DO SON BUFFALO FIGHTING FESTIVAL: DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF VIETNAM'S CULTURE

Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival has returned with more heat than ever. In 2023, it will take place on September 23 with 15 matches. Do Son buffalo fighting festival has long been a unique cultural feature of Vietnam.

1. Preserving heritage: The story of the Do Son buffalo fighting festival

The religious god of the great king
In the book “Dong Khanh Dia Du Chi Luoc” (Compiled at the end of the 19th century in the Nguyen Dynasty), Do Son buffalo fighting festival in Hai Phong was said to be based on the legend of the god “belonging to the great king”. This book tells about a man who once passed by the temple of this god and saw two buffaloes fighting. However, when it saw movement, it ran away into the sea. Since then, local people have organized the annual buffalo fighting festival on the 9th day of the 8th lunar month. Heavy rain and strong winds often occur during the festival. People here also believe that the water god Do Son appeared at this time.

Legend of Ba De
Legend of Ba De The legend of Ba De tells that in the same elegant village, another story whispered in the wind, the story of a poor young woman named De, who was entangled in the web of fate with Thuy Te. Tragedy struck her when she became pregnant, and the angry villagers imposed a terrible fate on her. Local officials “executed” her by throwing her into the unforgiving embrace of the sea, where she met her end unjustly and painfully. Her agony echoed to the heavens, and she stirred up a storm, until the repentant villagers built an altar to honor Ba De. From that moment onwards, tranquility enveloped the beach and the sea remained calm. In times of prosperity, villagers brought buffaloes and offerings to the sea to pay their respects to her soul.

However, amidst these fascinating legends, an unusual story has unravelled – a story of the old days when the people of Do Son fishing village embarked on dangerous sea voyages. Their efforts were often met with misfortune, their nets were empty, their ships were besieged by mighty whales and their brethren were lost in the depths. Desperation led them to make a solemn pact with the gods, promising to offer buffaloes as sacrifices. Two months later, the villagers escaped the orca’s wrath and to show gratitude,they gathered buffaloes and paid homage to the god Nghe. When the ceremony ended, two buffaloes appeared with divine ornaments on their noses. The villagers consider this a natural preference for buffaloes. Thus, a tradition was born—a grand buffalo festival held every year, a cherished day engraved in the annals of Do Son’s maritime heritage.

Comrade Pham Hoang Tuan – Vice Chairman of the Do Son District People’s Committee, Head of the Organizing Committee beat the drum to open the festival

After 34 years of restoration and development, the festival is constantly being improved and improved in scale and quality, while continuing to preserve folk elements and traditional cultural values at all levels. This relic left by our ancestors is a valuable cultural heritage and a unique tourism product of the whole country, especially Dai Son and Hai Phong. Due to its importance and humanitarian value, the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival was added to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2012. Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival has been recognized by the State as one of the 15 exclusive festivals of Vietnam.

2. Sacred essence: Revealing spiritual meaning

The winning buffalo is often offered to the gods by the villagers

It can be seen that this is a unique festival of coastal residents, combining agriculture and fishing to worship the Water God. After the buffalo ceremony, buffaloes are sacrificed in the hope of good weather and wind, making it easier to make a living at sea. This festival aims to commemorate the merits of the gods and maintain the village’s diamond discipline, the sense of community solidarity, so the winning buffalo is offered to the gods by the people in the village, including its head, tail and 4 legs, and the meat is given to the gods. sell or share with villagers. People eat it for luck and health throughout the year.

The organizing committee presented flowers and souvenir flags to the buffalo owners

3. Epic showdown: Drama and suspense

In 2023, the Do Son traditional buffalo fighting festival will have 15 matches

Every year on the 9th day of the 8th lunar month, in Do Son (Hai Phong) a buffalo fighting festival takes place. The pinnacle of the festival is definitely the thrilling buffalo fights. The atmosphere is electric as these fantastic creatures engage in epic battles of power and domination. Importantly, it is not a life-and-death battle but a test of strength and will. The moment a buffalo gives in and retreats is a scene that is both heart-wrenching and moving, a stark reminder of the delicate balance between nature and human intervention.

4. A global phenomenon: Capturing hearts around the world

The Organizing Committee has reduced the competition area and made stronger fences to ensure safety

What makes the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival different is its incredible ability to attract tens of thousands of tourists from around the world to come and watch the festival. Some come for the thrill, while others seek to understand the cultural significance. All audiences are united by a common passion for this enchanting and timeless tradition.

5. Champion 2023: “Buffalo man” weighing 1.3 tons wins Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival 2023

Images of buffalo fighting on the morning of September 23, 2023, in Do Son

Mr. Buffalo “weighs 1.3 tons of Van Huong ward,” Tan Vuong “, and is the biggest buffalo since the Do Son buffalo fighting festival was restored in 1990.

On September 23, the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival 2023 officially took place at the central stadium of Do Son district,Hai Phong City,with the participation of former Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An, leaders of Hai Phong city and about 20,000 people and tourists from everywhere. The “buffalo men” are often chosen by Do Son people to buy from the Northwest, Central Highlands, and Southern regions and are willing to import buffaloes from China, Thailand, and Cambodia to care for, train, and bring to tourists and the people’s special emotions.

The 2023 festival has the participation of “buffalo men” from six wards in the Do Son district, of which buffalo number 03 of Mr. Luu Dinh Nam, Van Huong ward is especially notable for its large weight and size. highest ever with a height of 1.6m, length of 2.4m, chest circumference of 2.6m and weight of 1.3 tons. This “buffalo man” is only 11 years old, imported from Thailand and has all the characteristics of a brave buffalo: deep chest, black hair, and wide chest.

*****************************
BOOK YOUR CAR NOW, RECEIVE HUGE DISCOUNTS!

📌SĐT & Zalo: 0918107685 hoặc 0918908848 (Ms. Mai Hoa)

📌Email: maihoaxuanthang@gmail.com

📌Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaiHoaXuanThang?mibextid=LQQJ4d

📌 Representative office: 10-11/12A Lot 16, Street 4, An Binh Residential Area, An Binh Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai.