Dramatic final round of the 19th Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament
The final round of the 19th Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament took place on the morning of May 24th in a vibrant and exciting atmosphere, featuring fierce competition among the "barefoot riders" of the highlands. This event continues to be a highlight in the series of activities for the 2026 Summer Festival "The Hooves of the Highlands".
On the morning of May 24, at the central stadium of Bac Ha commune, the final round of the 19th Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament attracted a large number of locals and tourists to watch and cheer.


Delegates attended and watched the final round of the 19th Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament.
Attending the final round were Ms. Giang Thi Dung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Lao Cai province; Mr. Vu Quynh Khanh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Ly Binh Minh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, along with leaders of several provincial and local departments and agencies.


Thousands of locals and tourists gathered at the central stadium of Bac Ha commune to watch the final round.
From early morning, the roads leading to the central stadium of Bac Ha commune were packed with people and vehicles. A festive atmosphere enveloped the central area as thousands of spectators gathered to watch the exciting races.

The riders competed fiercely on the 1,500m track in the final round.

The thrilling acceleration sequences are what make the tournament so appealing.
After 19 qualifying rounds with the participation of 90 jockeys from 15 units and localities inside and outside the province, the organizing committee selected the 32 best jockeys to advance to the final round.
This year's racers came from many localities such as Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai, Lai Chau, Tuyen Quang, Thanh Hoa, etc., creating fierce competition right from the first races. Notably, the host team Bac Ha had 17 jockeys participating in the final round, with Na Ang B village alone having 8 jockeys.

The pounding of horse hooves filled the central stadium of Bac Ha commune on the day of the traditional horse race.
On the 1,500-meter race track, the jockeys constantly accelerated amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the spectators. Numerous breakaway maneuvers at the corners and fierce chases in the final sprint brought the atmosphere in the stadium to a climax.


The familiar pack horses of everyday life become warhorses on the racetrack.

The intense chases in the final stretch created a vibrant atmosphere in the stadium.
At the end of the tournament, the organizers awarded prizes to the jockeys who achieved the highest results. The championship title of the 2026 Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament went to jockey Giang A Thuong from Y Ty commune. Second place went to jockey Lu Van Duong from Na Ang village, Bac Ha commune; third place went to jockey Trang A Gio from Y Ty commune; and the consolation prize went to jockey Giang Seo Vu from San Bay village, Bac Ha commune.


The traditional Bac Ha horse race continues to affirm the appeal of this unique cultural festival in the Northwest region.
According to the Organizing Committee's assessment, this year's season had a high level of professionalism and expanded scale with the participation of many jockeys from outside the province such as Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Thanh Hoa… creating exciting and unexpected competitions.
More than just a traditional sporting event, the Bac Ha Horse Racing Festival also contributes to promoting the image of the white plateau region, attracting tourists to Bac Ha during the summer tourist season. This is also one of the key activities aimed at promoting the value of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the traditional Bac Ha Horse Racing Festival.