Photo | The Year of the Horse in Bac Ha: A century-old horse race

16:07 | 02/01/2026CultureFollow Ven.vn on
Though not a professional competition, the traditional Bac Ha horse racing festival in Lao Cai, with farmers riding pack horses, leaves a lasting impression.
The Bac Ha horse racing festival in Lao Cai province dates back so far that no one knows its exact origins. However, according to elderly Tay and Mong people, the horse parade of local communities has existed for generations. Photo: Nam Nguyen

The Bac Ha horse racing festival in Lao Cai province dates back so far that no one knows its exact origins. However, according to elderly Tay and Mong people, the horse parade of local communities has existed for generations. Photo: Nam Nguyen

At first, the activity is merely a parade. Over time, young men begin riding horses in informal races, both for entertainment and to prove themselves to young women. Photo: Nam Nguyen

At first, the activity is merely a parade. Over time, young men begin riding horses in informal races, both for entertainment and to prove themselves to young women. Photo: Nam Nguyen

In the early years of the 20th century, the horse parade is held on the Day of the Horse in the first or second week after the Lunar New Year to pray for good fortune and a bountiful farming year. The parade is followed by festive activities such as horse racing and shooting competitions, and from then on, ethnic communities gather regularly on the first Day of the Horse after the Lunar New Year to take part in the event. Photo: Nam Nguyen

In the early years of the 20th century, the horse parade is held on the Day of the Horse in the first or second week after the Lunar New Year to pray for good fortune and a bountiful farming year. The parade is followed by festive activities such as horse racing and shooting competitions, and from then on, ethnic communities gather regularly on the first Day of the Horse after the Lunar New Year to take part in the event. Photo: Nam Nguyen

As riding and racing contests by young horsemen draw growing crowds, representatives of villages begin organising races for the community. This is regarded as the forerunner of today’s Bac Ha horse racing festival. Photo: Nam Nguyen

As riding and racing contests by young horsemen draw growing crowds, representatives of villages begin organising races for the community. This is regarded as the forerunner of today’s Bac Ha horse racing festival. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Perhaps nowhere else offers a horse race that is as thrilling, raw and pure as this one. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Perhaps nowhere else offers a horse race that is as thrilling, raw and pure as this one. Photo: Nam Nguyen

The horses that usually carry goods and head to the fields are now led by their owners into competition. Barefoot young men, wearing simple plastic helmets, mount their racing horses without saddles,…Photo: Nam Nguyen

The horses that usually carry goods and head to the fields are now led by their owners into competition. Barefoot young men, wearing simple plastic helmets, mount their racing horses without saddles,…Photo: Nam Nguyen

Yet they race with all their might as the crowd erupts in constant cheers. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Yet they race with all their might as the crowd erupts in constant cheers. Photo: Nam Nguyen

The image of barefoot horsemen remains vivid and unforgettable for anyone who visits Bac Ha during the horse racing season. Photo: Nam Nguyen

The image of barefoot horsemen remains vivid and unforgettable for anyone who visits Bac Ha during the horse racing season. Photo: Nam Nguyen

For those born and raised on the White Plateau of Bac Ha in Lao Cai, the familiar clatter of horse carts echoing along winding hill roads, especially at dawn, under the midday sun or in the soft glow of dusk, seems deeply ingrained in their memory. Photo: Nam Nguyen

For those born and raised on the White Plateau of Bac Ha in Lao Cai, the familiar clatter of horse carts echoing along winding hill roads, especially at dawn, under the midday sun or in the soft glow of dusk, seems deeply ingrained in their memory. Photo: Nam Nguyen

That familiar sound of hooves also vividly recalls, for Bac Ha natives living far from home, the traditional horse racing festival that has existed in the area for hundreds of years. Photo: Nam Nguyen

That familiar sound of hooves also vividly recalls, for Bac Ha natives living far from home, the traditional horse racing festival that has existed in the area for hundreds of years. Photo: Nam Nguyen 

Bui Minh Hai, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bac Ha commune, says maintaining the traditional Bac Ha horse racing festival is one of the locality’s efforts to honour the fine cultural values of ethnic minorities in the highlands, while celebrating the unique and deep bond between local people and an animal that is closely intertwined with their daily life and spiritual world. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Bui Minh Hai, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bac Ha commune, says maintaining the traditional Bac Ha horse racing festival is one of the locality’s efforts to honour the fine cultural values of ethnic minorities in the highlands, while celebrating the unique and deep bond between local people and an animal that is closely intertwined with their daily life and spiritual world. Photo: Nam Nguyen

In Bac Ha, horses play an important role in the lives of ethnic minority communities, contributing to economic development while embodying a distinctive local cultural identity. On May 27, 2021, the Bac Ha horse racing festival is recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage, preserved and promoted as a signature tourism product of Bac Ha commune. Photo: Nam Nguyen

In Bac Ha, horses play an important role in the lives of ethnic minority communities, contributing to economic development while embodying a distinctive local cultural identity. On May 27, 2021, the Bac Ha horse racing festival is recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage, preserved and promoted as a signature tourism product of Bac Ha commune. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Le Van
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