These are entertainment that I can remember back in the mid to late 1980s before I left Vietnam. There were many fun activities for everyone, even though we don’t have electricity, TV, video games etc … Since I live in the country side peasant family, technology was rarely or never talk about…
“Danh Trong” – This game is similar to the American baseball game. Instead of a baseball we use a 6 inches length by 1 inch diameter size of a normal size hotdog, but it bend a little. We use the root of a tree to make, dead tree root when possible making it stronger. Vietnamese people call it “cu” is slang term in English “penis” it does indeed look like a regular size shape of a penis when erected. We use a 2-3 feet stick 3 inches in diameter as a bat, the stick is straight and solid, chop it off from a straight tree branch. Similar to base ball game, two teams, the object is to hit the “cu” and start running from one base to another, if the other team caught the “cu”, you loose. Also there is no pitcher, simply slight hit on the “cu” up from the ground then hi it. This game was dangerous because the “cu” had injured many people, if it hit your face or any part of your body it’s very painful, there has been reported of it hit your eye and head which cause serious injuries. I played it at least dozen time, didn’t get injured or anything, this game can be play during the summer or right after the rice fields been harvested and dried, we took advantage of the open field to play.
“Tat Lon” – Was one of my favorite game. It’s simply an empty Vietnamese condensed milk can, regular size. The object of the game is to use your slipper, if you have one, hit the can and retrieve your slipper then run back. The distance between the can and you vary, each level you move far away. There is no team, simply have the looser watch the can if someone hit it, go retrieve the can and put it back in place then try to tag the anyone haven’t gone back yet. If you missed the can, you cannot retrieve your slipper, basically stand there and wait until someone hit it then you can retrieve and run back home make sure the can guy don’t tag you. It’s a fun game, I remember playing it, since many of my friends don’t have slippers so I took slippers from my parents house, over time the slippers got missing and I obviously got in trouble. There were time where I don’t have a slipper so I use a long large piece of wood found nearby and use it, it doesn’t work to well, the can guard guy got upset and try to beat me up.
“Da Day Thung” “Suot day thung” – This was an addicted game, usually 2 or more players. Basically tied your rubber band(s) and your opponent rubber band together, then use your bare feet to kick it in a way to make it fall apart. There were injuries playing this game. At school I remember a couple time, students toe front skin torn and all bloody, and it also happen to me at least 2 times. I cant believe we play just to win a few rubber bands.
“Nam Muoi” or “Tron Kiem” – This is the hide and seek game. It’s my favorite in the country side. Sometime we don’t just count to 10, but sometime up to 50 or 100. At one we had so many people playing together, it took forever to fin them all, there’s a twist to this game, we don’t just find them, but once we found them we need to run back to the pole or where ever you counted, and say “tu”. At one time, my cousin hide up in the coconut tree and we gave up finding him, then he gave a hint by making a bird sound, he climbs fast.
“Thut Ong Tre” – this game usually and should be play in large group. The device simply made from hallow bamboo and a single chop stick or stick with rolled cloth tightly strapped at the end, the idea is to put pressure into the bamboo tube to made anything stuffed at the other end to explode or shoot out. This game could be dangerous, at one time I got hit in the eye and it hurt bad. We suppose to use young cotton fruit as magazines but some cheated using dried mud. It’s fun and exciting just like paintball, since we’re from the country side and can’t get paintball equipments easily we created our own guns.
“Da Au”
“Tam Mua”
“Tam Dia”
“Cuoi Trau”
“Dua Xe Dap”
“Co Co” or “co chap”
“Da Ga” 2 types:
“Ke Chuyen Ma”
“Da Cau”
“Da Banh”
“Tha Dieu”
“Chong chong la dua”
“Danh Dua” or “Danh Chuyen”
“bang bi” or bang ke”
“Da ca lia thia”
“Da de”
“Bang dang na”
“Danh du canh dua”
