The Bay Nui Beef Racing Association in 2025, the first year of the An Giang province's merger, organized by the Provincial People's Committee, officially opened at 7:00 a.m. on September 20 at the Tri Ton Commune Beef Racing Course (in the Ta Pa - Soai Chek Sports - Tourism Complex), Tri Ton Commune, An Giang Province.
There were 64 pairs of cows from 10 communes and wards in the province participating in the competition, including: Tri Ton commune, Ba Chuc commune, O Lam commune, Co To commune, Vinh Gia commune, An Cu commune, Nui Cam commune, Giang Thanh commune, Chi Lang ward and Tinh Bien ward.
These are excellent pairs of cows, controlled by experienced drivers... competing in a direct pairing format to select the winning pair to enter the next round, so it promises to bring viewers dramatic, attractive and emotional moments...
This is a unique cultural and sports event of An Giang province, associated with the spiritual life of the Khmer people in the Bay Mountains, and at the same time, an activity to celebrate many important events of the country and the locality.
The Seven Mountain Cows Racing Association originates from the Khmer ethnic customs during the Sene Dolta festival - the festival to celebrate ancestors' contributions, taking place after the harvest. Initially, cow racing was just a community recreation activity in the pagoda yards, both entertaining and connecting the village and neighborhood. Over time, with its special appeal, this folk game has developed into a large-scale festival, held annually and become a typical cultural beauty of the Bay Nui region.
On January 19, 2016, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 246/QD-BVHTTDL, officially including " Bay Nui - An Giang Cattle Race" in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This is an affirmation of the cultural and spiritual values of the Khmer people, while raising the level of the festival to become an outstanding cultural - tourism brand of An Giang in particular and the South in general.
The first year of the Bay Nui Cattle Racing Association after the merger of provincial-level administrative units has been of interest to the An Giang Provincial People's Committee, investing in many new features.
First of all, it is preparation work. It can be said that this is the first year that the Provincial People's Committee has issued a Plan to organize in detail and assign specific tasks to departments, branches and localities such as: Repairing, reinforcing and preparing races, festivals, stands; Arrange security, health, environmental sanitation, disease prevention; Strengthen propaganda and promotion on media and digital platforms; Organize cultural - artistic activities, cuisine and display typical products of the Bay Nui region to serve tourists.
Especially the night before the opening day (September 19) also held a Khmer art night at Thai Quoc Hung Square, Tri Ton commune. More specifically, this year's race applies many high-value prizes, including: Cup, flag, gifts and bonuses for First, Second, Third, Fourth prizes; 4 consolation prizes and prizes for excellent cow control drivers; prizes for 16 pair of excellent cows that have passed 2 qualifying rounds.
In addition, 8 winning pair of cows were also given 01 Samsung A06 phone with a 5G package from Viettel, worth 3 million VND/gift. More specifically, the owner of the pair of First Prize-winning cows was also given a Kubota oil engine worth 35 million VND. This is a source of spiritual encouragement, while encouraging the movement of raising cows and raising breeding cows in the Khmer An Giang community.
This is also the first year that the Seven Mountain Cows Race has been broadcast live on many platforms, such as: ATV1, ATV2 channels; FM broadcasting channels and livestreaming on digital platforms of An Giang Newspaper and Radio - Television; live on HTV Sports channel, YouTube channel HTV sports, HTVm application and Facebook page HTV Sports of Ho Chi Minh City Television. At the same time, domestic newspapers and radio and television have joined in the airwaves, contributing to spreading the image of the Bay Nui Beef Racing Association to the public.
This careful preparation not only aims to create a healthy and useful playground, a vibrant atmosphere for the Khmer community in the Bay Nui, tightening national solidarity... but also affirms the consistent policy of our Party and State for the work of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Khmer people in particular, and ethnic minorities in general...
Thereby, promoting the image of tourism, culture and people of An Giang to domestic and foreign friends, contributing to promoting local socio-economic development. Therefore, it can be said that the Bay Nui Beef Racing Association is not only a sport, but also a cultural symbol, the pride of the An Giang people, affirming the strong vitality of Khmer culture in the development flow of the country.
