This hugely-anticipated race is the highlight of Ok om Bok, a traditional moon festival that also marks the year’s end in the Khmer calendar. 

In Ghe Ngo, 30 groups of men and 10 groups of women race traditional Khmer boats – which are about 30 meters in length, demanding rhythm and precise coordination to maneuver – in time with the sounds of gongs and cheers from the crowd. 

The biggest race is usually in Soc Trang province in the south, a center for Khmer culture in Vietnam.