The An Chau Boat Racing Festival takes place annually on the 10th day of the fourth lunar month. This traditional celebration dates back to the 15th century and is cherished by the people of An Chau, Son Dong, Bac Giang.
A distinctive feature of the festival is the reenactment of naval drills in the upland region, a proud tradition dating back to the reign of King Le. A “mud ball wrestling” event is also held in the main yard of the Tam Giang Saint Temple, which spans around 200 square metres and has a muddy surface with two pits at either end where the ball is pushed into.
The festival honours the resilience and ingenuity of General Vi Duc Thang and the people of An Chau in training soldiers to cross rivers and floods to defend their homeland against foreign invaders.
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| The ceremony to receive the decision recognising the festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. |
The event takes place within a cluster of historical sites, including Bich Tri Communal House (now known as Che Village Communal House), Duc Ong Shrine, and along the picturesque An Chau River — part of the upper reaches of the Luc Nam River.
This year’s boat racing saw the participation of 18 teams, including 16 from An Chau Town and 2 from Vinh An Commune, with around 300 athletes involved.
Each racing boat was manned by a crew of 10, comprising a steerer, a commander and eight rowers.
Teams competed over a 1,300-metre distance. The qualifying rounds were held on April 26 and 27, the semi-finals on April 30, 2025, and the final match took place at Giang Wharf, An Chau River, on the festival’s official opening day, May 7, 2025.
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| A sacred ritual during the festival. |
Recognising the cultural significance of the festival, on December 10, 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially designated the An Chau boat racing festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
