Buffalo Fighting Festival - a fighting for buffalo fighters

Buffalo Fighting Festival is a festival in Do Son District, Hai Phong City. It is organized on Sep 8th of Lunar Calendar for the purpose of honor Water God. The festival is a space for buffalo fighters, very drastic. 

Begun from the 18th century, Buffalo Fighting Festival in Do Son is the festival for the purpose of honor Water God to wish the prosperity and happiness of the local people. To get buffaloes for the final on the main day (Sep 8th), they have to organize rounds before in June of Lunar Calendar. On the main day of the festival, there are so many people to see the final, the festival rarely lasts all day, just a period.

The specific location is Do Son communal house. The stage for buffalo fighters and scaffold for audience is erected and decorated very splendid. The two sides of the stage have barns for fighters and two flags is hung on barns. Buffalo fighters are also decorated with red cloth on back and silk on horns. To begin the festival, Incense offering Ceremony is begun in Nghe Shrine of Van Ninh District. Then, palanquin procession Ceremony with folk music is also happened. 24 young men of Do Son dance both lightsome and strong in Opening Festival Dance, very exciting. After that, the fighting begins in palpitation of audiences of scaffold, like fighters in boxing but using horns in stead of hands.


In addition to honor Water God and wish good things, the festival also expresses the martial spirit of Do Son people. One more thing, if your heart is not strong, you shouldn't watch the fighting.