An Châu and its traditional boat race

An unusual boat race, in which the winner is not determined solely by who reaches the finish line first, is at the heart of the An Châu festival. The event also features religious customs and singing competitions among the Tày, Nùng, and Dao. Those interested in local traditions and their stories will find a special reason to discover An Châu in Sơn Động District.

A festival with its own history

The traditional An Châu boat race festival was revived in 2000 and has been held annually ever since. Its festival days fall on the 8th, 9th, and 10th days of the fourth lunar month. According to the festival’s oral tradition, the race is linked to the training of river combat units attributed to General Vi Đức Thăng. Miếu Đức Ông is also part of this historical legacy: according to local tradition, the temple commemorates a general of Lê Lợi who led river combat units and trained local people to use dugout canoes.

Ritual and competition

The program combines religious and sporting elements. After the religious ceremony at Miếu Đức Ông, events continue at Nghè Chải, where the boat race begins. The annual festival days provide a recurring timeframe, while the race also depends on water levels: it can take place only once rain at the end of spring and beginning of summer has raised the river sufficiently.

The competition is not judged solely by which boat reaches the finish line first. The value of the bamboo lot drawn by the team at the finish also matters. This rule makes the scoring a distinctive part of the race. The boats used are dugout canoes that can carry seven people. The course is about 300 to 400 meters long. The festival uses a relatively wide stretch of river, with a depth of 1 to 2.5 meters.

Places and cultural connections

The traditional festival centers on Đình–Chùa Chẽ, Nghè Chải, and a stretch of the Lục Nam River, also known as the An Châu River. The Đình–Chùa Chẽ complex was recognized as a provincial historical and cultural monument in 2003. It is dedicated to the village guardian deity and Generals Cao Sơn and Quý Minh, who, according to tradition, were generals during the era of the Hùng kings. Đình–Chùa Chẽ is also a place of religious worship for people from the district and beyond.

The annual festival also includes singing competitions among the Tày, Nùng, and Dao communities. Alongside the race, the program thus features other forms of communal expression. The different connections—from the religious ceremony and traditional stories to the competition on the river—give An Châu a distinctive cultural character.

An Châu as a starting point

An Châu is a junction and transfer point for two important interregional roads. If you choose a holiday rental for a stay focused on the boat race and cultural traditions, the town puts you right in the heart of the festival. The lunar-calendar dates and the race’s dependence on water levels are useful points of reference when planning your trip.

For more ideas on where to visit, see Thành phố Bắc Giang.

For the broader travel overview: Bac Giang.