Cow fighting in Pac Mieu

      The northern upland province of Cao Bang is famous for hosting many festivities, of which the most captivating is the cow fighting held annually in early Spring in Pac Mieu Town (Bao Lam District).
Visitors to this attraction are fascinated by the performances of the fighting cows, the most common being U-cows that are breed exclusively in Bao Lam. This particular breed of bovine has the strength of the gayal, and far superior to other domestic cows.
The normally quiet border town of Pac Mieu is bustling on the day of the cow-fighting spectacle. From early morning, ethnic groups of Mong, Dao and Lo Lo people dressed in their traditional colourful attire come to the competition grounds.
Owners of the fighting cows obviously are very proud when parading alongside their robust beast amid praise from the visitors. After some ceremonial necessities, the first pair of cows enter the ring amid the applause of thousands of viewers. As soon as being released from the ropes, the two beasts rush at each other, their horns crashing, producing a thunderous sound.
Getting excited by the audience's encouraging shouts, each cow tries to fight the other with thorny tricks, including hooking or pushing the head down, all to the enjoyment of the wide-eyed onlookers. The most thrilling moments may be when a cow uses a suicide attack, i.e. it rushes his rival, piercing its eye or neck, resulting in the unlucky recipient either conceding defeat or being killed.
After a series of hard fought fights in the qualifying rounds, fighters No. 3 and No. 8 make it into the final. In the first two minutes, the No.3 fighter, being the champion in 2008, has overwhelming attacks, but later the No.8 fighter, with his robust strength and young age reverses the situation by throwing his rival to the ground. The 400-kg old champion falls amid both surprise and regret of the audience.
After the fight, visitors to the cow-fighting exhibition sit around consuming jars of wine and reminiscing about the cow-gladiators and their instructors and look forward to the next year's event.