Traditional boat racing festival in Tru Ninh cultural village, Hoang Hoa commune. Photo: Minh Hien
On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse (Bính Ngọ), while the spring mist still lingered over the surface of Đình Lake, Trù Ninh village (Hoằng Hóa commune) was already bustling with the sound of drums signaling the start of the festival. The usually calm surface of the lake transformed into a race track; red flags with yellow stars fluttered everywhere, and locals and tourists stood around the lake, eagerly awaiting the opening ceremony. The early spring atmosphere seemed to be warmed by the rhythmic drumming amidst the gentle spring rain.
The boat racing festival is held at Dinh Lake, part of the Tru Ninh village historical and cultural relic complex – home to the Van Vot shrine dedicated to Lady Vot, who is said to have taught the villagers the craft of boat weaving. In the past, Tru Ninh was a fishing village on the Lach Truong River. The riverine livelihood sustained generations, so boat racing is not simply a spring festival but also a way for the people to show gratitude to the river, to their ancestors, and to express their hopes for a year of favorable weather.
According to the elders, the festival has a long history, having been interrupted for a period due to historical upheavals. Since 1990, when folk performances were restored, the sound of drums from the boat races resounded on the water. In 2002, the village unanimously decided to hold the festival on the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year every year. Thus, for over two decades, the festival has become a "cultural milestone" marking the beginning of the new year for the people here.
This year, four teams – both men's and women's – entered the race together in a spirit of unity. Each team had one captain and six oarsmen, competing in three laps around the lake to determine the best team. When the drum sounded, the oars propelled the water in perfect unison. On the shore, cheers erupted in waves, filling the countryside with lively energy.
Standing amidst the throngs of people on the lake's edge, Mrs. Cao Thi Nhung, a resident over 60 years old, happily recounted that she attends the festival almost every year, saying, "If I don't go, something feels missing during Tet." For her, the sound of the boat race drums evokes memories – of her youth spent playing and shouting with her friends until her voice was hoarse as the village boats sped forward. Years may have changed many things, but the thrill of hearing the rhythmic oar calls remains intact. Now, surrounded by eager young people holding up their phones to capture the vibrant moment, she still feels her heart racing: "I watch to have fun, but also to remember," she said with a gentle smile – a smile that seems to gather an entire period of her youth and send it to the rippling surface of the lake. For Mr. Le Van Nam, a young man who works far from home and has just returned for Tet, the boat race is the moment he truly feels a sense of belonging. "No matter where I go, hearing the festival drums makes me feel like my homeland is right in front of me," he said.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, festival-goers carry not only excitement but also pride and an invisible bond with the land where they were born and raised. "The festival not only creates a joyful atmosphere at the beginning of spring but also encourages physical fitness, hard work, dedication, and achievements to celebrate the Party, the Spring, and the country's renewal. More importantly, it's an opportunity for people to meet, strengthen community bonds, and pray for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest," shared Mr. Dinh Trong Hao, Head of Tru Ninh village, amidst the rhythmic drumming.
During the Lunar New Year celebrations, the traditional boat race of Trung Chinh commune on the Lang Giang River stirred up the entire river area with the lively sounds of drums. Unlike the scale in Tru Ninh, this year's Trung Chinh boat race featured 9 teams from 9 villages in the commune. Each team consisted of 13 people: 10 oarsmen, 1 helmsman, 1 person beating the drum to keep the rhythm, and 1 person bailing water. When the drum sounded, the oars cut through the waves rapidly, and each boat sped forward powerfully amidst the resounding cheers from both banks of the river. Each sprint to the finish line brought an outpouring of emotion from the spectators.
Mr. Luong Khac Binh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Trung Chinh commune, said: "The boat racing festival is a sporting activity deeply rooted in the local culture, an opportunity to unite the community, strengthen neighborly bonds, and create a joyful atmosphere at the beginning of the new year."
Amidst the ever-changing pace of life, as urbanization and technology permeate every village, traditional festivals on the waterways still retain their unique appeal. People attend these festivals not simply to watch the races and see who wins and loses, but to rediscover the feeling of being immersed in a familiar community cultural space, to hear stories about their hometown river. And in the lively drumming of the spring festival, they express their hopes for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Minh Hien
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhip-cheo-dau-xuan-279651.htm
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