Buon Ma Thuot – Elephant Races

This is happened in Vietnam’s Dak Lak province and in April yearly.

Elephants still roam wild but they do serve as a good partner for human.

The spring Elephant Race festival at Don Village, by the Serepoe River near Buon Ma Thuot is the hallmark of M’Nong martial tradition.

Hundreds of elephants will crowd a racing ground of some 500 m (1,640 ft) long.

The handlers will use kreo (iron stick) to prevent the elephant from dawdling, and other will use koc (wooden hammer) to guide its headlong dash. Notice or not, each elephant has two handlers.

The elephant is famous in combat, that is also why M’Nong people like fighting with elephant cavalry.

I believe the event will give you an opportunity to see elephants up close, and that the better elephants are fed and treated, the better they respond!

After the racing, you will see elephants splashing about in impromptu swimming competitions, in tugs-of-war and even in football games.

Think they are enjoying themselves en masse?

This also tells us how the many different ethnic groups over in the central highlands of Vietnam’s Dak Lak province can share passionately the cult of the elephant that can make the atmosphere peaks in a glorious frenzy.

All the fun of this elephant race!

Alan

I am the co-founder of JourneyOnEarth.com. My interest is varied and I like to explore, see and experience various new things in my life. Life is short, do enjoy yours to the fullest!