Photo Credits: PG3. MASTHEAD LEFT
Da cau, Vietnam's ancient game of so-called "foot badminton" endures despite the inevitable advance of football. And it's not just the world's most popular sport that da cau enthusiasts must contend with: they also compete for space with people playing badminton, riding hoverboards or shaking their hips in a public zumba class. But the da cau diehards say they are going nowhere.
The centuries-old game, which originated in China, involves keepy-up with a shuttlecock among any number of players for as long as possible, or knocking it over a net. Though the game is enjoyed in public squares, it wasn't always a street affair. Vietnamese emperors and feudal kings often encouraged soldiers to play da cau to improve health for battles, and to let off a little steam. Da cau was also played to celebrate bumper harvests or traditional festivals.
Today it has become a national pastime, played by amateurs and professionals -- who dive and kick in spectacular style to keep the shuttlecock afloat. Some say they are drawn to the cooperative spirit of the game, a way to unwind at the end of a long day at the office.
