Crowded both banks of Dinh River to watch the flower boat festival

Những chiếc thuyền hoa đầy màu sắc trên sông Dinh - Ảnh: THANH CHƯƠNG — Colorful flower boats on Dinh River - Photo: THANH CHUONG

On February 17 (January 8), the flower boat festival and boat racing on Dinh River took place bustlingly and attractively with the cheers of thousands of locals and tourists.

From early morning, people and tourists gathered along the two banks of the Dinh River to watch the festival with two main competitions: flower boat competition and boat racing.

28 flower boats of 28 competing teams are decorated with many colorful flowers and beautiful symbolic miniatures.

The traditional boat racing competition had the participation of more than 100 athletes from communes and wards, competing in men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.

The athletes rowed the boat over a 700m stretch, demonstrating their talent and strength amid the enthusiastic cheers of locals and tourists, contributing to a vibrant and attractive festival.

Cả một khúc sông rực rỡ ngày mùng 8 - Ảnh: THANH CHƯƠNG — A whole river is brilliant on the 8th - Photo: THANH CHUONG

Trên mỗi chiếc thuyền hoa thường có ít nhất hai người - Ảnh: THANH CHƯƠNG — There are usually at least two people on each flower boat - Photo: THANH CHUONG

Các thuyền bắt đầu xuất phát có cả pháo hoa tầm thấp được bắn ra từ mũi thuyền - Ảnh: THANH CHƯƠNG — The boats started off with low-altitude fireworks fired from the bow - Photo: THANH CHUONG

Một chiếc thuyền có hình trái tim được đan từ lá dừa - Ảnh: THANH CHƯƠNG — A heart-shaped boat woven from coconut leaves - Photo: THANH CHUONG

Mr. Le Minh Tam - Vice Chairman of Ninh Hoa Town People's Committee - said that the flower boat festival and boat racing on Dinh River, held annually, has become an attractive event, attracting a large number of people and tourists.

"Organizing the festival not only preserves cultural values but also contributes to introducing the image and traditions of the land and people of Ninh Hoa, while aiming to build this event into a typical local tourism product every Tet holiday," said Mr. Tam.

Ms. Le Minh Tam (tourist from Ho Chi Minh City) shared: "This is my husband's hometown, taking the opportunity to visit relatives during Tet, the whole family stayed to watch the flower boat festival. The boats are arranged with flower pots or woven coconut leaves, very impressive. I think this festival should be promoted in terms of scale and number of competing teams, it will be much more attractive."