{"id":8707,"date":"2021-08-12T10:47:04","date_gmt":"2021-08-12T02:47:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=8707"},"modified":"2021-08-26T12:50:03","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T04:50:03","slug":"summon-ghosts-vietnamese-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/summon-ghosts-vietnamese-ways\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Vietnamese Ways To Summon Ghosts, From Singing To Whistling At Midnight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summon ghosts with risky games from Vietnamese culture and history<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n

The 7th month of the lunar calendar has arrived, meaning that we\u2019ve entered the hungry ghost season. Just like any Asian society, Vietnamese people are well aware of taboo practices that can invoke supernatural misfortune and ghostly apparitions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Truth be told, not all of us shy away from <\/span>seeing ghosts<\/span><\/a>. Living in this day and age where <\/span>The Conjuring Universe<\/span><\/em> films reign supreme and videos about paranormal activities are aplenty on YouTube, <\/span>the spiritual world is but an<\/span> idle fantasy <\/b>for some people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re one of them, check out these <\/span>traditional Vietnamese ways to summon ghosts<\/b> and make your own judgement call.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disclaimer: these are practices widely rumored to be done in Vietnam. We do not encourage or promote them and this information is for entertainment purposes only.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

1. Using a sedge mat previously covering someone who died\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"summon
\nImage adapted from: Nguoi Lao Dong<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Among the many types of ghosts in Vietnam is ma cu\u1ed1n chi\u1ebfu<\/b><\/em>, roughly translated as the ghost of a sedge mat<\/b>.\u00a0Of course, not every sedge mat is haunted by a ghost, especially newly woven ones.<\/p>\n

Haunted sedge mats are said to be ones that have already been used to cover someone who just died.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roadside accidents or people dying of suicide are not uncommon in Vietnam. When a person is found dead in a public area, it\u2019s a common practice that strangers will come and cover their bodies with woven sedge mats. Normally, these sedge mats are removed once the ambulance or police vans come and take the bodies away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nSedge mats for bedspread are very popular in Vietnam<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>Bach Hoa Xanh<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

However, have you ever wondered where these sedge mats end up once the dead people are taken away for burial?<\/p>\n

People who have basic knowledge of ghost control usually make time to burn these sedge mats because they have been used to cover dead people. This is also to prevent these sedge mats from being collected, washed, and sold to other people who don\u2019t know the taboo history of these objects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nonetheless, that\u2019s not always the case. Some people just toss these sedge mats away into the nearest trash can or leave them at the nearest cemetery. From time to time, these sedge mats are just left alone, and blown around by the wind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you go to any cemetery in Vietnam, chances are one\u2019ll find numerous sedge mats lying around. Or, if you’re driving on the road and see a random sedge mat lying there or on the roadside, chances are it might have been used to cover a dead body.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a widespread belief that these sedge mats contain the spirits of the deceased persons who were last covered with them. If these spirits are successfully summoned, <\/span>these sedge mats will<\/b> stand up.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

How the ritual is prepared<\/b><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nImage credit: Bach Hoa Xanh<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In order to carry out this ritual, one will need to find a sedge mat that\u2019s been used to cover the body of someone who died on the road.<\/p>\n

At the same time, bring a toy-sized straw effigy or doll, a bowl of salt, a bowl of rice, and a bowl of wine to the ritual location.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prepare three pieces of long red thread which will be used to tie up the sedge mat, three incense sticks, and 2 candles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last but not least, find 2 paper amulets that are used to summon spirits and 2 paper amulets that are used to disarm and secure spirits.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nFor illustration only<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>Phong Thuy Yen Minh<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To purchase paper amulets, the ritual-holder will need to go to renowned ghost masters or monks. Some research on the Internet will help one find amulets from reliable sources in their area. Please take note that religious items that are related to summoning spirits or promoting superstition are not publicly sold in Vietnam.<\/p>\n

If the ritual-holder has the nerve, they may carry out this ritual inside a cemetery or in a dark, quiet place where nobody passes by.<\/span><\/p>\n

How the ritual is performed\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

