Water Buffalo Racing

Locals and tourists flood downtown Chonburi for the annual water buffalo festival. Crowds cheer on the 300 buffalo, ridden bareback by local jockeys raced in groups of 5 or 6 competitors per heat. The festival began over 100 years ago, starting as a bet between 2 farmers. It evolved into a social event and now the crowd pleasing celebration that it is today.

This important event held October pays tribute to the water buffalo that holds a special place in Thai agriculture as the beasts of burden were the workhorses of the farming industry.