A Ngo boat race (similar to the sport of dragon boating) took place on Long Binh river of the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh on November 21, as part of the traditional Ooc Om Bok Festival of the Khmer people.

The race drew the participation of eight teams, all from Tra Vinh province, to compete in three distances of 800m, 600m, and 500m. The Cang Long district team exhibited its dominance in the sport by winning gold medals in all three categories. The Ngo boat race is among the traditional activities of the Khmer people in the annual Ooc Om Bok Festival. The race conveyed the unity of the Khmer culture, one of the characteristic traits in Vietnam’s southern region and Tra Vinh province in particular. Ooc Om Bok is one of three main festivals, along with Sene Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay which the Khmer people celebrate every year. It has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.-VNA