First, the ritual-holder will light the candles and burn the incense sticks.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, they will burn 1 spirit-summoning amulet and hover it over the straw effigy until the amulet is reduced to ashes.\u00a0<\/span>Then they may sprinkle the wine, the salt, and the rice over the straw effigy.<\/span><\/p>\n

After that, they will place the straw effigy on the sedge mat, roll\u00a0 up the sedge mat with the effigy in it, and tie it neatly with the red threads into three parts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is also how dead bodies were handled in the old days. For families who couldn\u2019t afford caskets, the deceased were wrapped in sedge mats which were then bound with threads for burial.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If nothing happens after thirty minutes, the ritual-holder can burn an extra amulet and hover it over the sedge mat.<\/span><\/p>\n

After that, they can continue waiting for another thirty minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the three incense sticks have burned out and nothing happens, they should end the ritual, kindly burn the sedge mat, and go home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"GIF-summon
\nThe sedge mat standing up by itself<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image adapted from: <\/span>Ghosthub TV<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The ritual is said to work if the sedge mat stands erect and even moves around. Some have reported seeing a hand come out from the sedge mat as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To make it stop, one can slide a spirit-securing amulet into the sedge mat, put out the candles and the burning incense sticks. Once the sedge mat falls, the ritual-holder can roll it over, and burn the effigy and the sedge mat at the same time because they are now dangerous to humans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nImage adapted from: Ghosthub TV<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If the sedge mat is still standing, the ritual-holder should call the master who sold them amulets for help. In the worst case scenario, they should just run away and return the next morning.<\/p>\n

\n

2. Whistling at midnight can summon ghosts as well as snakes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"summon
\nPicture for illustration purpose.<\/em>
\nImage adapted from: LS Khoa Nam<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Many Vietnamese grandparents and parents tell their kids to never whistle at midnight<\/b>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s believed that the sound of whistling invites snakes, evil spirits, as well as misfortunes into one\u2019s home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those who wish to see spooky sights without trying too hard usually try whistling after 12AM.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To enhance their supernatural experience and summon ghosts faster, some people are said to carry out a ritual before whistling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prepare the ritual<\/b><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nPicture for illustration only<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>Tam Linh<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

One can prepare a plate filled with biscuits, a candle, some incense sticks, a bag of salt, a thread, a small bell, and some joss paper.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nA paper amulet. Picture for illustration only.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Lang Viet<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For one’s own safety, get a couple of blessed paper amulets from a reputable spiritual master.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ritual-holder then should sprinkle salt around themselves to create a circle of divine protection. It\u2019s said that salt can deter evil spirits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They then slide the bell into the thread and hang it in a doorway or in the windows in a room. If there\u2019s no wind and the bell rings, it means that someone has just entered the area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, they pour out the biscuits and joss papers onto a plate as an offering to the spirits and light a candle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Begin the ritual<\/b><\/p>\n

To get the game begin, the ritual-holder burns an incense stick, which also serves as a timer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After that, they start whistling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When the bell ring, it means that the ritual has worked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In case one spots a poltergeist and is too terrified to continue, they should burn an amulet and call off the game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ritual-holders should remain in the circle of salt at all times.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

3. Singing the B\u1eafc Kim Thang song at midnight\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"\"
\nImage credit: T\u1ea1p Ch\u00ed Doanh Nghi\u1ec7p V\u00e0 Th\u01b0\u01a1ng Hi\u1ec7u<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

B\u1eafc Kim Thang<\/b><\/em>, a folk song, used to be taught in kindergartens and was enormously popular among Vietnamese children. Many of us Vietnamese grew up singing this song for fun, but hardly any of us understood the horror hidden behind the lyrics<\/b>.<\/p>\n

In fact, it\u2019s one of the very few Vietnamese songs that most people have sung without understanding its meaning at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here go the lyrics:<\/span><\/p>\n

