Exciting Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo boat racing in Can Tho City

The program is directed by the City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho City; chaired by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City, in coordination with relevant units.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen, Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, said that the Ooc Om Boc Festival aims to honor the traditional cultural beauty of the Khmer people in the city; at the same time, contribute to preserving and promoting the cultural values and unique beliefs of the Khmer people.

Tưng bừng Lễ hội Oóc Om Bóc - Đua ghe Ngo TP.Cần Thơ - Ảnh 1. — Opening of Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo boat racing with many exciting activities

Following the success of the Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo boat racing in 2024 of Soc Trang province before, in 2025, the festival will be held in Can Tho city (after merging Can Tho, Soc Trang and Hau Giang), with a new position and new vision. Therefore, this festival is a new step forward, not only preserving and promoting cultural values but also promoting and stimulating tourism activities of Can Tho city.

"Coming to this festival, people and tourists will be able to immerse themselves in the exciting atmosphere of the Ngo boat racing, enjoy the flat green rice dish made from the best sticky rice of the delta region, thereby feeling the profound human values and strong vitality of the boat racing festival, a national intangible cultural heritage, a festival that was recognized by the Vietnam Record Organization in 2022," said Mr. Tuyen.

Tưng bừng Lễ hội Oóc Om Bóc - Đua ghe Ngo TP.Cần Thơ - Ảnh 2. — Special performances at the opening ceremony of the Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo boat racing in Can Tho City

At the opening ceremony, the highlight was also a special art program consisting of 3 chapters: "Telling stories on the moonlit night" - reenacting the moon worshiping ritual, pounding flat rice and Khmer cultural legends; "Song of solidarity and racing" - honoring the spirit of solidarity and the aspiration to rise up through the image of a Ngo boat cutting through the waves; "Can Tho - In harmony with heritage" - blending traditional and contemporary sounds, praising the city of innovation and integration.

The program has the participation of hundreds of artisans, singers, artists, mass art actors, actors of the Khmer Art Troupe Can Tho; Huynh Cuong Ethnic Boarding High School, dance troupes and cultural and art clubs in the city.

Within the framework of the festival, the Ngo boat racing will take place on November 4 and 5 at the Ngo boat racing stand in Soc Trang Ward, with 61 teams (53 men's teams, 8 women's teams) competing on the Maspero River (distance 1,200 m for men, 1,000 m for women). In addition, there will be a Loi Protip performance (water lantern release) with 16 boats and 4 Ca Hau boats participating on the 2 nights of November 3 and 4, creating a colorful scene on the Maspero River, between the C247 bridge (Swing bridge) and the 30/4 bridge (Cao bridge).

In addition, at Kh'leang Pagoda on November 4, visitors will be able to participate in the moon worship ceremony and the performance of pounding flat rice, recreating the traditional rituals typical of the Ooc Om Boc Festival of the Khmer people in the South.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tung-bung-le-hoi-ooc-om-boc-dua-ghe-ngo-tpcan-tho-18525110321595101.htm