The 2026 Ro Pagoda Traditional Ox Racing Festival officially opened on Sunday morning in An Cu Commune, An Giang Province, drawing 32 top pairs of oxen from the Seven Mountains area.

Ox racing is a long-standing cultural and sporting tradition among Khmer people in the Mekong Delta and has become a local tourism attraction in the Seven Mountains area.

Truong Thi Hong Tham, a visitor from Ca Mau Province, said it was her first time attending the Ro Pagoda ox racing festival.

The visitor was impressed by the skill of both the oxen and their handlers, as spectators cheered loudly as the pairs raced toward the finish line.

Nguyen Duy Phong, chairman of the An Cu Commune People's Committee, said the festival provides an opportunity for local residents to strengthen community ties and preserve Khmer cultural traditions.

The commune also hoped the event would help promote tourism in the Seven Mountains area to domestic and international visitors, he said.

The festival also featured a photo exhibition showcasing ox racing and the cultural life of people in the Seven Mountains area, along with the presentation of 100 bicycles to disadvantaged students and an exhibition of local OCOP (One Commune One Product) products.

Flood-season festival draws crowds in Hong Ngu

Also on Sunday, thousands of residents and visitors headed to a more than 2km-long embankment in Hong Ngu Ward, Dong Thap Province for the second edition of the Sac Nuoc Vung Bien festival.

The festival celebrated the Mekong Delta's annual flood season with activities including a floating market, boat racing, and duck-catching games.

Every year, from around August to December, water from the upper Mekong River flows into the Mekong Delta, turning vast areas into a sea of water.

Unlike a sudden flood, the water rises gradually, filling rivers before spilling over their banks and into the fields.

For Mekong Delta tourism and local communities, the annual flood season is seen as a gift from nature, bringing fertile alluvial soil and an abundance of fish, shrimp, fruits, and other local produce.

Dozens of decorated boats and sampans were arranged along the main festival area, creating a floating-market setting where visitors could sample local food and drinks and take photos.

Vo Nguyen Huy Nam, a local resident, said he was proud that Hong Ngu had developed a tourism event centered on the flood season, a distinctive feature of the area.

Phan Thi Hue, another local resident, said she sold roasted field shrimp with coconut water, teas and canarium products at the festival.

The event not only created a lively atmosphere and helped local vendors sell their products, but also conveyed a message about protecting the environment so that the annual flood season remains clean and healthy, she said.

Nguyen Thi Kim Yen, deputy chairwoman of the Hong Ngu Ward People's Committee, said this year's activities were designed to bring the flood season closer to residents and visitors through hands-on experiences.

Visitors could explore a floating market, enjoy don ca tai tu performances, join team boat races, and take part in other activities celebrating rural life during the flood season.

The festival also included an experiential program and a photo contest highlighting the beauty of Hong Ngu.

“The market tells the story of local produce. The boats tell the story of life on the waterways. Folk songs and traditional music tell the story of culture. Local dishes tell stories of memories. And the smiles of Hong Ngu people tell stories of kindness, friendliness, and hospitality,” Yen said.

“Through these familiar elements, we are not only creating a lively festival but also gradually building a distinctive cultural and tourism product for Hong Ngu.”