HAI PHONG – Thousands of people flocked to the central stadium of the Do Son district to watch the buffalo fighting festival, which was held after 2 years of postponement because of Covid-19.

On the morning of September 4, the buffalo fighting festival took place at Do Son Stadium, Hai Phong City. To enter the festival, the audience must have an invitation ticket issued by the Organizing Committee. 50% of tickets are distributed to the wards of Do Son district, the remaining 50% are distributed through tours.

The stadium has a capacity of about 20,000 people but there is not enough space, many spectators have to spill down to the fence to watch.

To ensure security and order, the Organizing Committee mobilized 200 policemen and mobile policemen to stand around the stands.

On the fighting ring, 16 buffaloes are numbered, in turn, they play 8 qualifying matches. Winning buffalo will advance to the quarterfinals, the next semi-finals and compete for the championship in the final.

Buffalo No. 03 of Mr. Hoang Dang Chuan, Hop Duc ward, Do Son district, won the second match and was kept by the team of buffalo catchers (wearing ceremonial robes) and brought out to the field.

Buffalo owner No. 5 of Van Huong ward is happy to enter the quarterfinals. Buffalo No. 5 also entered the semi-finals because Buffalo 15, the opponent in the quarter-finals was eliminated, due to unsafe signs.

In the stands, witnessing the rice husk battles, many spectators cheered and cheered.

The match in the final match between buffalo number 8 (Bang La ward) and number 2 (Hop Duc ward). After 10 minutes, buffalo number 8 wins. This is also the third consecutive championship of Bang La ward buffalo.

The owner of the buffalo won the first prize – Mr. Hoang Duc Tien (Bang La ward) received a badge and a bonus of 70 million VND from the Organizing Committee.

Do Son fighting festival has a long history and was restored by Do Son district in 1990, including qualifying rounds and finals. In 2012, the Do Son buffalo fighting festival was included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In 2017, the festival had an incident where a buffalo killed its owner and had to abandon the qualifying round as well as the sale of tickets.

After the qualifying matches, the defeated buffalo will be brought to the slaughterhouse for meat, selling for about 3 million/kg of meat. In the quarterfinals and semi-finals, the price of meat can be higher. Only buffalo in the final will not sell meat.

Photo: Internet