The ceremony was attended by Le Quoc Tien, Member of the Hai Phong Municipal Party Committee, Secretary of the Ward Party Committee, and Chairman of the Ward People's Council, together with leaders of the Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the ward, representatives of relevant agencies and organizations, and the 32 buffalo owners participating in the qualifying round.
In a solemn and reverent atmosphere, delegates offered incense and performed the traditional flag-raising ceremony to officially open the festival. The ceremony marks the beginning of the qualifying round of the 2026 Do Son Traditional Buffalo Fighting Festival – VTV, expressing hopes for favorable weather and safe, lively, and exciting matches throughout the festival.
Pham Hoang Tuan, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ward People's Committee and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, sounded the ceremonial drum to officially open the festival.
Immediately after the ceremonies at Nghe Temple and Nam Hai Than Vuong Temple, the Organizing Committee also organized three delegations of local leaders and residents to attend incense offering and flag-raising ceremonies at Ngoc Xuyen Communal House, Nam Communal House, and Ngoc Hai Communal House in Do Son Ward.
After eight years during which only the final round was held, this year's festival restores both the qualifying round and the final round, in accordance with the traditional format and the heritage dossier approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The qualifying round will begin at 7:30 a.m. on July 21, 2026 (the 8th day of the 6th lunar month). From the 32 competing buffaloes, the Organizing Committee will select the 16 best buffaloes to advance to the final round, which will take place at 7:30 a.m. on September 19, 2026 (the 9th day of the 8th lunar month) at the Do Son Ward Central Stadium. The Organizing Committee has issued 12,000 admission invitations for spectators attending the qualifying-round festivities.
As of now, the Organizing Committee has completed inspections of all buffaloes entered in the qualifying round. Overall, they have been carefully trained and are in excellent physical condition, promising exciting and spectacular contests for local residents and visitors alike.