Khmer Festival of Culture, Sports and Tourism kicks off in Kien Giang

The tenth Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival kicked off in the town of Go Quao in a district of the same name on November14, featuring the traditional cultural activities of the Khmer people in the province of Kien Giang.
Since 2007, the festival has become a provincial-level cultural event, attracting a large number of locals and visitors. In particular, the tenth Khmer Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival is one of the main events of the Visit Viet Nam Year 2016 - Phu Quoc–Mekong Delta.
The festival comprises many exciting activities such as trade fairs, exhibitions for Viet Nam’s best-quality products, folk games, football and basketball competitions, photo and exhibitions display relating to the Khmer people’s lives, and more.
The Ngo boat race is one of the most attractive activities at the festival, with the participation of 47 boat race teams.
The annual event has been held on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the lunar calendar, contributing to conserving and proving the national cultural value, meeting the spiritual needs of the Khmer people in Viet Nam and tightening further solidarity between the country’s ethnic groups.
Ok-Om-Bok, a moon worshipping ritual performed by the Khmer ethnic group, is one of the three main events celebrated every year. Traditionally, the Khmer believe the moon is a deity who controls the weather and crops throughout the year.
As part of the event, local residents provide offerings to show their gratitude to the deity for giving them good weather conditions and fruitful harvests.