Ok Om Bok Festival boat racing

A major event of the festival is the Ghe Ngo boat race, which began on Sunday morning. This year's festival sees the competition of 50 boats from Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Hau Giang and Vinh Long.

Ending the first day of competition, 32 teams qualified for the second round of races today, Monday. Ok Om Bok or Worshipping the Moon is one of the three main festivals of Khmer people along with Sene Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay which takes place under the full moon in the 10th lunar month annually.

The Khmer believe the moon is a gd who controls the weather and crops throughout the year. The festival has been recognised as part of the Country's Intangible Cultural Heritage.