The Fifth Bac Ha Traditional Horse Race Open 2011 will take place on May 28th and 29th at the Bac Ha Town Stadium (Lao Cai Province). This event, hosted by the People's Committee of Bac Ha District, is one of the activities in the tourism program “Returning to Roots 2011” of three provinces, including Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai.

 

Horse race is a unique culture - sport activity of ethnic groups in Bac Ha District, especially Mong ethnic group. This activity existed many years ago but it had been lost in oblivion. Not until 2007, the race has been reorganized to meet the spiritual needs, conserve and develop the cultural character of mountainous ethnic groups in Bac Ha as well as contribute to promoting the image of land and people of Lao Cai to domestic and international visitors.

   

The feature of the Bac Ha Horse Race includes the racehorses are baggage horses and jockeys are upland farmers who only get used to field works all year round. The race with non-professional and primitive features has created great appeal for visitors, especially foreign visitors.

 

Amateur jockeys from 21 communes and towns in Bac Ha District and some others from Northern provinces as Ha Giang, Lai Chau... will compete at the Bac Ha Traditional Horse Race Open this year. Many valuable prizes as usual will be awarded to winners with VND20,000,000 for the first one.

 

During the race, there are other culture and tourism activities such as Highland food festival, visit to the ethnic villages of Tay in Bao Nhai Commune and Mong in Ta Van Chu Commune, Tam hoa plum contests, art performances...

 

The Bac Ha Traditional Horse Race has had four great success times and attracted a lot of visitors. It is estimated that the race annually attracts over ten thousand visitors to the Bac Ha Highland.

 

Complied by Phuong Anh – Pham Phuong (TITC)

 

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