Knanh Ha Festival

Lip Seng

On our arrival in Hanoi on 26 May 2018, we were in time for the Ball Mud Wrestling (Khanh Ha) competition in a Vietnamese village, Van Ha, Bac Giang Province.
The khanh Ha Festival held every two years in this village.
Against one another, the two eight-unmarried man teams attempting to score a “goal “ by carrying a 20 kg wooden ball to the opponent’s muddy pitch.
The festival celebrates victory of two brothers who defeated group of demons in mud ball game in a marsh. The game has attracted hundreds of spectator to enjoy the excitement . Senior villagers organize the game on the ground in front of the gods’ temple. The game was once held during the rainy season in the abundant mud puddles. It is also a time for locals to pray for good weather and bumper crops, and thus considered a tradition of the wet rice culture.

Festival Of Bakar Tongkang

Lip Seng

The national Festival of Bakar Tongkong (burning the last ship the Chinese sailed in) in Bagansiapi- api, Riau, Sumartra, Indonesia, was originated from 18th Century .
The decision of Chinese migrants to settle in Riau,Sumatra is commemorated annually through this festival on 16th to 17th, in 5th month of Lunar Calendar.
The replica of the ship can measure up to 8.5 meters in length, 1.7 meters in width and weigh up to 400Kg. The procession of the ship is taken through the city to the site where it will be burnt.
Burning a huge replica of the traditional Chinese ship is the highlight of the festival.
The Festival this year was held on 29th & 30th June 2018 (16th, 17th, 5th month of Lunar Calendar).
As many as 69 thousand tourists, consisting of 40 thousand domestic tourists and 29 thousand foreign tourists attended the Festival.
I had an opportunity to witness this traditional religious cultural event of the Bagansiapi-api. Indonesia, recently.

A Shy Girl in the Village

Lip Seng


A trip to the traditional village of Sapa, North Vietnam, one would expect to have a glimpse of culture and daily life of the tribes. But the commercialize state of the traditional village in Sapa has disappointed me. Perhaps is the product of development of tourism. Nevertheless, if candid photography is your cup of tea,
you still have an opportunity to search for your subject in the village. This little child in the village was shy to be photographed. I am glad that I captured her in a natural post while she was curious trying to find out this stranger at her door steps.