Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa hosts first-ever cow cart race

Six teams competed on a 1.1-kilometer-long racetrack passing through rice fields and roads in Tan Hung Village

Hundreds of residents and tourists gravitated to a commune in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam to enjoy the first cow cart race in the province with the participation of six teams on Saturday.

The race in Ninh Hung Commune, Ninh Hoa Town, Khanh Hoa Province excited locals and tourists.

Six teams, with each including two men and a woman on a cow cart, competed on a 1.1-kilometer-long racetrack passing through rice fields and roads in Tan Hung Hamlet, Ninh Hung Commune.

They also had to load large straw rolls, prepared by the organizer on the way, onto their cow carts during the race.

Most of the cows participating in the race had not competed with each other before, but they were all energetic.

The jury also marks the decoration of cow carts, so some cows are decorated with flowers. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

The judges also marked the decoration of cow carts so some cows were decorated with flowers. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

A team from Tan Hung Hamlet won the race as it completed it in the shortest time and collected the most straw rolls.

Nguyen Van Luc, the owner of the winning cow, said he did not train his cattle much. He just fed it a lot.

“I have raised it for a long time, so it obeyed me,” Luc said.

Pham Van Loc, the owner of another cow taking part in the race, said the event brought joy to locals and promoted solidarity among them.

“Such activities help farmers forget about hardships. We are also happy when our hamlet attracted many tourists to enjoy the cow cart race," Loc said.

“Such a race should be held several times a year. It will become more attractive if there are races for teams from communes and wards."

The six participating teams are divided into three pairs for competition to ensure safety. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

The six participating teams were divided into three pairs for competition to ensure safety. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

Many visitors were also excited about the race.

Tran Thanh Tan, a traveler from Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, said, “I have seen horse and elephant races but have yet to see a cow cart race before. The cows are big but agile and can run fast while pulling hundreds of kilograms [of the carts and people].

“Overall, it is interesting.”

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ninh Hung Commune Vo Quang Binh said the race was aimed at fostering the unity and the community culture in the commune.

“I expect the Ninh Hung cow cart race to become popular among tourists and the race will be expanded to other localities,” Binh said.

Some cows run out of the race track, so members of a team must pull it back to the race track. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

Some cows ran out of the racetrack so team members had to pull them back. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

A cow cart participating in the first cow cart race in Ninh Hung Commune, Ninh Hoa Town, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, August 19, 2023. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

A cow cart participates in the first cow cart race in Ninh Hung Commune, Ninh Hoa Town, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, August 19, 2023. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

The more straw rolls cow carts can carry, the more marks teams will get. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre