Dragon Boat Racing on CatBa Island

It's 50 years ago today that Ho Chi Minh, president of then North Vietnam, visited CatBa island and CatBa town. Not a massive event you might think but we arrived in CatBa from our Halong Bay visit in the midst of a massive party, hundreds of people on the harbour walls, lots and lots of flags, music (no Kylie ...... yet) and another excitable person on the PA. All to celebrate 50 years since that visit.

We just got checked in and onto our balcony to witness the highlight of the afternoon, the dragon boat racing. The harbour had been cleared of the usual flotilla of junks, fishing boats and sampans and a long course marked out. The five teams assembled on their start lines, the gun sounded and the race began, a long 3km twice up and down the harbour.

The harbour ready for the start.

It's neck and neck at the first turn.

And on the final turn it's a narrow lead for red (the eventual winners) over blue and yellow.