Doi Son Ploughing Festival opens in Ha Nam

The festival is held annually for hopes and prayers for a year of bumper harvests, the promotion of agricultural production and to express gratitude to predecessors for exploring, cultivating and expanding fields all across the country.

This year marks the 1,033rd year that King Le Dai Hanh decided to plough in the field in Doi Son commune to start and encourage rice cultivation.

This is the twelfth consecutive year the festival has been held by the People’s Committee of Duy Tien district in order to promote traditional and unique cultural values of the district.

King Le Dai Hanh, who is known to have attached great importance to agriculture, travelled to the Doi Mountain in Doi Son commune in 987 to plow fields there during the Lunar New Year. The practice has become an annual tradition and is considered a renowned national festival.

The festival is for prayers for a year of good crops and encourage people to work hard for a prosperous and happy life.

Besides the ploughing rituals, this year’s festival featured a buffalo painting contest, dragon dancing performances, drum performances, folk games, traditional wrestling, among other activities.