Thousands of tourists and local people on September 13, despite the heavy rain, flocked to Do Son Stadium in the northern city of Hai Phong for the final round of the 2013 Buffalo Fighting Festival.

One day earlier, the festival was officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage during the celebration of the National Tourism Year of Red River Delta-Haiphong 2013.

It was also recognized as one of 15 major festivals nationwide by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2000.

First organized in the 18th century, the traditional festival is to pray for good weather and prosperity. Since then, it has held annually on the ninth day of the eighth lunar month.