Commune in Lap Thach District of Vinh Phuc Province was named Bach Luu and was situated on the left bank of the Lo River below steep mountains. Legend has it that one morning, two white buffaloes fought against each other at the Lo Wharf and then both plummeted into the river, hence the village name of Bach Nguu (white buffalo). Later it was renamed Bach Luu to avoid a taboo by naming the village after its saint. In the old days, Hai Luu Commune in Lap Thach District of Vinh Phuc Province was named…... [read more]
The Hanoitimes - On February 15-16, the first ever buffalo fighting festival was held in Phu Yen district, Son La, attracting crowds of ethnic people from the surrounding area. Buffalos from Hai Phong city and the provinces of Son La, Yen Bai, Vinh Phuc and Tuyen Quang competed in qualifying rounds. After two days of competition and many interesting fights, the top three prizes went to buffalo trainers from the Song Hong (Red River) Company, the host district of Phu Yen, and Van Chan district in Yen Bai province respectively. The festival offers a venue for people in northern provinces…... [read more]
