On the occasion of the Sene Dolta Festival of the Khmer ethnic people, on the morning of September 20, at the Ta Pa - Soai Chek Sports - Tourism Complex, Tri Ton commune, the People's Committee of An Giang province organized the Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival 2025. This is the 30th time the bull racing festival has been held at the provincial level and the first time when An Giang province merged with Kien Giang province.
Báo Quân đội Nhân dân•20/09/2025
Participating in this year's bull racing festival are 64 pairs of excellent bulls from 10 communes and wards in An Giang province, including: Tri Ton, Ba Chuc, O Lam, Co To, Vinh Gia, An Cu, Nui Cam, Giang Thanh communes; Chi Lang ward and Tinh Bien ward.
The pairs of oxen compete in a draw, with two pairs in each round competing in a knockout. The rider (controlling the oxen) stands on a harrow behind the driver. The winning pair advances to the next round, competing in knockout pairs until there is a final winner.
The Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival originated from the custom of the Khmer people during the Sene Dolta Festival - a ceremony to honor ancestors, which took place after the harvest. Initially, bull racing was just a community activity in the temple grounds, both entertaining and strengthening the relationship between villagers. With its special appeal, this folk game has developed into a large-scale festival. On January 19, 2016, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially included the "Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival - An Giang" in the list of national intangible cultural heritage.
This is an affirmation of the cultural and spiritual values of the Khmer people, and at the same time elevates the racing festival to become a prominent cultural and tourism brand of An Giang province in particular and the South in general.
The People's Army Newspaper sends readers some fierce, dramatic, and attractive images of this unique bull racing festival:
The Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival has become a unique, provincial-level cultural and sporting event, recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The bulls are preparing to compete.
Take care of the cows before the competition.
Exciting from the first round.
The Bay Nui bull racing festival represents the traditional cultural beauty imbued with humanity of the Khmer ethnic people in the South in general and the Bay Nui region in particular.
A pair of oxen are about to reach the finish line.
The pairs of oxen accelerate to the finish line.
The bull owners and jockeys are the soul of the racetrack, spending a lot of effort taking care of and training healthy, resilient "war horses" to contribute to exciting competitions.
The Bay Nui bull racing festival is an opportunity to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of the Khmer ethnic group in An Giang.
The bull racing festival also aims to promote the image of tourism, culture and people of An Giang to domestic and foreign friends.
Two pairs of bulls fight dramatically.
The Khmer people and people of the Bay Nui region are both spectators and keepers of the heritage, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere rich in identity.
The Bay Nui bull racing festival is not only a sport, but also a cultural symbol and pride of the people of An Giang.
The 30th Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival promises to continue to spread heritage values, bring festival joy, and affirm the strong vitality of Khmer culture in the country's development flow.
Through 30 times of organization, the Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival has contributed to preserving and promoting the unique cultural values of the Khmer people, promoting the sports movement, creating a playground for solidarity and cohesion among ethnic groups.
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