The festival saw a race of 70 pairs of cows from districts of An Giang province, Kien Giang province and Cambodia, to race for professional and amateur prizes.

On the first day of competition, Tran Van Cat, a farmer from Vinh Trung commune, Tinh Bien district won first prize for the professional race while Nguyen Van But from Luong Phi commune, Tri Ton district won first prize for amateur race.

“I have participated in this race for several years. I won the second prize two consecutive years but this year I obtained the first prize. This is a great joy for my family,” said Cat.

The Bay Nui cow racing is a unique festival of southern people. All racers are farmers who participate in the event not for money but for the fame of their commune. The winning pairs of cows are cared for like valuable assets and they can take part in the race the next year.

The festival dates back to a custom of cow racing during the rice cultivation season of the Khmer people and it has been held annually since 1992 in Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts of An Giang province.