The 58th annual Dragon Boat Race on Cat Ba Island made a big splash with festivalgoers today (Apr. 1) with a diverse group of 300 participants going paddle to paddle in a dynamic competition.


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Every April 1 the district of Cat Ba celebrates a visit by Uncle Ho on this date back in 1959 with a festival that is capped off with dragon boat races.





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April 1 also marks opening day of the fishing season on the island. Pictured: Navy and Armed Forces take part in a parade on the morning of the race.





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Thousands of local people and neighbouring provinces come to see and cheer.







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This year, there are five teams from four northern coastal provinces facing off and five teams from the communes and towns of the Cat Hai Island District competing in a second race.






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The festival is very special to the people of the Island, rooted in the spiritual aspirations of the seafarers and praying to the gods to protect them at sea. 






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The competitors fight fiercely.






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The races, show the toughness of the teams, their ability to work together to overcome the waves and master the fisheries.





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The race is very intense, fierce, with rowers competing ferociously on each metre of water.






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The air is filled with the sounds of exuberant boat racing enthusiasts.






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The wharf is throbbing in cheers, gong drums as the boats near the finish line.






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Boat racers must splash water with their paddles to ‘cool down’.






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The teams say they have been actively practicing for the past few days to prepare and perform their best at the tournament.







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The joy of victory.





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At the end of the tournament, first prize belongs to the Thuy Nguyen (Hai Phong) team. For the Cat Hai District, the first prize goes to the commune of Phu Long.

VOV