B\u1eafc kim thang c\u00e0 lang b\u00ed r\u1ee3
\n<\/span><\/em>C\u1ed9t qua k\u00e8o l\u00e0 k\u00e8o qua c\u1ed9t
\n<\/span><\/em>Ch\u00fa b\u00e1n d\u1ea7u qua c\u1ea7u m\u00e0 t\u00e9
\n<\/span><\/em>Ch\u00fa b\u00e1n \u1ebfch \u1edf l\u1ea1i l\u00e0m chi
\n<\/span><\/em>Con le le \u0111\u00e1nh tr\u1ed1ng th\u1ed5i k\u00e8n
\n<\/span><\/em>Con b\u00ecm b\u1ecbp th\u1ed5i t\u00f2 t\u00ed te t\u00f2 te\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Translation<\/span><\/p>\n

Set up a ladder for eggplants, potatoes, and pumpkins to grow on.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Place one raft upon another.
\n<\/span>The oil seller stumbles as he walks on it.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Why would the frog seller remain?<\/span>
\n<\/span>The whistling duck plays the drums and the trumpet.<\/span>
\n<\/span>The moorhen blows the bugle.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nThis is a popular song among Vietnamese children. Not many people know that it was originally used to summon ghosts.<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>T\u1ea1p Ch\u00ed Doanh Nghi\u1ec7p V\u00e0 Th\u01b0\u01a1ng Hi\u1ec7u<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As ridiculously meaningless as the lyrics sound, they summarize a harrowing horror story.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once upon a time, there were two close friends in a Vietnamese village. One of them sold frogs and usually searched for them late at night, while the other sold oil and went about doing his job at dawn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their houses sat on the riverside, completely isolated from their neighbors. In order to travel to the nearest market, they had to walk past a shaky hanging bridge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nA bridge in rural southern Vietnam<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>VNC Garden<\/span><\/a><\/em>
\n
\nOnce, as he went about working, the frog seller heard cries for help coming from a trap on the field. He approached and freed a whistling duck and moorhen from the trap. They promised him that they\u2019d repay his kindness.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

A few days later, the duck and the moorhen flew to the frog seller\u2019s home to notify him of an upcoming misfortune. In particular, they had overheard two river ghosts (<\/span>ma da<\/span><\/em>) conspiring to pull his legs to drown him at dawn so that they could get reincarnated early. They advised the frog seller to not use the bridge for the next seven days.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nA moorhen<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>Tuoi Tre Doi Song<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The frog seller told the oil seller this story and advised him to stay home for at least a week. However, the oil seller refused to believe his friend, thinking that this was but a causeless superstitious story. Nonetheless, the frog seller was determined to save his friend from future accidents by inviting the oil seller over for daily parties and getting him drunk so he couldn\u2019t go to work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the seventh day, the frog seller fell asleep and the oil seller woke up. Realizing that he had missed so many days of selling oil, he rushed to go to the market. As he walked past the bridge, his legs were pulled by the river ghosts and he drowned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Heartbroken by his friend\u2019s tragic passing, the frog seller burst into tears. Seeing him mourn his beloved friends, the whistling duck and the moorhen also cried to bid farewell to the oil seller. Their sobbing sounded like the drums and trumpet played during a funeral.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At this point, one might think that there\u2019s nothing ghostly about this story except that the oil seller is killed by ghosts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not all to it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Legend has it that this song was used by ghost masters in southern Vietnam in the old days to summon ghosts. For some reason, this song was popularized among children and deemed as a folk song. Since then, not many people have known that this was a ghost song.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those who don\u2019t dance on the razor\u2019s edge might give this song a try.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prepare the ritual<\/b><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nCollect the strings of each fruit and weave them together<\/em>
\nImage credit: Dan Viet<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

First of all, the ritual-holder prepares a 2-meter-long string woven together from the strings of the three fruits mentioned in the song, including the herb solanum trilobatum, potato, and pumpkin.<\/span><\/p>\n

After weaving,<\/span> they will expose the string to the dew outdoors for three nights.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nA straw effigy<\/em>
\nImage adapted from: <\/span>Bao Tay Ninh<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Next, they\u2019ll make or buy a life-size straw effigy, dress it up, put it in an empty and quiet place such as a cemetery or a field, or any haunted places for three nights in advance.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, they can bring two small alter-ego effigies (<\/em><\/span>h\u00ecnh nh\u00e2n th\u1ebf m\u1ea1ng<\/span><\/em>)<\/em>, representing the oil seller and the frog seller. One can buy these small effigies in the souvenir shops in front of pagodas or temples.<\/span><\/p>\n

