Thousands of people on Jan. 8 attended a horse racing fest in Thuy Thung district in the central Phu Yen province in which local farmers were the competitors and the horses were pack animals used to transport materials.

After 11 competition rounds, 27-year-old local farmer Le Van Thu, who used a packhorse to transport bananas, won first prize.

“Though it’s not a big prize we really had a fun time early in the new year” – said Thu.