The annual New Year boat race festival opened on Ly Son island in the central province of Quang Ngai on January 26.
The annual event, which aims to express appreciation to the gods, and pray for a safe, sound and good harvest, is held in An Vinh and An Hai villages. The festival will last until January 30.
Ly Son Boat Race Festival takes place annually from 4 to 8 January of lunar calendar. Assumedly, this is the most important festival of coastal inhabitants in Quang Ngai in particular and in the south of Central Region as well in terms of the size, time, continuity (annually), and the participation (tens of thousand participants) of the festival. Ly Son Boat Race Festival is not just an amusement but also a chance to commemorate the founders of the island and a time to pray for well-being and prosperity.
Ly So has 8 racing boats (8 m long, named after 4 sacred animals: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix) all very well decorated with carvings.
The festival has two levels: village level and district level.
The elder performed rituals before the boat race.
