Positioning the Bac Ha horse racing brand

No need to wait until May or June every year, now, visitors to the White Plateau can immerse themselves in the dramatic atmosphere of the horse racing tournament held every week. With a creative, professional but still distinctive way of doing things, Bac Ha hopes to turn this activity into a unique tourist highlight, so that the Bac Ha horse racing brand can spread more and more.

For many years, the traditional Bac Ha horse race in June every year has been a prominent event, attracting many tourists, contributing to making the unique culture of local ethnic groups a national intangible cultural heritage.

However, to make that attraction not only happen once a year, the locality has decided to make a change: Organizing a weekly horse racing series, starting from November 2025, associated with the operation of the Bac Ha Horse Club.

The first three weeks of the month are the time for the exciting qualifying rounds. 24 to 30 riders are divided into 8 heats, each heat has 3 or 4 riders competing directly to select the best riders to go to the next round.

The Bac Ha horse race focuses on the endurance of the highland horse breed. The jockeys must conquer a distance of 1,900 m, equivalent to 4 laps around the stadium. This is a long enough distance to test both the horse’s physical strength and the rider’s strength coordination strategy.

The heat of the race is pushed to its peak in the last week of the month - the final week. This is when the best riders who have passed the qualifying round gather.

The audience will witness breathtaking chases through the knockout rounds: from round 24, round 16, until only the 4 best jockeys remain to enter the final, to win first, second, third and fourth places.

The racing distance remains at 1,900 m, requiring the horses' endurance after many laps.

Ms. Vu Linh - a tourist from Phu Tho excitedly said: This is the first time I have watched horse racing live and the atmosphere is so wonderful. Many locals and tourists come here to watch. I feel very excited to be immersed in this atmosphere.

In particular, the way the tables are divided, the rounds are divided and the competition is long-distance, creating a dramatic feeling, attracting visitors to watch from beginning to end, even wanting to come back the following week to see the final result.

To turn cultural and sports activities into a regular tourism product, Bac Ha has prioritized safety and professionalism. The organization is no longer limited to the spontaneous socialization scale but has the systematic participation of the entire local political system.

Accordingly, the Bac Ha Commune Department of Culture and Society acts as a standing agency, responsible for general consultation and coordination. In particular, to ensure absolute safety for people, horses and thousands of spectators, the functional forces have been assigned specific tasks.

The Commune Police are responsible for security and order; the Commune Health Station is on duty to take care of health; the Commune Youth Union provides logistical support and the Bac Ha Horse Club Board strictly manages the horse jockeys' techniques. Careful preparation helps visitors feel completely secure when immersing themselves in the passionate atmosphere of the racetrack.

Maintaining regular horse racing not only helps diversify tourism products but is also a long-term strategy for Bac Ha to promote the local image. The land is already famous for its colorful market and the ancient Hoang A Tuong mansion, now with the sound of horse hooves every weekend, the picture of Bac Ha tourism becomes more vibrant and complete.

The product promises to elevate the brand “Bac Ha Horse”, an opportunity for highland culture to get closer to domestic and international tourists through real, vivid experiences instead of just through books or movies.

Mr. Bui Minh Hai - Chairman of Bac Ha Commune People's Committee, affirmed: "Bac Ha Commune has identified tourism as a breakthrough in socio-economic development. We wish and are implementing the organization of weekly horse racing competitions, creating a unique and regular tourism product, promoting the tradition and values of recognized intangible cultural heritage..."

Bac Ha is affirming the right direction, when heritage is preserved and invested in the right direction, it will become a priceless asset, contributing to economic development and affirming the position of tourism in the white plateau on the map of Vietnam. Visitors to Bac Ha now not only go to the market, admire plum blossoms, but also immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere all year round. People participating in the event also benefit, contributing to improving their lives and developing a sustainable economy.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dinh-vi-thuong-hieu-dua-ngua-bac-ha-post888414.html