Dinh Noi Bridge Robbers

The Noi Communal House Bridge Robbing Festival is a unique folk festival held at Noi Communal House, Viet Lap Commune, Tan Yen District, Bac Giang Province (old) - the place marking the Yen The uprising and ranked as a special national monument.

The festival is imbued with the cultural identity of the agricultural residents of Kinh Bac region, combining the belief of praying for a good harvest, folk art and traditional sports. Vietnam.vn would like to send to readers a collection of photos titled " Dinh Noi Bridge Robbery " by author Nguyenhuuthong168 . The photo series was recorded by the author at the Dinh Noi village festival, Tan Yen commune, Bac Ninh province. The photo series was submitted by the author to participate in the " Happy Vietnam 2025 " Award.

The soldiers prepare their costumes for the ceremony in the communal house.

The celebrant and two teams perform the ceremony in the communal house.

The ceremonial master brings the ball out onto the field.

Jackfruit wood balls, round, painted red

Hooks are made from bamboo

Start the game

Fun but fierce

Game atmosphere in the festival

People gathered in large numbers to enjoy the game.

The festival takes place at the beginning of the year with many solemn rituals and attractive folk games. The offerings to the Saint are elaborately prepared according to the village convention, including jet-black pigs, phoenix-wing chickens, sticky rice trees and wrapped trees - elaborately shaped folk culinary works, demonstrating the ingenuity and creativity of the local people. The most special highlight of the festival is the game of robbing the hook, a highly symbolic religious ritual. The red-painted jackfruit wooden ball, symbolizing the sun and the moon, is carried from the harem to the communal house yard in a solemn and bustling atmosphere. Two teams of bridge players - consisting of strong, good-quality men - compete with the hook made of bamboo or bent iron, with the goal of bringing the ball to the hole on their team's side. The game not only demonstrates the spirit of solidarity and collective strength, but also has the meaning of praying for favorable weather and bountiful crops.

We invite readers and photographers from home and abroad to continue sending photos and videos to participate in the "Happy Vietnam 2025" Award . The award is organized by The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists and Vietnam Television organized . Thereby, to continue to introduce and promote the image of the country, Vietnamese people, cultural values, nature across the country; arouse national pride, self-esteem and aspirations for development in all classes of Vietnamese people to join hands to build Vietnam to be increasingly prosperous, prosperous and happy.

Deadline for submission of works: From May 22, 2025 to September 30, 2025. Entries are accepted online at : https://happy.vietnam.vn  

Contestants: Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and over

The award consists of two categories: Photo and Video.

Each contest category (photo and video) will have one First Prize worth 50,000,000 VND, two Second Prizes worth 30,000,000 VND, three Third Prizes worth 15,000,000 VND, 10 Encouragement Prizes worth 5,000,000 VND, one Most Voted Work Prize worth 5,000,000 VND.

The Organizing Committee encourages and will award a creative prize in each category (photo and video) worth 20,000,000 VND for works with new ideas, creativity in content and form of expression.

In addition, the Organizing Committee will award monthly prizes including First, Second, and Third prizes to the highest voted works of the month in each category.

The Jury will select the award through two rounds of Preliminary and Final, both online and in person.

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