Exploring the Beauty of Vietnamese Folklore

Origins and Significance

Vietnamese folklore is a priceless treasure trove, preserving stories, legends, proverbs, folk songs, and other forms of folk art passed down through generations. It reflects the history, society, thoughts, feelings, and philosophy of the Vietnamese people across many eras. From fairy tales about good and evil to lyrical folk songs about love for one’s homeland and country, folklore possesses a vibrant life force and profound humanistic value.

Legends and Fairy Tales

Legends often tell of historical figures and real events, but embellished with fantastical and mystical elements to explain the origins of objects, phenomena, or to praise heroes and those who have contributed to the nation. Examples include the legend of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh, or the legend of Hoan Kiem Lake. Fairy tales, on the other hand, focus on imaginary, extraordinary characters, with intriguing and captivating situations, carrying a high educational value, often expressing dreams of justice, happiness, and the triumph over evil.

Notable Examples:

• Legend of the Dragon and Fairy Children
• Fairy tale Tam and Cam
• Legend of An Duong Vuong and Mi Chau – Trong Thuy

Proverbs and Folk Songs

Proverbs are short, concise sayings summarizing the life experiences and observations of the people about nature, society, and humanity. Folk songs are short poems, often lyrical, expressing people’s feelings and thoughts about love, homeland, and family. Both proverbs and folk songs are vivid evidence of the sophistication and skill in language and intellect of the Vietnamese people.

Folk Arts

Beyond forms of folk literature, Vietnam also possesses a rich and diverse treasure trove of folk arts, including: traditional musical instruments, Cheo opera, water puppetry, Dong Ho paintings, ceramics, and brocade weaving… Each art form carries its own unique characteristics, reflecting the culture and spiritual life of the community.

The Role of Folklore

Folklore plays an important role in educating, preserving, and developing national cultural identity. It helps people better understand the history, traditions, and morality of the nation, while also contributing to enriching the spiritual life of the community.

Preservation and Promotion

The preservation and promotion of folklore is the responsibility of every Vietnamese citizen. We need to actively learn, study, and pass on to future generations the precious values of our traditional culture.