1The Significance of the Quan Lạn Boat-Racing Festival in Vân Đồn Special Administrative Region, Quảng Ninh
Every year, when summer arrives, coastal destinations are always among the choices of many tourists. Quan Lạn Island in Quảng Ninh is also one of the hottest destinations in northern Vietnam. Therefore, when Minh Châu–Quan Lạn tourism is mentioned, visitors immediately think of some of the most pristine, crystal-clear beaches in the north, along with their smooth white sands. Yet this place is even more special for its strong historical imprints. One of them is the “boat-racing festival,” a beautiful expression of the culture and identity of this island and coastal region.
The Quan Lạn boat-racing festival (Quan Lạn Festival) takes place from the 10th to the 20th day of the sixth lunar month, with the main festival day falling on the 18th each year. The festival is a traditional village gathering custom of the people of Quan Lạn island commune. It commemorates the victory over the Yuan-Mongol invaders in 1288, honors the military achievements of General Trần Khánh Dư, and is also an annual festival praying for favorable rain and winds for the island’s fishermen.
The festival is usually held at the Quan Lạn Communal House Wharf, near the ancient Quan Lạn Communal House, one of the famous historical sites in Quan Lạn. The festival usually lasts 10 days. It opens on the 10th day of the sixth lunar month, when the village is closed; villagers are not allowed to leave the village during these days, but visitors from elsewhere can still come to attend the festival.
The Quan Lạn boat-racing festival is held on a grand scale every year and is increasingly attracting tourists to take part
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2 The Unique Quan Lạn Boat-Racing Festival
2.1 Preparations for the Quan Lạn Boat-Racing Festival
The Quan Lạn boat-racing festival is held at Quan Lạn Communal House Wharf, right next to the ancient communal house – one of the highly historic sites of Quan Lạn. The festival takes place over 10 days, from the 10th day of the sixth lunar month. The opening day is also the day the village is closed, meaning island residents are not allowed to leave the island until the festival ends. Although the village is closed, visitors from elsewhere can still come to the village and join the festival with local people.
The main ceremony lasts only 3 days, but for dozens of days beforehand, local people have already begun preparing for this traditional festival. National flags and five-colored flags are hung throughout the village roads. The Quan Lạn boat-racing festival differs from those in other regions. Participants are divided into 2 teams, each setting up its own camp to practice, while the boat races begin on the 1st. The 2 teams are Đông Nam Văn and Đoài Bắc Võ. The racing boats are selected from seagoing vessels with a capacity of approximately 5 to 6 tons, decorated with dragon heads on their broad bows and deep hulls. The 16th day is chosen for the ceremony to carry Trần Khánh Dư’s memorial tablet from the shrine to the communal house. During these days, the teams continue practicing at the wharf, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
2.2 The Main Festival
On the 16th day of the sixth lunar month, the deity’s edict is carried from the communal house to the shrine, where the village elders hold a ceremony to report to the deity and request permission to organize the festival. After that, the village divisions and delegations take turns entering to perform rituals. At the same time, the two divisions hold a feast for the troops, accompanied by activities such as cultural exchanges, dragon and lion dances, and folk games.
The 18th is the main festival day. Soldiers from both sides put on their ceremonial costumes, perform a ritual to the deity, receive swords, set out, and parade through the village roads. The two sides display their forces for 3 rounds along the village roads and 3 rounds at the shrine before stopping. At 4 p.m., after the incense-offering ceremony and the reading of the ceremonial address, receiving commemorative flags, and beating the battle drums, the two teams prepare for the traditional rowing race. Each side appoints people to carry its general from the shrine down to the dragon boat. The two boats turn their bows evenly and prepare to depart. After 3 rounds of circling on the river, the soldiers bring the boats ashore, cheering along with the proclamations of the two generals. Once the generals finish reading their proclamations, the race officially begins at the sound of the departure drums. This rowing race is particularly lively and engaging, partly because it recreates the atmosphere of the 1288 victory at Vân Đồn. Therefore, although it is called a competition, winning or losing is not especially important. As Chairman Lưu Văn Viên said, everyone is a winner because they have brought the spirit of their forebears back to life. The competition is also an occasion to feast the troops, after which the people enthusiastically return to fishing, hoping for a plentiful fishing season.
The festival is held on a grand scale and is extremely lively
The most exciting part of the festival is the rowing race, which recreates the historic victory at Vân Đồn
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Quảng Ninh, with its beautiful sightseeing destinations and natural landscapes, along with its delicious local specialties, is also home to festivals in Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh. These include the Bạch Đằng Festival, Hạ Long Carnaval, and the Quan Lại boat-racing festival, all rich in cultural and historical significance and not to be missed.
