Traditional Buffalo Fights Now Regular in HCM City

Traditional Buffalo Fights Now Regular in HCM City

Ho Chi Minh City residents no longer have to wait until the eight lunar month - when they travel north to watch buffalo fights - since a local company has recently started holding the traditional event in the city.

Every Sunday of the second week, the Sy Dang Private Enterprise hosts buffalo fights at the People’s Cultural History Park in the city’s outlying District 9.

About 20 fighting buffalos from across the Mekong Delta region battle one another in the 5,000-seat arena.

There are at least 25 criteria for selecting fighting buffalos, said Nguyen Thi Hanh, owner of the Sy Dang Private Enterprise. Fighting buffaloes must be carefully selected, well fed and trained. These buffaloes must be between five and six-years-old, have a good appearance, wide chest, big groin, long neck, acute bottom and bow-shaped horns.

Fighting buffalos are fed grass, chicken egg porridge and vitamin supplements to properly grow for fighting.

Selected buffalos often undergo strict training.  Every morning they have to practice “running” on land and then are put into marshy fields to practice close fighting. In the afternoons and evenings, the buffalos listen to loud drums, television and radio to get familiar with the arena atmosphere where spectators scream at the animals during fights.

Although, the cost of raising a fighting buffalo can be up to VND40-50 million (2,500-3,200), the fighting life of buffalos is short. Usually, they only join five to six fights and are then taken to slaughterhouses.

The buffalo fighting festival is one of around 20 national festivals in Vietnam. It is officially held on the 9th day of the eight lunar months in northern Haiphong City. This tradition is attached to the worship of the Water God and hien sinh or sacrifice. It also shows the martial spirit of the local people.
Young People