Top 13 Traditional Folk Games Inextricably Linked with the Fondest Childhood Memories

Kite flying is a familiar game carrying the dreams of children in the peaceful countryside, surrounded by the scent of ripe rice all year round. Kites soaring in the high and blue sky are made with bamboo frames resembling diamond shapes, covered with glued paper or colorful paper attached to those frames. They can also have long tails made of paper or multi-colored nylon strings, fluttering even more when the wind blows.

Skilled hands can add small flute tubes to the kite's body, so when it ascends, it produces echoing sounds throughout the sky. The kite is attached to a long and sturdy string, then released against the wind into the sky, skillfully controlled by the player.

The higher the kite flies, the farther it carries the dreams of the children. They dream of a new horizon, a brighter future. And that kite is the embodiment of the innocent childhood dreams.

Jumping rope is a traditional game that has been cherished by teenage girls for ages. Seizing the moments of leisure at home or during playtime at school, with a few friends, a piece of twine or elastic band, and a spacious area, the game can commence.

Jump Rope Spin is a familiar game for the authentic rural kids. Both boys and girls adore this game, as it enhances jumping ability and body flexibility.

Two friends stand tautly holding the rope facing each other, and the rest take turns jumping over the rope, following the rotation set by the two friends in synchronization. The game progresses from low to high rotations. Whoever gets tangled in the rope takes a turn spinning instead of one of the two holding the rope. This game is lively and brings laughter to the participants.

Hide and Seek is one of the beloved traditional games enjoyed by many youngsters. The game not only provides entertainment but also fosters a sense of camaraderie among players.

It's a game that children, whether in urban or rural areas, have played at some point. The group plays rock-paper-scissors, and the loser has to stand facing a pole, blindfolded, and count from 0 to a pre-determined number set by the group. The remaining players will find any secluded spot to hide. After counting the numbers, the counter seeks out those hiding, being careful not to let them escape and applaud the pole they stood at. If the applause is fast, the counter must blindfold themselves and restart the round.

This is an easy game that demands both quickness and cunning. If you remember it, gather your friends and play right away!

This is a game especially loved by boys. Simply draw a small circle somewhere called the hole. Mark a line from the hole at a distance, then add a horizontal line as the starting point. Each player must contribute an equal number of marbles, then shoot them into the drawn hole.

Players take turns shooting their marbles from the straight line towards the hole. Whoever has their marble stop closest to the hole but not inside it is allowed to use their hand to shoot in the first round. Subsequently, they continue shooting marbles into the hole, and those running out are collected until the last person.

Another way to play is to have the line marker start, and by shooting, if they hit another player's marble, they get to claim that marble. In the end, everyone counts how many marbles they have, and the one with the most marbles wins.

Dragon Snake to the Sky is a game greatly loved by rural children, where playing includes a charming nursery rhyme: 'Dragon Snake to the Sky, with a swaying tree, a military checkpoint, ask the doctor if they have a house or not?' The more players, the merrier.

A youth is chosen to be the doctor and stands opposite the others forming a line to create the dragon snake. The children forming the dragon snake hold onto each other's shirttails, creating a continuous line. The one at the front is usually the biggest and strongest to protect the 'baby dragons' behind. The dragon snake moves back and forth, weaving around, and recites the familiar nursery rhyme: 'Dragon Snake to the Sky, with a swaying tree, a military checkpoint, ask the doctor if they have a house or not?'.

The doctor answers 'Yes' or 'No' and then chases the dragon snake. At that moment, the child at the front must stretch their arms wide to block the doctor. The doctor must try every way to catch the last child in the dragon snake. If the doctor catches the child at the tail, that child is eliminated. The game continues like this until the dragon snake gradually shortens. It's possible that during the run, the dragon snake may break or fall, and if they separate, they also lose!

O An Quan, also known as 'An Quan' or 'O Quan,' is a traditional folk game of Vietnamese children. This strategic game is usually designed for two or more players, typically 2 to 3, and can utilize various easily accessible materials for preparation.

Anywhere you go, you can play the O An Quan game. The game is designed with a rectangular board divided into ten symmetrical squares, 5 squares on each side. At both ends of this rectangle, two curved shapes extend outward, called 'O Quan.'

The square boxes on both sides are called 'O Dan.' Each player takes turns moving their pieces strategically to 'capture' as many pieces as possible. The more pieces and 'O Quan' you capture, the better. The game ends when there are not enough pieces left to play. Remember, this game is designed for two players only!

“Tree model, apricot tree, male fruit, female clam, spider weaving silk, plum with seeds...” is a nursery rhyme that little girls often sing while playing shuttlecock. This is a game that girls love even though many may not be able to play it. The game requires a round ball (can be replaced with a glove, a small orange, or a green plum) that fits in the hand and 10 bamboo sticks bent into a circle like chopsticks. The right hand holds the ball and tosses it into the air, then picks up each stick and catches the ball as it falls.

