Khmer women in Bình Phú commune, Vĩnh Long province, are training on the Láng Thé River for the ghe ngo racing season, Tuổi Trẻ reports. Preparations precede the province’s Cultural, Sports and Tourism Week and Ok Om Bok celebrations scheduled for November 18–24. This year’s traditional boat race is planned for the Láng Thé area for the first time.
Finding time for the team
Rower Sô Pha Ri told the newspaper she arranges her farm work around the sessions. She said she needed extra practice to keep pace with the coach’s instructions. For teammate Thạch Thị Mai Lý, 38, training fits around taking children to school, shopping and preparing family meals.
The women describe participation as a way to maintain their community’s traditions. Turning up for shared practice requires coordination beyond the boat as members work the sessions into their household schedules.
Building stamina and a common rhythm
Coach Lê Kim Hoàng says teams generally prepare for 30 to 40 days, depending on their circumstances. He emphasises pace, speed and following the signal. For women’s crews, he adjusts effort and distance so fitness can be assessed and developed gradually.
The report describes a typical boat as about 25 to 30 metres long with 40 to 60 paddlers. The crews therefore spend time learning to move together. The planned event will bring in teams from communes and wards across Vĩnh Long and other Mekong Delta localities. Training on the Láng Thé continues ahead of the late-November festivities.