This year's bull racing festival features 64 outstanding pairs of 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, and Giang Thanh communes; and Chi Lang and Tinh Bien wards.

The oxen compete by drawing lots, with two pairs competing in a knockout round. The ox handler stands on the plow behind the ox to control it. The winning pair advances to the next round, competing in knockout matches until a final winning pair emerges in the grand final.

The Bay Nui Ox Racing Festival originates from the customs of the Khmer ethnic group during the Sene Dolta Festival – a ceremony honoring ancestors, held after the harvest season. Initially, ox racing was just a community recreational activity in temple courtyards, serving both entertainment and fostering community bonds. With its unique 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 Ox Racing Festival - An Giang" in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

This affirms the cultural and spiritual values ​​of the Khmer ethnic group, while elevating the race to a prominent cultural and tourism brand of An Giang province in particular and Southern Vietnam in general.

The People's Army Newspaper presents to its readers some images of the fierce, dramatic, and captivating competition of this unique bull racing festival:

The Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival has become a unique, large-scale provincial-level sporting and cultural event, recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The pairs of oxen are getting ready to compete.
Taking care of the cows before the competition.
The competition was lively right from the first round.
The Bay Nui bull racing festival showcases the beautiful, humane traditional culture of the Khmer people in Southern Vietnam in general and the Bay Nui region in particular.
A pair of oxen are preparing to cross the finish line.
The pairs of oxen sped towards the finish line.
The bull owners and jockeys (the riders) are the heart and soul of the race, investing considerable effort in caring for and training their strong, agile "warhorses" to deliver exciting competitions.
The Bay Nui bull racing festival is an opportunity to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the Khmer ethnic people in An Giang.
The bull racing festival also aims to promote the image of An Giang's tourism, culture, and people to friends both domestically and internationally.
Two pairs of oxen engaged in a dramatic showdown.
The Khmer people and the people of the Bay Nui region are both spectators and keepers of the flame for the heritage, creating a vibrant and distinctive festive atmosphere.

The Bay Nui bull racing festival is not just a sport, but also a cultural symbol and a source of pride for the people of An Giang.

The 30th Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival promises to continue spreading heritage values, bringing festival joy, and affirming the strong vitality of Khmer culture in the development of the country.
Over 30 editions, the Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival has contributed to preserving and promoting the unique cultural values ​​of the Khmer people, fostering sports and physical activity, and creating a platform for unity and camaraderie among ethnic groups.

QUANG DUC - THUY AN - PHUONG VU

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/an-giang-doc-dao-hoi-dua-bo-bay-nui-846909