Preparing for the exciting Tet boat racing festival on the Ca Ty river
As the traditional early-spring Boat Racing Festival on the Ca Ty River approaches, the southeastern wards of Lam Dong province are buzzing with preparation. The palpable excitement—evident in everything from planning meetings to field inspections—underscores the community's anticipation for this sporting event. This annual race remains a powerful symbol, ushering in the New Year with energy and hope.
Immediately after the festival’s organizing plan was issued, the People’s Committee of Phan Thiet Ward took the lead in coordinating with four other wards and communes—Mui Ne, Phu Thuy, Binh Thuan, and Tien Thanh—to finalize key arrangements and establish competing teams for the Traditional Boat Racing Festival celebrating Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse). Preparations rely on local resources and community-sourced funding.
Accordingly, each team registers one racing boat and two basket boats to compete in four categories: 300-meter and 500-meter side-by-side boat race, a 1,200-meter turning race, and a 500-meter single basket-boat race. The event will take place at 12:30 p.m. on February 18, 2026 (the second day of the Lunar New Year).
Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc, Director of the General Services Center of Phan Thiet Ward and Deputy Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, said: “Up to now, the People’s Committee of Phan Thiet Ward has finalized the overall plan and regulations with specific responsibilities delegated to each member. At the same time, we are coordinating with relevant departments to ensure conditions related to funding, facilities, security, public order, social safety, environmental sanitation, and healthcare and protection for athletes.”
Alongside Phan Thiet Ward, the other four wards are also racing against time to form teams, repaint boats and oars, and establish appropriate training schedules. Each ward will select 32 athletes—all local fishermen who are physically robust and possess profound knowledge of coastal waters. In addition to experienced core athletes from previous competitions, several wards have introduced younger competitors to ensure continuity and rejuvenate their lineups.
Mr. Nguyen The Dung, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of Phu Thuy Ward, shared: “The locality considers this not only a competition but also a festival for locals. Therefore, the participation plan is prepared very carefully, ensuring both professional quality and a joyful, festive atmosphere for the early days of the new year.”
For many years, the Ca Ty River Boat Racing Festival has been a cherished cultural and spiritual event each spring for residents in the southeastern part of the province. When the steady rhythm of paddles merges with the resounding beats of festival drums, the race becomes a vivid and enduring expression of local identity. This is reflected in the large crowds lining both banks of the Ca Ty River—from Tran Hung Dao Bridge to Le Hong Phong Bridge—even under the intense midday sun.
At that moment, the river is transformed into a vibrant tableau of fluttering flags, colorful banners, rhythmic drumbeats, and shimmering blue waters. Visitors to Phan Thiet at the beginning of the year are drawn not only by opportunities for leisure, but also by the chance to immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere and gain deeper insight into the cultural life of coastal communities.
The proactive preparations undertaken by the wards are intended not only to achieve strong competition results, but also to spread the joy of spring and strengthen community bonds. Together, these efforts promise a dynamic festival that reflects the rich cultural identity of Lam Dong’s coastal residents and ushers in the new year with optimism and renewed energy.
Boat racing itself is rooted in the daily lives of coastal fishermen. Each team represents a small community, where every synchronized stroke of the oar symbolizes unity, cooperation, and experience shaped by countless journeys at sea.