Hanoi will organise the first dragon boat racing festival this weekend on the West Lake, offering free tickets for visitors.

The event is scheduled to take place tomorrow, February 24, the 9th day of the first month of the lunar year, at 10:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.

The dragon boat racing festival to be held on the West Lake

According to the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the event is expected to have 400 athletes in 27 teams from Hanoi’s districts as well as the northern provinces of Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Thai Nguyen.

The race has three categories for women, men and the combination between men and women to compete on the 600-metre line. Total value for the festival’s prizes is VND100 million (USD4,545).

In conjunction with the event, many activities will be organised in Hanoi such as displays of various sports on water, a cycling parade at Ly Tu Trong flower garden area and a variety of art shows.

To Van Dong, director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, said that after being dredged, Hanoi plans to host many activities on the West Lake to make it into an attractive and exciting tourist destination of the capital city. He hopes that the dragon boat racing festival will become a recurring annual event in Hanoi