Cultural beauty of Dien Bien Dong highlands

On February 11 (the 2nd day of the Lunar New Year), in the mountainous district of Dien Bien Dong (Dien Bien province), the 2024 Spring Bull Fighting Competition took place. This is a beautiful cultural feature of the ethnic community in the mountainous district of Dien Bien Dong every New Year.

Hội chọi bò đầu Xuân tại vùng cao Điện Biên Đông

Bullfighting competition in the year of the Dragon 2024: When strength and skill intersect in the highlands of Dien Bien Dong. (Source: VNA)

From early morning, many ethnic people in Dien Bien Dong came in traditional costumes, gathered at the district center to participate and watch bull fighting as well as traditional games at the festival. The bull owners participating in the competition were present many days before to let the bulls get used to the fighting field.

Mr. Giang A Phenh, a resident of Song Ma district, Son La province, shared that after many years of only coming to watch the competition, this year he decided to buy a cow and take good care of it to participate in the competition.

His cattle are Laotian cattle, with strong bodies, strong muscles and long curved horns. To ensure the cattle's good health before the competition, he and many others set up a tent to protect the arena from the wind, increased the food, massaged and psychologically prepared the cattle before entering the official competition.

Pairs of bulls competing. (Source: VNA)

This year's Dien Bien Dong bull fighting competition attracted 74 bull owners from many communes of Dien Bien Dong district (Dien Bien province) and many neighboring communes of Song Ma district (Son La province).

Mr. Vu A Chu, residing in Tia Lo village, Noong U commune, Dien Bien Dong district, Dien Bien province, said that in addition to creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere in the early spring of the new year for everyone, cow owners participating in the contest also have the opportunity to share practical knowledge about animal husbandry. This helps improve knowledge of animal care and creates conditions for economic development.

Bull fighting in the early spring of the new year has long become a cultural feature in the highlands of Dien Bien Dong, Dien Bien province.

This year, the 8th bull fighting competition continued to attract a large number of people and tourists. According to the organizers, an estimated 10,000 people came to watch and cheer for the competition.

Ms. Lan Anh, a tourist from Dien Bien Phu city, shared that this was the first time she attended a bull fighting festival and found it interesting.

She found that bullfighting is not only entertaining but also demonstrates the skill and strength of the breeders. She was also impressed with the solidarity and pride of the ethnic groups in the Dien Bien Dong highlands.

The 2024 Spring Bull Fighting Competition was successfully held, creating a vibrant and joyful atmosphere on the first day of Spring. (Source: VNA)

The 2024 Spring Bull Fighting Competition was a success, creating a vibrant and joyful atmosphere on the first day of Spring. This is not only a traditional cultural activity, but also an opportunity for the community to connect and bond.

Dien Bien Dong is a multi-ethnic highland region in Vietnam, where there are many unique traditional customs. Bull fighting is one of the special activities of this region, attracting the attention of people inside and outside the locality.

According to the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Bien Dong district, bull fighting is an activity closely associated with the customs and practices of the people in the highlands. Dien Bien Dong district wishes to expand this activity so that it becomes one of the highlights to attract local tourists every early spring.

During the Spring Bull Fighting Festival of Giap Thin 2024, in addition to the main activity of bull fighting, there are also many other traditional games organized to create a joyful and exciting atmosphere.

These traditional games not only help bring joy and entertainment to people, but also preserve and develop the cultural values and traditions of ethnic groups in the Dien Bien Dong region.

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