Restoring the essence of the Do Son buffalo fighting festival.

The restoration of the qualifying rounds in the traditional Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival in 2026 aims to preserve the original values ​​of this national intangible cultural heritage.

The "matches" at the traditional buffalo fighting festival in Do Son - VTV 2025. (Photo courtesy of VTV.)

Restoring the "soul" to the festival

The traditional buffalo fighting festival in Do Son was revived in 1990. In 2012, the festival was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Unlike many rural festivals in the Northern Delta region, the Do Son buffalo fighting festival embodies a unique blend of agricultural and maritime cultures. The image of the "buffalo" is not only a sacred sacrificial animal but also symbolizes the strength and courageous spirit of the coastal people who face the waves and storms year-round to make a living. Therefore, the festival has long transcended the boundaries of a local cultural activity, becoming a distinctive cultural symbol of Hai Phong city.

After years of only holding the final round, the 2026 Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival will officially restore the qualifying round with the participation of 32 buffaloes. The qualifying round is crucial to the heritage record, showcasing the experience in selecting, caring for, and training buffaloes, as well as the prestige of the wards, hamlets, and buffalo owners. Bringing back the qualifying round is not simply about adding another day of competition, but about restoring the full "soul" of the heritage.

The traditional buffalo fighting festival in Do Son is a national intangible cultural heritage. (Photo: Archival image)

In 2026, the qualifying round will take place on the 8th day of the 6th lunar month, with 28 buffaloes allocated to 4 temples and shrines: Nghè Temple, Ngọc Xuyên Temple, Nam Temple, and Ngọc Hải Temple; the remaining 4 spots are reserved for buffalo owners with high achievements at the 2025 festival.

To ensure the longevity of living heritage.

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The ceremonial part continues to be given special importance with a full range of traditional rituals such as incense offering, flag raising to open the festival, water procession, worship of the deities, sacrifice of the champion buffalo, worship of the gods, and farewell ceremony at temples and shrines in the area.

This is the "soul" that creates the cultural depth and uniqueness of the Do Son buffalo fighting festival compared to many other folk festivals. Because while the festive part creates the vibrant attraction, the ceremonial part is where the essence of the heritage is preserved.

Mr. Luu Toan Thang, Chairman of the Club of People Passionate About the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival, said that the festival has existed for hundreds of years not only because of the fierce matches but also because each ritual contains the spiritual life and beliefs of the coastal people.

In the past, the people of Do Son organized festivals to commemorate the deity Diem Tuoc Dai Vuong, praying for calm seas, safe voyages for fishermen, and abundant catches of shrimp and fish. Therefore, the "buffalo" was primarily a sacred sacrificial offering to the deity, not simply a buffalo for competition.

To ensure the longevity of the Do Son buffalo fighting festival , the most important thing is to highlight the ceremonial aspects and traditional rituals. "If the ceremonial part is organized systematically, solemnly, and given due attention, locals and tourists will better appreciate the essence of the maritime culture and the sacred value of the festival, rather than just viewing it as a simple buffalo fight," Mr. Thang emphasized.

Traditional rituals at the Buffalo Fighting Festival (archive photo). Photo: PHAN TUAN

According to Mr. Pham Hoang Tuan, Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Do Son Ward and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, restoring the qualifying rounds after many years of only holding the final round not only fulfills the aspirations of the local people but is also an important step towards more fully restoring the original values ​​of the Do Son buffalo fighting festival. This year, the ward has implemented preparations very early, comprehensively and meticulously with the goal of not only successfully organizing a safe and attractive festival season, but also more deeply honoring the ceremonial aspects, the religious beliefs, and the maritime cultural values ​​that form the soul of the heritage.

"We hope that each ritual, each 'match' will not only attract tourists, but also contribute to spreading the cultural depth, community spirit, and unique identity of the coastal residents of Do Son," Mr. Tuan emphasized.

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The traditional Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival - VTV 2026 is organized in two rounds: a qualifying round and a final round. In addition to traditional rituals and ceremonies, the 16 winning buffaloes from the qualifying round are paired up for a knockout competition. The winning buffalo from the previous match faces the winning buffalo from the next match to determine the winners. The festival organizing committee conducts two quality checks on the buffaloes before the final round.

The final round of the Do Son Traditional Buffalo Fighting Festival - VTV 2026 will be held at 7:30 AM on September 19th (August 9th in the lunar calendar) at the central stadium of Do Son ward.

HAI VAN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/tra-lai-hon-cot-cho-le-hoi-choi-trau-do-son-543693.html