The preparationfor this buffalo fighting festival is an elaborate process, from the5th and the 6th lunar month itself. The competing buffalos must becarefully selected and methodically trained months in advance of the festival.These buffalos, that had experienced the qualifying round, must bebetween 4 and 5 years old, with a good appearance, a wide chest, a biggroin, a long neck, an acute bottom and bow shaped horns. The selectedbuffalos, after all the elimination rounds, are fed in separate cagesto keep them from contact with common buffalos.

Buffalo fighting performance

The beginning of the worshipping ceremony lasts until lunch time. Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival takesoff with a colorful procession with an octet and a big processionchair, carried by six strong young men. The chosen buffalos, coveredwith red cloth and red band around their horns, are taken to thefighting ring by 24 young men, from each side dressed in red. The youngmen dance and wave flags as the two teams of troops take theirpositions in the fighting ground. The dance was mingled with theebullient sound of drums and gongs, bringing a hectic atmosphere to thefestival. After this event, a pair of buffalos is led to opposite sidesof the festival grounds and is made to stand near two flags called NguPhung. As soon as the right signal is released, the two buffalos areled into the fighting circle. At the next signal, the two leadersrelease the ropes that are attached to the noses of the buffalos. Withwell-practiced movements, the buffalos rush into each other, usingtheir fighting skills to decide the right to enter the next match whilethe spectators shout and urge the fighting along. Then, the winningbuffalo goes to the next round till the final winner emerges. Thematches varied in terms of time, depending on the strength and staminaof the buffalos. At the completion of the fight, the spectacle of"receiving the buffalos" is very interesting as the leaders must thencatch the winning buffalo to grant it its reward.

TheBuffalo Fighting in Do Son is traditional festival of Vietnam attachedto a Water God worshipping ceremony and the "Hien Sinh" custom. Theceremony is held in every village and chaired by its patriarch to prayfor the victory at the buffalo fight, typically express the martialspirit of the local people in Do Son, Hai Phong. In recent years, thistraditional festival attracted not only local residents but alsothousands of domestic and international tourists.