Participants throw the con (a sacred ball) through a high ring at the third con festival co-organised by Viet Nam, Laos and China in the mountainous province of Dien Bien.

According to Vietnamese tradition, players gather on a level field with a 30-40cm ring fixed to a tall bamboo tree. Balls stuffed with rice grains and cotton seeds are decorated with a multi-coloured tassel and thrown through the ring.

The three-day festival closed yesterday attracted around 1,500 participants who also competed in other sports and traditional games.—VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tung