Today, 32 Ngo boat teams that won the qualifying round entered the fierce competition at the Ngo boat racing tournament of Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo boat racing in Can Tho City 2025

(CT) - Today, November 5, the traditional Ngo boat racing tournament within the framework of the Ooc Om Boc Festival - Can Tho City Ngo boat racing 2025, continued with fierce competition between 32/61 teams that won the qualifying round that took place yesterday, November 4.

Before that, at noon on November 4, the traditional Ngo boat race of the Khmer people in the South opened and the opening matches took place on the Maspéro River, Soc Trang Ward. This is one of the most anticipated and exciting activities at the festival.

Leaders of the City Party Committee and People's Committee of Can Tho City presented symbolic support plaques and souvenir flags to the female Ngo boat teams participating in the race. Photo: THACH PICCH

Mr. Lam Van Man, member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council; Mr. Son Phuoc Hoan, former Deputy Minister, former Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee; Ms. Ho Thi Cam Dao, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho City; former leaders of ministries, branches, and the Central Government; leaders and former leaders of Can Tho City, Soc Trang Province and Hau Giang Province (old), monks, superiors, and local religious dignitaries attended the event.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi, Member of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Festival Organizing Committee emphasized: In the effort to build a civilized and modern Can Tho City, the locality pays special attention to preserving and promoting the unique cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities, including the Khmer people. The Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Racing is a long-standing traditional cultural feature of the Khmer people, creating a joyful atmosphere and solidarity among the ethnic groups in the region. The Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Racing of the Khmer people was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage and in 2022, the Vietnam Guinness Organization recognized the Guinness Record "Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Racing with the largest number of Ngo boats and athletes in Vietnam". Over the years, this traditional tournament has always attracted the attention and participation of local boat teams and provinces and cities in the region.

Can Tho City leaders presented symbolic support plaques and souvenir flags to the Ngo Nam boat teams participating in the race. Photo: THACH PICCH

This year’s tournament took place on November 4 and 5, with 61 male and female Ngo boat teams competing (8 female teams and 53 male teams). Of which, 8 male teams and 5 female teams came from Ca Mau province.

Teams participating in the Opening Ceremony of the Ngo Boat Racing Competition of the Ooc Om Boc Festival - Can Tho City Ngo Boat Racing 2025. Photo: LY ANH LAM

According to the competition format, in the men's 1,200m event, 53 teams are divided into 13 groups, each group has 5 teams or 4 teams; the teams will compete in a round robin, selecting 32 winning teams to advance to the round of 16, round of 8, quarter-finals and finals. For the women's 1,000m event, 8 teams are divided into 2 groups, each group has 4 teams, competing in a round robin to select 4 teams to advance to the quarter-finals and finals.

Regarding the prize structure, the first place team will receive 200 million VND, the second place team will receive 150 million VND, the third place team will receive 100 million VND and the fourth place team will receive 80 million VND. In addition, the Organizing Committee will also award prizes to the first and second place teams and the winners of each round. The total prize value is up to 1,396,000,000 VND. In addition, each participating boat team will receive 30 million VND from the Organizing Committee.

After the opening ceremony, the athletes entered the group stage competition amid the anticipation and excitement of hundreds of thousands of people and tourists in the stands and along both banks of the Maspéro River.

After the opening ceremony, the group stage matches took place in an exciting atmosphere. Photo: THACH PIC

* On the evening of November 4, also within the framework of the Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Racing in Can Tho City 2025, at Kh'leang Pagoda, Soc Trang Ward, the Moon Worship Festival took place, organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City in coordination with other units.

XUAN NGUYEN

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/hom-nay-32-doi-ghe-ngo-chien-thang-vong-loai-buoc-vao-tranh-tai-quyet-liet-tai-giai-dua-ghe-ngo-le--a193452.html