Every year, on the 9th day of the 8th lunar month – usually falling in September – Đồ Sơn comes alive with the traditional buffalo fighting festival (Đồ Sơn, a coastal district of Hải Phòng, Vietnam).
“Dù ai buôn đâu bán đâu
Mùng chín tháng tám chọi trâu thì về
Dù ai buôn bán trăm nghề
Mùng chín tháng tám thì về chọi trâu”
Rough translation: (approximate translation capturing the meaning)
“No matter where you trade or roam,
On the ninth of the eighth, come home for buffalo fights.”
Origins and Cultural Significance
The Đồ Sơn Buffalo Fighting Festival originates from ancient rituals honoring local water deities. Initially, the festival was held to pray for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and the well-being of the community. The buffaloes, regarded as sacred animals closely tied to Vietnamese agricultural life, play a central role in the festival. Their participation not only reflects spiritual beliefs but also preserves centuries-old traditions, making the festival a vibrant expression of coastal rural culture and life.
Selection and Training
Right after the Lunar New Year, villages begin preparations for the festival. Experienced villagers are sent to the northern mountains, the western regions, and even to China and Southeast Asian countries to find suitable male buffaloes. An ideal “fighting buffalo” must be strong, resilient to impacts, have bronzed skin, black jaws, horns as black as ebony, a thick back, broad chest, pure black hair, large legs, closed hooves, a tail tip with a tuft, reddish eyes, and thick eyelashes… These are the criteria for judging a “beautiful buffalo.” According to long-standing experience, older buffaloes often have greater endurance and bravery.
After purchase, the fighting buffaloes are meticulously cared for in preparation for the festival. Their special diet includes molasses, cornmeal, and elephant grass, aimed at boosting health and strength. Raising fighting buffaloes requires a significant investment, potentially reaching hundreds of millions of VND per year, and demands considerable time and dedication from their owners.
The owners, wearing bright red garments, lead the buffaloes around the market while playing music and beating gongs, so that the buffaloes become accustomed to the crowd and noise. In addition, the buffaloes are trained in their “signature moves” using safe methods, such as butting banana bushes or pulling heavy objects through muddy ground, to improve endurance, maintain balance, and sharpen reflexes—all carefully supervised by their owners.
Water-Pulling Ceremony – Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival
The Water-Pulling Ritual takes place at Đền Nghè ( Nghe Temple) and is one of the most important ceremonies, marking the official start of the traditional Đồ Sơn Buffalo Fighting Festival. The ritual is held to pray for favorable weather, national peace, and the well-being and happiness of all households. It also showcases the intersection of agricultural culture—where buffaloes are traditional livestock—and the coastal community’s culture, closely linked with the worship of water deities.
During the ceremony, locals offer incense at Đền Nghè ( Nghe Temple), bowing to the heavens and the deities. The ritual of carrying water from the source at the gate of Đền Nghè is performed, bringing it to be enshrined at village communal houses and temples. The water is kept in ceramic jars, placed on palanquins, and carried by strong young men to the sacred sites.
The procession is decorated with dragon palanquins, ceremonial umbrellas, drums and gongs, and festival flags—symbols typical of Vietnamese folk festivals. Across centuries, the ritual has preserved its traditional spiritual significance, while also reflecting community identity and the strong connection of Đồ Sơn residents to their spiritual and agricultural heritage.
Festival Atmosphere
When festival season arrives, Đồ Sơn seems to don a vibrant cloak of fluttering red flags and traditional festival banners swaying in the salty sea breeze. The resounding beat of drums and gongs echoes across the beach, blending with the cheers of locals and visitors, making the entire space seem to dance to the rhythm of the festival. Every path leading to the buffalo fighting arena is filled with color, from strings of flags and banners to stalls offering traditional crafts and local foods.
The local people blend seamlessly with visitors from afar, creating a vibrant sea of spectators. The “Respected Buffalo” strong and glossy-coated, are carefully tended in their designated areas, waiting for their turn to compete. Interspersed with the lively festival atmosphere are traditional rituals: offerings at Đền Nghè and Đền Nam Hải (Nam Hai Temple), the water procession, and the Lễ Tống Thần (Farewell Ceremony for the Deities). The space is at once bustling and solemn, lively yet steeped in spiritual reverence, allowing every visitor to step into a rich Vietnamese cultural world where humans and nature harmonize through each ritual and performance.
Tips for Visitors: Arrive early, choose your seat, and pay attention to safety.
The traditional Đồ Sơn Buffalo Fighting Festival is usually divided into two main time points:
- Elimination rounds: Typically held on the 8th day of the 6th lunar month, where the “Respected Buffalos” compete to select the strongest contenders.
- Main festival day: Celebrated grandly on the 9th day of the 8th lunar month each year – the peak day of the festival.
According to folk beliefs, all fighting buffalos are sacred offerings to the Thủy Thần (Water God). After the matches, every “Respected Buffalo,” whether winning or losing, is slaughtered and shared as a blessing. This ritual carries deep significance, symbolizing prayers for good fortune, warding off evil, and wishing for bountiful harvests.
Exploring Around the Festival
After experiencing the vibrant atmosphere and traditional rituals of the Đồ Sơn Buffalo Fighting Festival, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities in the surrounding area. Relax on Đồ Sơn Beach, feel the fresh sea breeze, and savor the local fresh seafood.
For those interested in exploring the culture and history of the region, a visit to Hải Phòng city is ideal, with its notable landmarks, traditional markets, and charming streets.
If you have more time, a day trip to Hạ Long Bay offers a breathtaking landscape of towering limestone karsts and emerald waters, adding another iconic experience of Northern Vietnam.
Combining these activities creates a rich itinerary, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the festival, relax on the beach, and explore the distinctive local culture.
Reserve a hassle-free private taxi from Cat Bi Airport to Ha Long Bay today!
Conclusion
The buffalo fighting festival is more than just a spectacle; it embodies the cultural and spiritual essence of the coastal communities. It offers visitors a deeper understanding of the traditional Vietnamese way of life.
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