Dragon boat racing (Illustrative image. Source: vnexpress)
Hanoi (VNA) – The capital city ofHanoi will organise a dragon boat racing festival for the first time from 10:00to 15:00 on February 24.
The event is expected to draw 400 athletes from27 teams of Hanoi’s districts, namely Hoang Mai, Bac Tu Liem, Chuong My, MyDuc, Thanh Oai, and Ba Vi and Son Tay town, as well as Hai Duong, Hung Yen andThai Nguyen provinces.
They will compete in different men’s, women’sand mixed categories in the city’s West Lake.
Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture andSports To Van Dong said boat racing is developing in many member countries ofthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), so the city plans to invitetheir athletes to partake in the next festivals if the first is heldsuccessfully.
Hanoi is striving to build the West Lake to intoa key tourism area with the dragon boat racing festival as one of the mostattractive activities, he added.
A music show will be held on the sidelines ofthe event to create an exciting atmosphere.
Before the competition takes place, athletes ofthe boat racing and some other water sports will join a bike parade along theWest Lake.-VNA
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Dragon boat racing (Illustrative image. Source: vnexpress) 
