Boat race to honor Hoang Sa flotilla

On February 17, 8 boats carrying the icons of dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix joined the final race in the waters of Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai province, to the cheers of thousands of local residents and visitors.

VietNamNet Bridge – On February 17, 8 boats carrying the icons of dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix joined the final race in the waters of Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai, to the cheers of thousands of local residents and visitors.

Each spring, the clans of the district of Ly Son Island organize a boat race to pay gratitude the Hoang Sa flotilla.

This year, the festival lasted from the 4th to the 8th day of the Lunar New Year, attracting a lot of local residents and visitors.

Scooping water to pour on the head to pray for luck before starting the race.

Eight boats begin the race.

The boats race to the cheers of local people and visitors.

Speeding up on the sea.

Many young people wade out into the sea, about 500 meters from shore, waving the national flags to cheer the boats.

The boat of the East Village, An Hai commune, Ly Son Island finishes. The crew raises paddles simultaneously to greet the audience. According to the elders, the boat race aims to gratitude the merits of the ancestors who obeyed the imperial order to guard the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos and to pray for good weather and good agricultural and fishing harvest, prosperity and happiness.

VNE