After that, they can place three incense sticks and three candles beneath the straw effigy.<\/span><\/p>\n

This ritual requires only two participants. If there are three participants, the third one can play the role of cameraman.<\/span><\/p>\n

Begin the ritual<\/b><\/p>\n

To start off, participants tie the string onto both arms of the effigy and light the candles. After that, they may burn the incense sticks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, they can place one incense stick on the head of the straw effigy, while each participant holds one incense stick.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the clock has struck twelve, the participants can start chanting <\/span>B\u1eafc Kim Thang<\/em> <\/span>out loud at a slow speed to summon ghosts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\n2 alter-ego effigies. Picture for illustration only.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image adapted from: <\/span>Shopee<\/span><\/a><\/em>
\n
\nAfter finishing chanting, the participants then place two incense sticks down at the position of the straw effigy and burn the alter-ego effigies to ashes.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, they wait to see what happens next.<\/span><\/p>\n

If this method works, the straw effigy will be seen moving around.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

4. Swinging a hammock while nobody is sitting on it<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"summon
\nImage credit: Noi That Lam Gia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Before the arrival of beds and mats, most Vietnamese people, especially those living in the countryside, would sleep on hammocks<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Portable, light, and convenient, hammocks are still quite popular among Vietnamese residents and often used during camping trips. All you have to do is to find two poles or two trees to hang a hammock from.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nImage credit: VOV<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As harmless as this object looks, it can also be used to invoke paranormal beings. Indeed, it\u2019s a popular belief among elderly Vietnamese people that one shouldn\u2019t push an empty hammock back and forth. Such an act is seen as an invitation to the unseen forces and may summon ghosts to sit on the hammock.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the old traditional beliefs, people can summon a spirit simply by pushing a vacant hammock back and forth. After a while, if one stops, one\u2019ll find the hammock swinging all by itself – perhaps due to the laws of momentum, or perhaps supernatural forces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, those who want to give this method a try can carry out the summoning process without having to swing a hammock with their own hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the ritual plays out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prepare the ritual<\/b><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nAn empty hammock can be used to summon ghosts<\/em>
\nImage credit: H\u00e0ng Gia D\u1ee5ng Online<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

First, participants prepare a hammock and set it up inside their house or in their garden.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019ll bring two teddy bears or dolls and a plate filled with biscuits or candy to the ritual, because the hammock spirits<\/em> are usually babies who enjoy swinging back and forth on hammocks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, participants connect both ends of the hammock with a long red thread on which hangs a small bell.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having a bell, which emits sounds, will help one notice strange movements of the hammock when nobody is on it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Begin the ritual<\/b><\/p>\n

Participants light a candle and start inviting spirits to come over. After that, they put out the candle and wait at a distance.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the bell starts ringing, especially when the game is carried out indoors, it means that an unseen force has touched it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In case one carries out the ritual outdoors and it\u2019s windy, they can put heavy stuff such as books or clothes on the hammock to minimize the force of the wind on the hammock. If the hammock swings by itself even with heavy stuff on it, then it might be a spirit who\u2019s swinging it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

5. Playing with one’s shadow at midnight is the easiest way to summon ghosts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"\"
\nMessing with one’s own shadow at midnight is all it takes to summon ghosts.<\/em>
\nImage credit: Genk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Since young, many of us Vietnamese have received strict warnings from our parents and grandparents against playing with our shadows at midnight<\/b>, especially during the ghost month.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a reason for that.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the fastest and easiest ways to summon ghosts is to mess around with one’s shadows in the dark and create spooky shapes with them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how some people do this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, the participants open the windows, turn off all the lights, and light a candle. They make sure that their shadows are imprinted clearly on the walls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nImage credit: Liberty Science Center<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As the clock strikes 12AM, they start jumping or dancing around to make the shadow look weird, and keep doing that until they see the shadow doing the opposite of what they are doing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does it mean?<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>It means that the participant has lost his or her own shadow.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Vietnam, it\u2019s a widespread belief that a person who is without their shadow must be a ghost, because a ghost cannot have a shadow. If a person has lost their shadow, chances are their spirit has been taken away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Participants should immediately stop playing around with the shadow when something spooky pops up on the wall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

