Ninh Hoa Town People's Committee on January 29 morning organized the flower boat festival and boat race on Dinh River. Present at the event were Nguyen Tan Tuan, Deputy Secretary of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee; and thousands of local people and tourists.
Ninh Hoa Town People’s Committee on January 29 morning organized the flower boat festival and boat race on Dinh River. Present at the event were Nguyen Tan Tuan, Deputy Secretary of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee; and thousands of local people and tourists.
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Splendid flower boats
The event took place on Dinh River from Sat Bridge to Chi Tru Dam. From early morning, a lot of people and tourists went to Dinh River to see and cheer for the boats and contestants. This was the fourth flower boat festival and boat race on Dinh River of Ninh Hoa Town. Although it hasn’t become an annual activity, it is really a meaningful cultural and sport activity, which helps to introduce the cultural characteristics of Ninh Hoa Town to tourists. “My family have arranged our schedule to see this year’s flower boat festival and boat race. Through the festival, I can feel the beauty of my hometown and my love for the land. It makes me to love my hometown even more,” said Nguyen Thuy Lieu (Ninh Hiep Ward, Ninh Hoa Town).
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The activity made Tet atmosphere in the area of Dinh River more bustling. The communes, wards and businesses in Ninh Hoa Town took part in the flower boat festival with 27 boats. The boats, which were normally a means of transportation and livelihood, were adorned with national flags, ribbons and numerous colorful flowers. Each boat was rowed by one man and one woman wearing traditional costumes.
The boats sailed among the cheers of spectators. “The scene of flower boats slowly drifting on peaceful Dinh River is a romantic landscape. Although the festival doesn’t have a big scale, it still has its own unique feature. My family really enjoy this festival,” said a tourist from Vung Tau City.
Animated boat race
The boat race brought a bustling atmosphere to Dinh River on Tet 2023. In the race, more than 100 male and female contestants in Ninh Hoa Town rowed traditional boats and kayaks in a distance of over 600 meters. Strong winds were a challenge for the contestants. Some of them couldn’t control and row the boats as well as they normally did. Contestant Huynh Thi Lan Hue (Ninh Ha Ward) said, “I use this boat for fishing everyday, so I’m used to rowing. However, competing against other people requires me to perform harder to achieve high result. This boat race gives us an opportunity to show our abilities in front of everyone.”
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The flower boat festival and boat race on Dinh River aims to create a culture-sports activity for local people and tourists in Ninh Hoa Town on Tet occasion as well as to introduce the images of the town and the river to tourists everywhere.
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Boat race is a traditional cultural activity of the inhabitants of wet rice civilization. Dragon boat racing festivals are popular in the regions of Red River Delta and Mekong River Delta. Boat racing festivals are often associated with wishes for favorable weather, nation's peace and prosperity. It is expected that the flower boat festival and boat race on Dinh River will become an annual activity and a typical tourist product of Ninh Hoa Town.
At the end of the event, the organization committee offered nine prizes A to the beautifully-decorated flower boats; first prizes, second prizes, and third prizes to the excellent contestants of the boat race.
Giang Dinh
Translated by H.N
