On the seventeenth of January, when the buffalo fighting takes place, I return home.

"No matter where you go or where you live, on the seventeenth of January, remember to come back for the buffalo fight. No matter what trade you engage in, on the seventeenth of January, remember to come back for the buffalo fight." This is a children's rhyme that has accompanied the children of Hai Luu commune (Phu Tho province) throughout their childhood and will probably stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Báo Quân đội Nhân dân•07/03/2026

Since I was very young, I've been familiar with the sight of the cockfighting arena packed with people every year after the full moon of the first lunar month.

As the festival approached, we children in the village would eagerly flock to the commune's stadium. The atmosphere was always as lively as if Tet (Vietnamese New Year) were still in full swing. The adults would discuss the buffaloes and the festival, while we children would run and jump everywhere, just hoping to catch a glimpse of the "Ông Cầu" (the way the people of Hai Luu call the fighting buffaloes) being led out to familiarize themselves with the arena. These large, strong buffaloes, with their curved horns and slow, majestic gait, always filled us with curiosity, excitement, and a touch of fear.

The Hai Luu buffalo fighting festival in 2026 attracted many tourists. Photo: LE VUONG

The Hai Luu buffalo fighting festival has a long history. According to stories told by the elders: In ancient times, when Prime Minister Lu Gia (during the reign of Trieu Da of the Nam Viet kingdom) fought against the northern invaders, after each victory, he would slaughter buffalo to feast the troops and organize buffalo fights to boost the morale of the soldiers and the people. From then on, the custom of buffalo fighting gradually became a traditional cultural activity of this land. There is also a legend that long ago, at the edge of the village, two white buffaloes appeared fighting each other in the early morning mist, fighting for a long time without a winner, then both plunged into the river and disappeared. The villagers considered this a sacred omen, and from that, the buffalo fighting festival was formed and has been passed down to this day.

Those stories stayed with us throughout our childhood, making the buffalo fighting festival not just a celebration, but something deeply ingrained in the consciousness of every child of Hai Luu. I grew up with the festival seasons, and every year, the buffalo fighting festival remains the event I look forward to the most.

My family also has a long tradition of caring for our buffaloes. When I was little, I often followed my father to the buffalo pasture or went with my uncles and older brothers in the village to watch the buffaloes train. In 2009, for the first time, our buffalo won the championship. I still remember the feeling of excitement standing amidst the crowd that day. The sound of drums, cheers, and people calling out to each other echoed throughout the arena. When our buffalo entered the ring, I felt both proud and very anxious. And then, surprisingly, our buffalo bravely defeated all its opponents to win the championship.

From that moment, my love for the buffalo fighting festival and for my homeland grew stronger. I started learning more about buffaloes, about how to select, care for, and train them… and I even tried my hand at raising fighting buffaloes.

Family memories of Mr. Cau winning the championship in 2009.

Choosing a good buffalo is no easy task. It must have a beautiful physique, a strong build, well-proportioned horns, and, most importantly, a good fighting style. Sometimes, one has to search far and wide, both domestically and internationally, examining dozens of buffaloes before finding one they like.

Raising fighting buffaloes is a long and laborious process. From feeding to training, every detail must be carefully considered. The buffaloes must eat tender grass, and are also supplemented with molasses and eggs to increase their strength. In winter, when the weather is cold, breeders must light fires to keep the buffaloes warm. Besides feeding, fighting buffaloes must also be trained regularly. We often take them to open fields, rice paddies, or low-lying areas to practice butting and building their physical fitness. Sometimes, just by observing how a buffalo moves or reacts to an opponent, we can get a sense of its fighting ability.

Looking back, I realize there was a period when I spent a lot of time with the buffaloes. I thought about them while studying, and I thought about them while working. Sometimes, even when I came home late, I'd still go to the barn to check on them before I felt at ease. Over time, the buffaloes were no longer just livestock, but like friends, like members of the family. That's why, whenever a festival ended, whenever I saw a buffalo being sacrificed (killed as an offering to the gods or sold for its meat at a high price), it always made me feel deeply troubled. Nearly a year of caring for and bonding with them, watching them enter the fighting arena with all their might, only to have them end like that – anyone who raises buffaloes can't help but feel a pang of sadness.

There are years when, if a buffalo fights well but I don't want to sacrifice it, I'll find a way to buy it back to continue raising it. Sometimes I introduce it to friends who also love buffalo fighting, so they can buy it to raise. In Hai Luu, each buffalo only participates in the festival once in its life. After the ceremony and entering the fighting arena, it won't be allowed to compete again the following year. Therefore, each festival season is a special memory for buffalo breeders.

Fierce matches between the "buffaloes" at the traditional buffalo fighting festival in Hai Luu commune. Photo: LE VUONG

But what I cherish most is not just the fights in the arena, but also the affection the villagers have for the festival. The people of Hai Luu raise fighting buffaloes not for profit. Sometimes, winning only brings a small prize money compared to the total amount spent caring for the buffaloes throughout the year, and losing still incurs considerable costs. But after each festival, what remains is joy and the bond between the villagers.

Perhaps that's why, no matter where they go or what they do, every person from Hai Luu wants to return in January to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the festival, to hear the drums resounding in the village square, and to see the buffaloes enter the fighting arena amidst the cheers of the crowd… For me, the Hai Luu buffalo fighting festival is not only a tradition of my hometown, but also a part of my childhood memories, a part of my life that I always want to preserve and continue.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/thang-gieng-muoi-bay-choi-trau-thi-ve-1029041