Elephant races in Central Highlands

Elephants are the symbol of strength and prosperity of families and hamlets and for the ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands, the elephant race is one of the biggest festivals in the area.
An elephant race was held in Buon Don district in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak on March 11 as part of the third Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival.
Twelve elephants and 24 mahouts were the focus on the festival in the Buon Don eco-tourism area which featured a wild elephant hunt, elephant racing and a ritual for worshiping elephants.
Elephants are the symbol of strength and prosperity of families and hamlets and for the ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands, the elephant race is one of the biggest festivals in the area. It reflects the spirit and martial arts of the M'Nong ethnic minority, which is famous for their bravery and hunting and training wild elephants.
Elephant race photos:

Elephants usually help local people with their farming and for tourism

The elephant races take place every year during the third lunar month

The scene of elephant hunting

People use ropes made of buffalo hide when hunting wild elephants

Tamed elephants do different jobs at the scene of the hunt

Local people are happy with newly-captured elephants

The festival always attracts a large number of visitors

This festival honours the spirit and martial art of M'Nong people

After the race, the village patriarch holds a religious ritual to pray for the good health of both local people and elephants

Village patriarch Y Then E Ban is worried about the disappearance of wild elephant hunting

• Source: VOV
• www.vietnamphoenixtour.com