03:51The traditional Da Nang Boat Racing Festival - dubbed the 'VTV8 Cup' for 2024 - was held in the central Vietnam coastal city on Sunday, to commemorate the nation's 79th Independence Day.
Footage shows the boat race itself on the Han River with rowers racing and making turns at the floating markers. Spectators were seen cheering enthusiastically, waving the Vietnamese flags, banners and drumming.
"I had never seen this festival before so I wanted to see what it was all about. I really liked that there were so many people here, both tourists and locals, and wanted to experience what this festival would be like," shared Ca Van Tuan, a tourist, on the event's lively atmosphere.
The competition included both men and women's fixtures, with the men teams racing over five rounds (7.5 kilometres) and the women teams racing for three rounds (4.5 kilometres). Each team consisted of 17 to a boat.
Nguyen Thanh Duc, a rower from the Lien Chieu District team, revealed the secret to a successful race: "the most important technique in boat racing is first how to approach the floating markers, and then to have the momentum after passing the markers."
According to organisers, over 500 rowers from six female teams and 18 male teams took part in the event, with the teams coming from localities and boat racing clubs of Da Nang and neighbouring Quang Nam Province. The men's winning team was Trung Luong from Cam Le District, while the Sports and Culture Centre of Hai Chau District claimed the title in the women's fixture.
Da Nang Boat Racing Festival is a cultural event that helps to preserve the cultural identity of Vietnam, build community cohesion, and celebrate the National Day.
Vietnam marks Independence Day on September 2. It came after the August 1945 Revolution against French colonisation and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
All pull together! Da Nang's annual boat race marks Vietnam's 79th Independence Day
The traditional Da Nang Boat Racing Festival - dubbed the 'VTV8 Cup' for 2024 - was held in the central Vietnam coastal city on Sunday, to commemorate the nation's 79th Independence Day.
Footage shows the boat race itself on the Han River with rowers racing and making turns at the floating markers. Spectators were seen cheering enthusiastically, waving the Vietnamese flags, banners and drumming.
"I had never seen this festival before so I wanted to see what it was all about. I really liked that there were so many people here, both tourists and locals, and wanted to experience what this festival would be like," shared Ca Van Tuan, a tourist, on the event's lively atmosphere.
The competition included both men and women's fixtures, with the men teams racing over five rounds (7.5 kilometres) and the women teams racing for three rounds (4.5 kilometres). Each team consisted of 17 to a boat.
Nguyen Thanh Duc, a rower from the Lien Chieu District team, revealed the secret to a successful race: "the most important technique in boat racing is first how to approach the floating markers, and then to have the momentum after passing the markers."
According to organisers, over 500 rowers from six female teams and 18 male teams took part in the event, with the teams coming from localities and boat racing clubs of Da Nang and neighbouring Quang Nam Province. The men's winning team was Trung Luong from Cam Le District, while the Sports and Culture Centre of Hai Chau District claimed the title in the women's fixture.
Da Nang Boat Racing Festival is a cultural event that helps to preserve the cultural identity of Vietnam, build community cohesion, and celebrate the National Day.
Vietnam marks Independence Day on September 2. It came after the August 1945 Revolution against French colonisation and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
The traditional Da Nang Boat Racing Festival - dubbed the 'VTV8 Cup' for 2024 - was held in the central Vietnam coastal city on Sunday, to commemorate the nation's 79th Independence Day.
Footage shows the boat race itself on the Han River with rowers racing and making turns at the floating markers. Spectators were seen cheering enthusiastically, waving the Vietnamese flags, banners and drumming.
"I had never seen this festival before so I wanted to see what it was all about. I really liked that there were so many people here, both tourists and locals, and wanted to experience what this festival would be like," shared Ca Van Tuan, a tourist, on the event's lively atmosphere.
The competition included both men and women's fixtures, with the men teams racing over five rounds (7.5 kilometres) and the women teams racing for three rounds (4.5 kilometres). Each team consisted of 17 to a boat.
Nguyen Thanh Duc, a rower from the Lien Chieu District team, revealed the secret to a successful race: "the most important technique in boat racing is first how to approach the floating markers, and then to have the momentum after passing the markers."
According to organisers, over 500 rowers from six female teams and 18 male teams took part in the event, with the teams coming from localities and boat racing clubs of Da Nang and neighbouring Quang Nam Province. The men's winning team was Trung Luong from Cam Le District, while the Sports and Culture Centre of Hai Chau District claimed the title in the women's fixture.
Da Nang Boat Racing Festival is a cultural event that helps to preserve the cultural identity of Vietnam, build community cohesion, and celebrate the National Day.
Vietnam marks Independence Day on September 2. It came after the August 1945 Revolution against French colonisation and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.