On the afternoon of February 18 (ie, the 2nd day of Tet), the atmosphere in the center of Phan Thiet City, formerly Binh Thuan province (now Lam Dong province) became more vibrant than ever when thousands of people and tourists flocked to both sides of the Ca Ty River to watch the traditional boat racing festival that is over 200 years old.
After 1 pm, after the opening signal, the water surface of the Ca Ty River, which was originally calm, suddenly became turbulent due to strong rowing. Athletes from 5 racing teams representing long-standing fishing villages in the locality entered the fierce competition in 3 events: 300m straight, 500m and 1,200m lap.
The skilled rowers, who are skilled fishermen in the sea, rhythmically rowed their boats to glide forward in the continuous drumbeats. On both sides of the river, the section from Tran Hung Dao bridge to Duc Thanh bridge, people stood crowded, cheering, creating a bustling festival space, imbued with the beauty of the sea.
The boat racing festival is not only a sports tournament but also has spiritual meaning, an opportunity for fishermen to pray for a year of favorable weather, "full of shrimp and fish". Mr. Phan Thanh (35 years old), a local resident, proudly shared: "Every year on the 2nd day of Tet, I come out to watch and cheer for the boat racing teams. Although it is sunny, it is very happy because this is an indispensable spiritual dish for us coastal people every Tet holiday.
The image of each racing team on the river is a symbol of solidarity and unity - precious qualities that have helped Phan Thiet fishermen conquer storms in each offshore trip for more than two centuries.
At the end of the race, the Organizing Committee awarded first, second, and third prizes to the racing teams in the distances. The boat race is an indispensable spiritual dish for coastal fishermen at the beginning of the year and is also an event that attracts people and tourists to watch.