Repeat, and if the ball falls to the ground, the turn is lost and it moves to the next person. This game has 10 levels with 10 nursery rhymes for each level, and very few people can memorize all of them. Each level corresponds to the number of sticks to be picked up: the first level picks up 1 stick, the second level picks up 2 sticks, and so on until the tenth level, which marks the end.

Players in this game have to sit in a row, extending their legs straight. One person in the line will use their hand to lightly tap on each person's leg while singing to the rhythm of the song 'Nu na nu nống,' in order from the front leg to the back leg. When the last part of the song echoes, everyone in line has to quickly pull their legs back to avoid the tapper's hand.

The leg that gets touched will be eliminated or subject to the rules set out. The nursery rhyme is often adapted, but the most familiar part is still the verse: 'Nu na nu nống, beat the drum, raise the flag, someone's legs are clean, pink and rosy, not a bit dirty, eligible to beat the drum'.

This is a game that gets more fun as more people join. The gameplay involves two players sitting opposite each other, legs stretched out and touching each other's feet, with one foot stacked on top of the other to stand straight. Other players jump over the two standing feet and then jump back.

Then, one player adds another handful on the toe of the other player to create the flower's bud. Other players jump over and back without touching the flower bud. This process continues, stacking buds one after another, then spreading the hands out to make flowers for other players to jump over. Whoever touches it is eliminated. The game continues until a winner is found, and a new player takes on the role of growing buds and flowers.

Back in the childhood days, surely everyone has played jump rope. Every evening after school, we would gather friends from the neighborhood, find some elastic bands at home, collect them, and start weaving for the game. If there were plenty of rubber bands, we'd make a double knot; if not, a single knot would do. Then, we'd choose two players to hold the ends of the rope taut while the rest jumped over.

At first, we'd set the rope low, and after each round, we'd raise it higher. If someone tripped on the rope, they had to take a turn holding the rope instead of one of the two original holders. We'd continue like this until it got dark, and then we'd go home for dinner. One time, I tripped and fell face-first onto the road, it hurt, but it was fun. Childhood is filled with playing and getting a few scrapes, yet it's joyful. Now, when I see kids playing jump rope, it brings back memories of those days and the friends we had.

Draw 10 squares to form a rectangle or alternate one square and then two squares, creating a straight line. Each player selects a small chalk piece of their own and drops it into the first square, avoiding lines or going outside. Jump across all squares, skipping the one with the chalk. Players hop with one foot into a single square, maintaining balance to spring forward. No stopping for too long is allowed.

When hopping to two adjacent squares, jump with both feet to stand in the middle of the two squares. Rotate and stand in the square nearest the one with chalk, then bend down to pick up the chalk with your hand. Jump out of the circle and continue to the next level. If a player violates the rules while moving, they must stop immediately and leave the chalk lying in the square just completed.

Blindfolded Goat Catching, commonly known from childhood, originates from ancient Greece with the name 'copper mosquito,' meaning 'bronze mosquito.' In English, it's often referred to as Blind-man's-buff, denoting this delightful traditional game.

Blindfolded Goat Catching is suitable for all ages, especially for children. It's prevalent in Vietnamese rural areas, accompanying activities like tug-of-war and 'dragon climbing clouds.' The popularity of Blindfolded Goat Catching is depicted in Dong Ho paintings, with vibrant colors and playful strokes. To cater to a wider audience, the game has evolved with different versions and rules to enhance the fun.

Perhaps this is a game played from childhood until the age of 12 (and beyond; I played it again on my 12th birthday organized by the school on March 26). The program continues to find the unfortunate one to be blindfolded, fumbling in the dark to catch the 'goat.'

While the blindfolded person explores in darkness, the others run around clapping hands to help the blindfolded one find and catch the 'goat.' Whoever gets caught takes their turn blindfolded. If the blindfolded person accidentally reveals themselves, they face an additional penalty of two more turns.

'Crocodile on the Shore' is one of those cherished childhood games. This game, requiring no additional equipment, can be played in various spaces, often even inside the classroom.

Another legendary childhood game that we used to play, running away and evading capture. True to its name, in 'Crocodile on the Shore,' one person in the group becomes the crocodile with the task of catching the others. If caught, the person becomes the next crocodile.

However, the crocodile isn't allowed on the 'shore,' so finding a 'shore' and climbing onto it is the key. The 'shore' can be any elevated spot above ground level. Finding the 'shore,' climbing up, and sitting there, imitating a stranded crocodile, adds a touch of humor to the game.