Life in Trung Luong is closely associated with rivers. Hundreds of years ago, the commune was a flood-prone area and locals built a temple dedicated to Saint Tran Hung Dao, a 13^th century national hero, in the hope that he would help control annual flooding. A ritual for Saint Tran takes place every spring featuring a variety of activities, including a boat race. The boats are shaped like dragons and rowed by young men dressed in costumes.

“The boats are an integral part of local residents’ lives and they believe that they will experience bad luck without a boat race,” said Nguyen Truong Thien, the Vice Secretary of Trung Luong commune’s Party Committee.

The race attracts all locals, young and old alike.

“I have been participating in the race since my 20s, and my enthusiasm has remained over the past half a century,” said 77 year-old Tran Viet Vung.

Trung Luong is the meeting point of three rivers: the La, the Lam and the Minh. When it runs through the commune, the Minh River looks like an arch. During festival days, the banks of the river are packed with people and a sea of flags and banners. Aboard each dragon boat are 20 young men, who anxiously wait for the drumbeat that signals the beginning of the race.

The racers are greeted and encouraged by drumming and squeals of delight from the euphoric crowd. Twenty-eight-year-old Bui Van Canh has been competing for more than 20 years and his team has won several times in recent years. Canh said the wooden tocsin, a percussion instrument, is very important in the race.    

“We attribute our victory to a tactic in which the tocsin plays the key role,” he said. “At the beginning, the tocsin’s rhythm should be slow, and speeds up as the race enters the final stage. In short, the tocsin player is the tactical coach.”

The boat race is deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of local residents. When spring comes, Trung Luong people, no matter where they are or what they do, return to their native land to celebrate their unique cultural tradition.