Bach Hac Festival

Bach Hac Chai Swimming Festival: A Cultural Tribute to Traditional Martial Spirit

The Bach Hac Chai Swimming Festival is an annual event held in March of the lunar calendar in Bach Hac Ward, Viet Tri City. This festival serves as a ritualistic and artistic representation of the training of naval forces, embodying the martial spirit ingrained in the tradition of defending the homeland since the time of the Hung Kings.

The festival spans three days: the first day involves a leisurely swim to inspect the paddles; on the second day, the factions parade down to the riverbank, swimming in the Red River to welcome the deities; the third day is the main swimming competition, where the factions compete against each other. Each unit races with identical boats, differing only in color.

The Bach Hac Chai Swimming Festival has expanded to other areas in Phu Tho Province and some neighboring provinces. Every year, during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day and the Hung Temple Festival, the Bach Hac Chai Swimming Festival in Viet Tri City attracts thousands of locals and tourists alike, creating a captivating highlight during the ancestral land celebration.