The annual Ngo (Khmer long boat) race will take place in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Cửu Long on November 25-27 to celebrate Ok Om Bok Festival, also called the Festival of Worshipping the Moon. VNA/VNS Trung Hiếu

SÓC TRĂNG — Around 46 teams will compete in the Ngo (Khmer long boat) race which will take place from November 25-27 in the Mekong Delta province of Sóc Trăng.

The annual event celebrates the Ok Om Bok festival, also called the Festival of Worshipping the Moon.

The ritual takes place under the full moon in the 10th lunar month annually when the season changes from rainy to dry, and from the growing season to the harvest season.

According to Huỳnh Thị Ngọc Diễm, vice chairwoman of the province’s People’s Committee, the event aims to honour cultural values and preserve and promote the cultural traits of the ethnic Khmer people in the South, as well as boost the province’s tourism.

The race will have 40 men and six women teams from Sóc Trăng and neighbouring provinces of Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau, and Cần Thơ City.

The race will be 1,200 metres for men and 1,000 metres for women.

The winning teams will receive cash prizes of VNĐ200 million (US$8,280) for men and VNĐ150 million ($6,210) for women.

The race will take place on the Maspero River in Sóc Trăng City on November 26-27.

The province will also hold a performance of water lantern floating on the night of November 25. The act is one of the rituals of the Ok Om Bok Festival to express gratitude and respect to the gods of earth and water. — VNS