VietNamNet Bridge – Located along banks of the Red river, ancient villages in Long Bien still maintain their traditional rituals and games. The tug of war game in Ngoc Tri Village in the Long Bien District of Hanoi is a traditional game that takes place annually in the spring. The game represents local people’s wish for prosperity and good luck in the new year.

The tug of war game has become an indispensable activity in Ngoc Tri Village whenever spring comes.  70-year-old Le The Yen is very proud to be elected head of the team. Mr. Yen said everyone in the village wants to take part in the tug of war as it is not only a game but also shows their sincerity and wishes for good health and luck: “Noone knows exactly when the game first originated, but everyone is excited when they take part in the game. Those who cannot take part cheer excitedly”.  

According to legend, there was one year when Ngoc Tri Village experienced a severe drought. 11 of 12 wells in the village were completely dry. Only one well in Dia Hamlet had water. Boys in both Duong and Dia hamlets went to the well to take the water. Those in Dia Hamlet tried to prevent boys from other hamlets from taking the water. Both sides tugged to keep the water. Time passed and local people included the tug of war game in every village festival, praying for favourable weather. Dr. Nguyen Van Huy, a member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, said tug of war is a game that represents people’s desire for prosperity and fertility: “Strength symbolizes fertility and prosperity. The game also expresses a wish for sustainability. In the game, 3 teams from 3 villages take part. When the winner is announced, the winner’s village will cheer and hope for a lucky year”.

According to the village rules, each team has from 11 to 17 people who must come from families of good reputation from the 3 areas of Duong, Cho and Dia in the village. On the festival day, the players stand in 3 lines. The 3 heads of the team will bring offerings to the village temple. Following a ritual and listening to the game’s rules, the players run around Quan Xa road, which is considered a solemn village road, then gather at the competing ground. A pole is erected firmly in the ground. A string is put through a hole in the pole and the players sit with one leg bent and the other stretched. The string is kept under the contestants’ arm. The game starts after the command. Mr. Le The Yen said: “The tug of war takes place at the village festival on March 3rd in the lunar calendar. The festival attracts a large number of villagers. Before the festival, each team spends a lot of time practicing positions to make full use of their strength”.

The tug of war of Ngoc Tri Village was recognized as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Duong team has always won the game. People in Ngoc Tri believe that because the Duong team is at the head of the village, which is often called “the head of a holy snake”, if the area wins the game, it will bring good luck for the whole village. Le Van Cu is the custodian of Tran Vu temple: “The line people involved in a tug of war game resembles a snake. The team from Duong often wins the game, bringing the hope for bumper crops and successful business for the whole year”.

Because of these unique values, Ngoc Tri’s tug of war game has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage and has been taken into consideration among the documents requesting UNESCO’s recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

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