The first Ngo boat race was held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nine dragon boat racing teams from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Kien Giang and Binh Phuoc competed.

On the morning of April 23, the Ngo boat racing festival was held on Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) with 9 competing teams including Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Kien Giang and Binh Phuoc.

Attending the opening ceremony were Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council Nguyen Thi Le; Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee Nguyen Thanh Trung; Secretary of District 3 Party Committee Pham Thanh Kien and many leaders of agencies and departments.

This is the first time Ho Chi Minh City has organized a Ngo boat race. The activity is part of a series of events to celebrate the April 30 holiday, the Khmer New Year Chol Chnam Thmay, and the Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day (April 19).

The first Ngo boat race was held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Crowds of people flocked to both banks of Nhieu Loc canal to watch the dragon boat race.

From early morning, a large number of people flocked to both sides of Nhieu Loc Canal (District 3), from Cong Ly Bridge to Le Van Sy Bridge, to watch the preparation process as well as enthusiastically cheer for the boat racing teams.

People crowded both sides of Nhieu Loc canal to cheer on the dragon boat racing teams.

Ngo boat racing is considered the "king sport" of the Southern river region and the Ngo boat racing festival is always the most attractive event in the Ooc Om Boc festival.

In the qualifying round, the racing teams are divided into 4 rounds. The organizers then select 4 teams for the semi-finals. Next, there are 2 teams competing for first place and 2 teams competing for third place. The dragon boat teams compete in a 500-meter long, 4-meter wide canal.

Each match lasted about 5 minutes. The Ngo boat teams all showed great enthusiasm and the desire to win.

In the end, Khlang Muong team from Chau Thanh district, Kien Giang province won first prize. Also from Kien Giang, Thon Don team won second prize.

Khlang Muong team won

Along with the Ngo boat racing are art programs with songs praising the country and dances of the Khmer people.

Quynh Tram

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su/dua-ghe-ngo-lan-dau-duoc-to-chuc-tai-tp-hcm-20230423135538087.htm