The Mong’s Yen Badminton Festival
Yến badminton is believed to have originated from a story about a boy from Heaven who fell in love with a girl while on a trip to Earth. They would often play yến badminton together. In this game, players toss the yến shuttlecock and hit it back and forth with wooden rackets. It is purely an exercise and does not involve competition, rules, winners, or losers. Yến badminton is particularly popular among ethnic groups, especially the Mong in Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province. “The Mong in Ha Giang province have many folk games, such as spinning tops, stick pushing, and tug-of-war, but their favorite is yến badminton, and anyone can play it,” says Vang Ngoc Xuan of Thanh Van commune. The lightweight yet sturdy rackets, made of pine wood, produce a joyful sound when hitting the shuttlecock. Playing yến badminton helps improve strength, speed, and coordination. People play yến badminton at the Mong Culture Festival. Vuong Thi Sim, also from Thanh Van commune, shares her...