Can Tho City shines brightly on the opening night of Ok Om Bok Festival – Ngo Boat Racing

(NLDO) - Ok Om Bok Festival - Ngo boat racing in Can Tho City aims to honor the intangible cultural heritage of the Khmer people in the South.

On the evening of November 3, at Phu Loi ward, the City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho city opened the Ok Om Bok Festival - Ngo boat racing in 2025.

Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen, Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, said Ok Om Bok is a traditional festival of the Khmer ethnic group in the South, held on the full moon day of the 10th lunar month every year. This festival is one of the national intangible cultural heritages recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen, Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, spoke at the opening ceremony.

Can Tho City leaders attended the opening ceremony of the festival

This is a highly anticipated cultural event that attracts the attention of people inside and outside the city, especially Khmer people in provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region.

"The festival is a new step forward, in addition to preserving and promoting cultural values, it also promotes and stimulates tourism activities in the city," Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen emphasized.

Coming to this festival, visitors can not only immerse themselves in the exciting atmosphere of the Ngo boat racing but also enjoy the flattened green rice dish made from the best sticky rice of the delta region.

Impressive performance at the opening ceremony

A large number of tourists came to see the festival.

City leaders hope that through the festival, Can Tho will continue to be welcomed as a safe, friendly, attractive and impressive destination in the hearts of tourists and friends from near and far.

On the same day, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City opened the performance of releasing water lanterns and Ca Hau boats in 2025 within the framework of the Ok Om Bok Festival - Ngo boat racing in 2025 .

The 2025 Ca Hau water lantern and boat show attracted many tourists.

According to the Khmer people's concept, the water lantern releasing ritual in the Ok Om Bok Festival is imbued with the beliefs of agricultural residents and the religious colors that the Khmer people want to express their gratitude to nature for blessing people to live and work peacefully and bring many good things.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, informed: "The water lantern performance aims to honor traditional cultural values, contributing to raising awareness in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values ​​of the Khmer ethnic group. At the same time, it meets the needs of people to enjoy spiritual culture in the period of integration and development".

Ok Om Bok Festival - Can Tho City Ngo Boat Race 2025 takes place from November 3 to 5. The event includes many activities such as: Ngo boat race, moon worship ceremony, trade promotion fair of Can Tho City OCOP products and regional specialties in 2025...

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tp-can-tho-ruc-ro-trong-dem-khai-hoi-ok-om-bok-dua-ghe-ngo-196251103204138722.htm