BẮC GIANG — Large crowds enjoyed watching the 15th Raft Racing Festival in 2024, held at Khe Chảo Lake, in Long Sơn Commune, Sơn Động District, Bắc Giang Province.

The event celebrated the 79th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day on September 2 (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2024).

Historically, locals crafted simple rafts from bamboo and forest materials for fishing and crossing rivers. The traditional raft racing festival of Long Sơn Commune was first revived in 2007 and has been held annually on National Day to honour ancestral customs and culture.

Since then, the Khe Chảo Lake Raft Racing Festival has become a cherished tradition in Long Sơn Commune, providing a joyful and meaningful celebration of Independence Day on September 2. It serves as an engaging competition for young men from the villages, allowing them to showcase their strength and skills in navigating the rafts through the lake.

This year, five teams from different villages in Long Sơn Commune participated, each consisting of five athletes. The competition followed a knockout format, where teams raced approximately 100m across the lake to retrieve a flag and return to the finish line. The rounds continued until a champion team was decided.

Ngọc Văn Hòa, captain of the Thượng Village raft racing team, noted that controlling the raft requires teamwork.

"The key is for team members to coordinate smoothly to maintain the raft's direction and speed. The raft's speed also depends on the wind, which can sometimes cause it to drift," Hòa said.

Nguyễn Văn Khoa, Vice Chairman of the Long Sơn Commune People's Committee, said: “Organising the boat racing festival at Khe Chảo Lake provides an opportunity for tourists to discover this potential tourist destination, thereby attracting investors in local tourism.”

Khe Chảo Lake, situated at a high altitude, boasts a cool and airy atmosphere. It serves not only as an irrigation project but also as a climate regulator for the region, providing a habitat for aquatic life and a primeval forest rich in various plant species, including precious medicinal plants.

Recent investments in road infrastructure and the construction of a bridge have enhanced Khe Chảo Lake's appeal as a tourist destination. VNS