Vietnam Events and Festivals

8/09/2008 - 8/09/2008Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival

An important social occasion for the villages of the region, the preparations for the annual Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival begin months before when the competing buffalos are selected and then methodically trained up for the big event. Excitement and anticipation builds to fever pitch and explodes in a riot of noise and colour on the day of the festival. The chosen bulls are adorned in red cloth and are led to the bull ring followed by a procession of people playing musical instruments and beating out a rhythm on drums. The matches vary in length from just a few minutes to an hour or more - the length depending on the strength and stamina of the bulls. The bulls fight in knockout heats until the eventual victor is crowned.