Tay Nguyen elephant race festival

This festival is celebrated in spring, in the third lunar month. It is usually held in Don village or in forests near the Sevepoi River, in Dak Lak province.

The race track in on even ground, preferably large enough for ten elephants to stand in a line with a length of one to two kilometres.

At the horn signal, the mahouts take their elephant to the start line. One the start command is given, all the elephants rush to the exciting beat of drums and gongs, accompanied by the viewers' cheering. The winning elephant waves to the viewers with its trunk. The elephant will often take this opportunity to flap its ears gently and give tender looks to receive sugar canes from the viewers.

Elephant races are the biggest festival to take place in the middle highlands. It bears the martial spirit of the M'nong ethnic group, which is very famous for bravery and its men's experience in hunting wild elephants.