More than 10,000 residents and visitors gathered in Do Son Ward, Haiphong, on July 21 to watch the qualifying round of the 2026 Do Son Traditional Buffalo Fighting Festival, with 15 buffaloes advancing to the final competition.
Buffalo number 16, owned by Dinh Dinh Phu, and buffalo number 24, owned by Phi Van Hien, compete in the opening bout of the qualifying round (Photo: Viet Cuong).
Beginning in 2026, the festival is being held in two stages: a qualifying round on the eighth day of the sixth lunar month and the final on the ninth day of the eighth lunar month.
Organisers said the revised format better reflects the festival's traditional origins and aligns with its status as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This year's qualifying round featured 32 buffaloes competing in 16 matches.
According to the organising committee, the qualifying stage plays a crucial role in selecting the strongest animals for the final while enhancing the overall quality of the festival and supporting its long-term ambition of gaining greater international recognition.
Following the 16 matches, 15 buffaloes secured places in the final, which is scheduled to take place on September 19.
The Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival has undergone 37 years of restoration and development since its revival, becoming one of Haiphong's best-known traditional cultural and spiritual events.
Recognised as part of Vietnam's National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the festival has also become one of the city's signature tourism attractions, helping promote Do Son while contributing to sustainable local economic development.