When do boats actually race at the Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane Laos?
I'm in Vientiane Laos and there has been a buildup to a festival for at least a week and the festival finally started officially yesterday with October 20 being the final day.
Wikipedia article on "Boun Song Hua". Other websites about the festival, none of which seem to include the crucial details: laos-guide-999, tourismlaos, vientiane-hotel-link.
Vientiane is situated on the Mekong River but so far I haven't seen a boat anywhere, on the river or otherwise. Just sound stages, kiddie rides, sideshows, makeshift restaurants, and many many many stalls along the main road selling everything from cars and TVs to clothing to street food.
I can't seem to find a program anywhere that lists the actual boat racing. Are there heats or just one race on the last day? Where are the boats? When are the races?
Best Answer
According to sakunavoyage and tourismlaos, the big racing day will be on the 20th of October, 2013. The week that precedes the racing day is more of social activities (what you are experiencing now) as mentioned in tourismlaos:
One week before the race, Fa Ngum Quai (along Fa Ngum Road) is taken over by stalls selling all kinds of goods and foods or games, and loud music is played all day and late into the night
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During which festival do we have the boat race?
Vallam Kali, a place here is renowned for the traditional boat race in Kerala. This boat race is conducted during the festival of Onam, the Annual Harvest Festival of Kerala.How does Dragonboat racing work?
Dragon boating is a fun-filled, adrenaline pumping, water sports activity. Teams compete in Dragon Boats, which are large canoe-like vessels fitted with ornately carved dragon's heads and tails. Crews of up to 16 people sit in pairs and paddle to compete in races over distances of around 250m.What is a race for boats called?
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term comes from the Venetian language, with regata meaning "contest" and typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas.Is boat racing A motorsport?
While power boat racing is considered to be one of the most affordable motorsports, it's important to know exactly what you're getting into before you make any commitment.Lao NEWS on LNTV:More boat racing teams from the provinces to compete at the boat racing.7/10/2014
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Answer 2
Now that I've experienced festivals I can provide some answers from my observations:
The festivities seem to last for two weeks. The first week is "unofficial" with just lots of stalls set up along the main road along the river (Quai Fangum). The second week these festivities seem to become "official" as most of the stalls are now fully operational but the size of the crowds are still limited. The last two days are actually two separate festivals.
The date of the festival is dependant on the date of the end of "Buddhist Lent", which is the first of the actual festival, taking place on the penultimate day of festivities. In 2013 this was October 19.
By 9am on this penultimate day there are minor boat races, west along the river from the centre of down since the river nearest the centre of town is not suitable. These boats were shorter in length and not much crowd was gathered.
After sunset on this day the "End of Buddhist Lent" festival consists of locals floating decorate rafts made of flowers and sometimes model boats, carrying small candles and I think also incense sticks down the river. Young sons of families typically swam a few metres into the river to release them.
The last day of festivities is the day after "Buddhist Lent" and this day is the actual "Boat Racing Festival" day. In 2013 it fell on October 20.
A local told me the boat races on this final day are at 1pm. Again west along the river in the same location as the previous day. This time all the boats were very long with many rowers and the crowds were very large. I watched about four races and I don't think there were any before 1pm. I then took shelter from the sun and heat so I'm not sure what time the "final" took place or what accompanied this.
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