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The restoration of qualifying rounds at the 2026 traditional Do Son buffalo fighting festival is aimed at preserving the original values of the national intangible cultural heritage.
The traditional buffalo fighting festival in Do Son was revived in 1990 and was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2012.
Unlike many traditional village festivals in Vietnam’s northern delta region, the Do Son buffalo fighting festival reflects a unique blend of agricultural and maritime culture. The buffalo, known locally as “ong trau”, is regarded not only as a sacred sacrificial animal but also as a symbol of the strength and courage of coastal residents who face harsh seas year-round to make a living.
As a result, the festival has long gone beyond the scope of a local cultural activity to become a distinctive cultural symbol of Hai Phong.
After years of organizing only the final competition round, the 2026 Do Son buffalo fighting festival will officially restore the qualifying rounds, featuring 32 buffaloes. The qualifying stage, considered an important component of the heritage dossier, showcases experience in selecting, raising and training buffaloes as well as the prestige of local wards, guilds and buffalo owners.
Restoring the qualifying rounds is not simply about adding another competition day, but about more fully restoring the “soul” of the heritage festival.
In 2026, the qualifying round will take place on the eighth day of the sixth lunar month. Twenty-eight buffaloes will be allocated to four communal houses and temples, including Nghe Temple, Ngoc Xuyen Communal House, Nam Communal House and Ngoc Hai Communal House, while the remaining four slots will be reserved for owners with outstanding achievements at the 2025 festival.
The rituals of the festival will continue to draw great attention, including incense offering ceremonies, the flag-raising ceremony to open the festival, the water procession ritual, ceremonies dedicated to deities, the sacrificial offering of the champion buffalo, deity worship rituals and farewell ceremonies for the gods at communal houses and temples across the area.
These rituals form the cultural “soul” and distinctive identity of the Do Son buffalo fighting festival compared with many other folk festivals. While the festive activities create a vibrant atmosphere, the ceremonial section is regarded as preserving the essence of the heritage.
Mr. Luu Toan Thang, head of the Club of Enthusiasts for the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival, said the festival has endured for hundreds of years not only because of the dramatic matches, but also because each ritual embodies the spiritual and religious life of coastal communities.
Residents of Do Son traditionally organized the festival to commemorate the deity Diem Tuoc Dai Vuong and pray for calm seas, favorable fishing voyages and abundant catches. Therefore, the buffalo is first and foremost considered a sacred sacrificial offering to the gods, rather than simply a competition.
Hai Phong News
