At this, the doctor flies into a rage and attempts lo catch the child who represents the tail of the dragon-snake. The head of the line stretches his or her arms to bar the doctor while the dragon-snake tries to make a circle.

The game of dragon-snake – Vietnamese folkgames

The dragon-snake approaches the doctor. The following dialogue occurs between the doctor and the head of the line:

 Where are you going, dragon-snake?

– I’m searching for medicine for my son.

– How old is he, your son?

– He is one year old. – The doctor is not well.

– He is (two, three, four, five… repeated each time) years old. – The doctor is not well.

The dialogue continues until the dragon-snake says:

–          He is ten years old.

–          Then the doctor answers:

–          All right, the doctor is well.

–          With this, the doctor stands up and says:

–          Give me your head

–          Nothing but the bones

–          Responds the dragon-snake

–          Give me the body.

–          Nothing but the blood.

–          Give me the tail.

–          Pursue at will!

At this, the doctor flies into a rage and attempts lo catch the child who represents the tail of the dragon-snake. The head of the line stretches his or her arms to bar the doctor while the dragon-snake tries to make a circle. If the dragon-snake succeeds in rolling into a circle before the physician can touch the tail, it wins. On the contrary, if the doctor catches the tail of the dragon-snake, the entire group loses the game. All losers must stretch out their hands, palms downwards, to the winner, who slaps them one after another.