6. Conducting a seance using a spirit board with a small cup or a coin\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"summon
\nConducting a seance with a cup or a coin and a spirit board is a popular way to summon ghosts.<\/em>
\nImage adapted from: N\u0110T Vlogs<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In simplest terms, <\/span>b\u00f3i ch\u00e9n <\/b>(conducting a seance with a cup)<\/b><\/em> is similar to the western way of summoning spirits via an ouija board.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is one of the most popular board games in Vietnam when everyone needs a good scare during group bonding time. It\u2019s believed that this method is most effective if executed inside a cemetery.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

First, participants prepare a sheet of A4 paper and jot down the 26 letters of the alphabet on one part of the paper. On another part, they write down <\/span>Th\u1ea7n \u2013 Th\u00e1nh \u2013 Ma \u2013 Qu\u1ef7 (Deity-Saint-Ghost-Devil)<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>as well as <\/span>\u0110\u00fang \u2013 Sai \u2013 C\u00f3 \u2013 Kh\u00f4ng (True-False-Yes-No)<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

At the center of the paper, they draw a circle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the bottom of the paper, they write<\/span> Th\u0103ng<\/span><\/em>, which means <\/span>Farewell<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"summon
\nImage credit: Ca Dao Tuc Ngu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Next, they prepare a cup or a coin as a medium, some candies or biscuits to lure the spirit and three incense sticks. At least three players are needed for this game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To begin with, they burn the incense sticks and hover them all over the board. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Then they place they fingers on the cup and read this incantation in Vietnamese:<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cC\u1ea7u ma qu\u1ef7 th\u00e1nh th\u1ea7n tr\u00ean thi\u00ean \u0111\u00e0ng d\u01b0\u1edbi \u0111i\u1ec7n ng\u1ee5c xin h\u00e3y nh\u1eadp v\u00e0o \u0111\u1ed3ng xu\/ chi\u1ebfc ch\u00e9n n\u00e0y, three n\u00e9n h\u01b0\u01a1ng th\u1eafp s\u1eb5n. Xin m\u1eddi ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00ean ch\u01a1i xin m\u1eddi ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00ean x\u01a1i, l\u00e0m cho c\u01a1 quay c\u1edd ch\u1ea1y v\u00f2ng v\u00f2ng. Xin m\u1eddi ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00ean ch\u01a1i, xin m\u1eddi ng\u01b0\u1eddi c\u00f9ng x\u01a1i\u201d.<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The English translation is as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear spirits in heaven and in hell, please possess this coin (or this cup). We\u2019ve burned three incense sticks. Please come up and play with us, making the medium move around. Please come up and play with us.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

At this point they wait until a force surfaces and move their fingers on the cup. If nothing happens after thirty minutes, they read out the incantation again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These are<\/span> a few things to keep in mind<\/b> before commencing the seance.<\/span><\/p>\n

First of all, if the spirit identifies itself as a <\/span>devil<\/span><\/em>, participants must bid farewell immediately or flip over the sheet of paper to end the game. Never play around with the devil.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They should also refrain from bringing one\u2019s dog or a crying baby to the game, because spirits are not fond of these two.<\/span><\/p>\n

No crucifixes or talismans must be worn during the game because these objects deter the spirits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People should make sure they don\u2019t\u00a0 play this game more than 10 times, or the number of days of one\u2019s life may be\u00a0 lessened, according to popular belief.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Don\u2019t ask for trouble<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

Games or witchcraft, these methods of seance are popular urban legends in Vietnam. They are widely believed among a large number of Vietnamese people, especially those who are advanced in age or those said to have superhuman abilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, let\u2019s not forget that the people who believe in supernatural events and ghostly appearances also believe in trying to avoid them at all costs. Those who are aware don\u2019t go around asking for trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n

As tempting as these methods sound, they serve mainly as informational material to help people gain more insights into Vietnamese culture and how the legends spread.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We hope that nobody will try any of these methods, especially when you are not equipped with basic knowledge of paranormal activities or ghostbusting skills to stay out of harm\u2019s way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n