Wrestling festival in Thuy Linh Village

The wrestling festival in Thuy Linh village dates back to the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong (1054-1072), associated with the legend of Prince Linh Lang, the fourth son of King Ly Thanh Tong. Legend says that he often organized wrestling festivals for his soldiers to enjoy during the Lunar New Year and to improve their health. Following the tradition of the Lunar New Year, every year on the 5th and 6th days of the Lunar New Year, young men in Thuy Linh village (Linh Nam ward, Hoang Mai district, Hanoi ) enthusiastically showcase their skills in the traditional wrestling festival at the village communal house.

Join Vietnam.vn in immersing yourself in the traditional wrestling festival of Thuy Linh village, a beautiful custom that contributes to the rich cultural heritage of Thang Long, through the photo series "The Wrestling Festival of Thuy Linh Village" by author Truong Anh Duc. The photos were taken in Hanoi and submitted to the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications .

Ball wrestling is a sport that trains not only physical strength but also mental fortitude, requiring players to be resourceful, agile, have quick thinking and judgment, and coordinate well with their teammates to get the ball into the hole and earn the points set by the organizers.

In a game filled with dramatic moments, the 25 kg wooden ball was tossed high into the air amidst the excited cheers of the spectators. Getting the ball back into their team's hole was no easy feat, given the constant obstruction from the opposing team.

The intense battles for possession captivated spectators near one team's goal.

The participants in the wrestling competition were mainly young men from Thuy Linh village, who were healthy and possessed a spirit of chivalrous sportsmanship.

The fierce struggle to get the 25 kg ball into their team's hole creates a special appeal in the Thuy Linh ball wrestling festival.

A player successfully sinks the ball into his team's pocket amidst cheers from the crowd.

According to tradition, the winning team in the football match is not only honored but also receives blessings from the villagers for a year of good fortune and happiness.

The prizes in the wrestling competition are just small gifts meant to bring joy to the spring season, but above all, they represent the inheritance of our ancestors' traditions, encouraging the martial spirit of the nation, and preserving a unique aspect of the colorful cultural tapestry of Thang Long - Hanoi.

In 2024, the "Happy Vietnam" Photo and Video Contest, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, will continue to be held on the website https://happy.vietnam.vn for all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and above. The contest aims to honor individuals and groups with positive informational products that make practical contributions to promoting a beautiful image of Vietnam to the world. Through this, it helps people at home, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends access authentic images of Vietnam, its people, and its achievements in ensuring human rights, moving towards a happy Vietnam. Each competition category (photos and videos) has the following prizes and prize values: – 1 Gold Medal: 70,000,000 VND – 2 Silver Medals: 20,000,000 VND – 3 Bronze Medals: 10,000,000 VND – 10 Consolation Prizes: 5,000,000 VND – 1 Most Voted entry: 5,000,000 VND. Winning authors will be invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the Award Ceremony and Certificate Presentation, broadcast live on Vietnam Television.

Vietnam.vn