Exploring the Beauty of Vietnamese Folklore

A Precious Heritage

Vietnamese folklore is an invaluable treasure trove, preserving stories, legends, proverbs, folk songs, traditional melodies, and art passed down through generations. It reflects the history, customs, beliefs, and philosophy of the Vietnamese people, creating a unique and rich cultural identity.

Legends and Fairy Tales: Life Lessons

Legends and fairy tales are not just entertaining stories, but valuable lessons about morality, kindness, and justice. Heroic characters, talking animals, magical spells… all contribute to their unique appeal. For example, the legend of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh reflects humanity’s struggle for survival against nature, while Tam Cam tells of good versus evil, justice, and punishment.

Some Famous Legends:

• The Legend of the Dragon and Fairy
• The Legend of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh
• The Legend of An Duong Vuong and Mi Chau – Trong Thuy

Proverbs and Folk Songs: Folk Wisdom

Proverbs are short, concise sayings that encapsulate the life experiences of the people. We can learn a lot from proverbs such as “Diligence brings success”, “Remember those who planted the tree when you eat the fruit”,…

Folk songs express the feelings, thoughts, and aspirations of the people through simple, memorable, and easy-to-learn verses. Folk songs reflect many aspects of life, from love, family affection, to longing for homeland and country.

Traditional Arts: The Crystallization of Talent

Traditional Vietnamese art is also an integral part of folklore. From Dong Ho paintings, Hang Trong paintings, to performing arts such as water puppetry, Cheo, and Cai Luong… all bear the strong imprint of folklore, demonstrating the skill and talent of artisans.

Preserving and Promoting Folklore

Preserving and promoting folklore is the responsibility of every Vietnamese citizen. We need to make efforts to preserve these precious cultural values, pass them on to future generations, and contribute to enriching the national cultural identity.

Learning and studying folklore not only helps us better understand the history and traditions of our nation, but also helps us cultivate our character, live morally, and be responsible to the community.