Exciting traditional boat racing in the village where Uncle Ho lived during his childhood

This morning, May 19, in Duong No village, a traditional boat race took place, attracting thousands of people to participate.

This is one of the activities in Duong No Village Festival with the theme "Duong No - May Journey", organized by the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City, celebrating the 135th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2025), 127 years since Nguyen Sinh Cung (President Ho Chi Minh in his youth) lived in Duong No village (1898 - 2025).

Sôi động giải đua ghe truyền thống tại ngôi làng Bác Hồ từng sống thời niên thiếu- Ảnh 1. — Boat racing is part of Duong No Village Festival activities.

From early morning, the atmosphere in front of Duong No communal house was extremely bustling. The sound of festival drums echoed, mingling with the enthusiastic cheers of the audience on both sides of Pho Loi river. The boats were brightly decorated, ready for the dramatic competitions.

Six teams participating in this race, including Duong No village, Phu Bai village, Niem Pho village, An Luu village, Mau Tai village, Quy Lai village and Edufarm farm team, gave the audience breathtaking chases. Each team consisted of 14 rowers who coordinated rhythmically and strongly.

Sôi động giải đua ghe truyền thống tại ngôi làng Bác Hồ từng sống thời niên thiếu- Ảnh 2. — The teams competed in dramatic fashion.

This year’s race has 10 races, including the solemn offering, 8 fierce pre-races and the surprise break. In the offering and break, the teams have to swim 3 laps of 6 turns, requiring high endurance and coordination. The pre-races with 2 laps of 4 turns bring exciting sprints.

The traditional boat race in Duong No village is not only an exciting sport but also has profound historical and cultural significance. Duong No village is where President Ho Chi Minh lived during his childhood. The annual boat race is also an opportunity for people to remember and celebrate his birthday. This year, the race is even more meaningful when it takes place in the joyful atmosphere of the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, the 127th anniversary of Nguyen Sinh Cung (Uncle Ho's childhood name) coming to live in Duong No village.

Sôi động giải đua ghe truyền thống tại ngôi làng Bác Hồ từng sống thời niên thiếu- Ảnh 3. — The sound of drums and cheers filled the entire countryside.

"Every year I eagerly wait for this boat racing festival. This is not only an opportunity for the young men in the village to show off their strength, but also a day for the whole village to have fun together, remembering the years when Uncle Ho was here. Surely he would have loved this bustling atmosphere and spirit of solidarity," said Mr. Vo Van Ba, an elderly villager.

Ms. Duong Thi Hoa (53 years old, resident of Hue City) cheered enthusiastically on the riverbank and could not hide her emotions: "The sound of drums and cheers filled the entire countryside. This is a precious traditional cultural feature of the village, and the race held on the occasion of Uncle Ho's birthday is even more meaningful...".

Sôi động giải đua ghe truyền thống tại ngôi làng Bác Hồ từng sống thời niên thiếu- Ảnh 4. — People eagerly watched the race

This year, in addition to racing teams from neighboring villages, there is also the participation of a very new name, the Edufarm Farm racing team (Huong Vinh Ward). Mr. Tran Trung, Edufarm team leader, shared: "Despite being busy with work in Binh Duong, I and the children far from home always turn to our roots. When I heard about the race, I really wanted to participate. The boat racing is not only a sporting activity but also a connection between children far from home and their homeland, with traditional cultural values. This year's race was organized very systematically and professionally. The competitive spirit of the teams was also very noble," said Mr. Trung.

Sôi động giải đua ghe truyền thống tại ngôi làng Bác Hồ từng sống thời niên thiếu- Ảnh 5. — The race takes place all day on May 19th.

Sôi động giải đua ghe truyền thống tại ngôi làng Bác Hồ từng sống thời niên thiếu- Ảnh 6. — Security at the tournament was tightened.

Sôi động giải đua ghe truyền thống tại ngôi làng Bác Hồ từng sống thời niên thiếu- Ảnh 7. — The teams competed in the joyful atmosphere of the festival.

The image of fast-moving boats not only shows the strength and solidarity of the people but also reminds us of daily activities on the hometown river. The boat race has become a meaningful activity, connecting the past with the present, expressing the gratitude and pride of the people of Duong No towards President Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the nation.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/soi-dong-giai-dua-ghe-truyen-thong-tai-ngoi-lang-bac-ho-tung-song-thoi-nien-thieu-18525051911383517.htm