Unique racing and boating festival at the largest Independence Day celebration in the country

Many people still jokingly say that Le Thuy is the place to celebrate the biggest Independence Day in the country. The traditional boat racing and rowing festival in the hometown of General Vo Nguyen Giap has a strong identity and is famous far and wide.

Độc đáo lễ hội đua, bơi thuyền ở nơi ăn Tết Độc lập lớn nhất cả nước

The traditional boat racing and rowing festival in the hometown of General Vo Nguyen Giap has a strong identity and is famous far and wide. (Source: Dan Tri)

No one knows since when, in the rice fields of Le Thuy, Quang Binh province, a song with an uplifting and joyful tone has appeared: "No matter who goes West or East/On September 2nd, everyone wishes to come home/To come home to watch the festival in our hometown/The river is full of swimming, every house has flags flying".

Many people still say that Le Thuy is the place to celebrate Independence Day the most in the country, and the celebration of Independence Day must be counted in months. Because on this occasion, the whole Le Thuy area becomes bustling with a series of cultural and sports activities. Especially traditional boat racing and rowing - spiritual food that has permeated the blood of Le Thuy people.

From the beginning of August, when the sound of wooden fish is heard on the river, the festival atmosphere begins to spread. In the villages, people "stay up day and night" to prepare for the festival. Village and hamlet cultural houses, and streets are lit up at night for young men to practice swimming, play qualifying rounds of volleyball, football, and perform arts...

Mr. Nguyen Van De, resident of Xuan Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, shared that the people here are proud to have two big Tet holidays every year: Lunar New Year and Independence Day. Independence Day is an occasion for children to turn to their homeland, remembering the merits of Uncle Ho, General Vo Nguyen Giap and those who sacrificed their lives to gain independence for the nation.

As one of the long-time swimmers of Quy Hau village, Lien Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Nguyen Van Thang said that swimming racing is a combination of many different factors, so it is difficult to predict the results. But as a village swimmer, once he gets on the boat and holds the oar, he is always determined and does his best to bring glory to the village.

Historian Dr. Nguyen Khac Thai, who has many years of research on the history and culture of the traditional boat racing and rowing festival on Kien Giang river, explained that the festival has its roots in spiritual culture associated with agricultural residents.

Initially, it was a "praying" ceremony with the purpose of praying for favorable weather, good harvests, etc. After the success of the August Revolution, the traditional boat racing and rowing festival on Kien Giang river was held to celebrate the nation's Independence Day.

Mr. Dang Dai Tinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Le Thuy district, said that on the occasion of National Day September 2, many activities took place in this locality such as: Offering incense at the Memorial House of General Vo Nguyen Giap; men's and women's volleyball tournament; art program with the theme Kien Giang - Song of Pride ; trade fair...

Especially on the morning of September 2, the traditional boat racing festival took place on Kien Giang river. This year's festival has 24 male rowing boats and 10 female racing boats, competing on a 24km race track (for men) and 18km (for women).

The festival has permeated the subconscious and blood of Le Thuy people, attracting the participation of tens of thousands of local people and tourists from inside and outside the province.

This is an opportunity for the locality to orient and promote the image of the land and people of Le Thuy - the homeland of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

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