Thousands of locals cheered the athletes at the annual Hanoi Open Dragon Boat Racing Tournament 2023, which was held yesterday at the West Lake, along Thanh Nien and Nguyen Dinh Thi Streets. 

Do Dinh Hong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports and head of the organizing committee, said that dragon boat racing is a sport that promotes team spirit and requires solidarity among members for the goal of reaching the finish line first.

This year's boat race attracted the participation of 600 rowers from 38 male and female boat teams from six districts of Hanoi, eight neighboring provinces and cities, 14 enterprises, eight embassies and international organizations in Hanoi.

To revive this tradition, which was held during Tet holiday and celebrations in the past, Hanoi, in partnership with Vietnam Airlines Corporation, is organizing the festival for the fourth year to preserve the popular sport and turn it into a tourism product, as well as promote the capital's culture and history to attract more visitors to the city.

Do Dinh Hong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, speaks at the opening ceremony. Photos: Huy Pham/The Hanoi Times

A dragon dance kicks off the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Open Dragon Boat Racing Tournament 2023.

The tournament, held at West Lake, offers Hanoi residents and foreign visitors an impressive regatta.

Both domestic and foreign rowers join the tournament.

In the past, dragon boat racing was an important cultural event in Vietnam during the Tet holiday and national celebrations.

The event is expected to promote culture and tourism.

Since 2018, the event has attracted the participation of amateur and professional paddlers and athletes.

Each team is made up of 12 rowers who race a 600-meter course on the water.

Spectators are thrilled by the fierce competition between the teams in each race.