Open Hanoi Dragon Boat Racing Festival 2019 begins
VOV.VN -The Open Hanoi Dragon Boat Racing Festival 2019 officially opened at West Lake on February 16, attracting large crowds of local and foreign spectators.
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Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam is among those in attendance |
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| Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung, Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Dao Duc Toan, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Van Quy, along with other leaders and representatives. |
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| Upon addressing the opening ceremony, To Van Dong, Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, said the festival has attracted more than 700 professional and amateur racers made up of 34 domestic and international delegations. They will compete in 600 metre-long races on West Lake – the area near Ly Tu Trong Park, Thanh Nien, and Nguyen Dinh Thi roads. |
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| As well as domestic athletes from across the country, the festival has also attracted rowers from the Embassy of Sweden and Swedish Alumni in Vietnam, the US Alumni Association, and Vietnam Airlines. Participants are divided into two categories; one for professionals, and another for amateurs during the two-day event. |
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| Professional competitors have come from China, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, and Hong Kong, as well as various different cities and provinces from across Vietnam. They are split into male and female categories taking place on February 16. |
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Meanwhile, amateurs compete in the qualifying round on February 16 with the final taking place the following day. |
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During the festival, athletes from the boat racing and other water-based sports feature on a parade. Local residents also have the chance to enjoy a number of art performances, including lion dances, a water puppetry show, and cai luong (reformed opera) at the event.
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