Exploring the Legendary Tale of 'Sơn Tinh, Thuỷ Tinh' – Top 4 Fascinating Summaries

Hùng Vương, the eighteenth Hung King, had a daughter named Mị Nương, a beauty with a gentle temperament. The king sought a worthy husband, and two equally skilled deities, Sơn Tinh – lord of the highlands, and Thuỷ Tinh – ruler of the deep waters, competed for her hand in marriage. To choose the suitable groom, King Hùng set a challenge: 'Tomorrow, whoever brings offerings of one hundred sticky rice cakes, one hundred square-shaped cakes, nine-ivory elephants, nine-long-tailed roosters, nine-red-maned horses, each in pairs, will marry my daughter.' The next day, Sơn Tinh arrived with the offerings, winning Mị Nương's hand. Thuỷ Tinh, arriving later, failed to win a bride and, in a fit of rage, pursued Mị Nương. The gods summoned rain, called forth winds, and raised the river's water, submerging the city of Phong Châu. Unfazed, Sơn Tinh used magic to lift hills, rearrange mountain ranges, and build barriers to stem the flood. The two engaged in fierce combat, and eventually, Thuỷ Tinh, exhausted, admitted defeat.

Since then, harboring deep resentment, each year Thuỷ Tinh unleashed storms, floods, and raised waters to battle Sơn Tinh, but every year ended in failure.

King Hùng the eighteenth had a remarkably beautiful daughter named Mị Nương. The king, deeply affectionate towards her, sought a worthy husband for Mị Nương.

As Mị Nương grew more beautiful, countless suitors from noble lineages aspired to make her their wife. The fame of this beauty echoed far, reaching the majestic Tản Viên mountain, home to Sơn Tinh – the deity of mountains and land. One morning, Sơn Tinh, riding a majestic white tiger, decided to propose to Mị Nương. On that very day, a young man, riding a grand water dragon, self-proclaimed as Thuỷ Tinh, also came to propose. King Hùng, perplexed by the extraordinary talents of both, wondered whom to give his beloved daughter. Finally, the king decided to let them compete, and the one who triumphs would marry Mị Nương. Immediately, Thuỷ Tinh called upon rain and summoned winds, thunderous lightning shook the city of Phong Châu, instilling fear not only in courtiers but even in King Hùng. Unfazed, Sơn Tinh was equally formidable. He pointed to the East, mountains rose; he pointed to the West, islands emerged. Everyone admired their prowess. King Hùng, torn between the two, declared, 'Tomorrow, whoever arrives early with one hundred sticky rice cakes, one hundred square-shaped cakes, nine ivory elephants, nine long-tailed roosters, and nine red-maned horses, will marry Mị Nương.'

At dawn the next day, before the first rays of sunlight pierced the night fog, Sơn Tinh and his entourage arrived to take Mị Nương to Tản Viên mountain. Thuỷ Tinh, arriving later, furious for losing, commanded a troop of aquatic monsters to chase Sơn Tinh. Sơn Tinh called upon a heroic army of beasts including bears, snakes, and tigers, to counter Thuỷ Tinh. The sky darkened, lightning bolts slithered across the sky like colossal serpents ready to tear the heavens apart. Sơn Tinh and his soldiers continuously hurled rocks at the water monsters. After a fierce battle, Thuỷ Tinh, exhausted, raised the water to submerge homes, fields, and trees. Soon, the entire city of Phong Châu was engulfed in water. People and animals hastily sought refuge in the high mountains. Sơn Tinh, using magic, ensured the hills were always higher than Thuỷ Tinh's water. However much water Thuỷ Tinh raised, Sơn Tinh raised the mountains accordingly. The battle raged on from day to day. Eventually, Thuỷ Tinh, depleted, had to retreat. The people descended from the mountains, rebuilt their homes, and reclaimed their fields.

Since then, every year, Thuỷ Tinh would bring floods against Sơn Tinh, but always faced defeat. Today, our people still build dikes, plant forests, and every year, united, we combat floods – just as our ancestors and Sơn Tinh once resisted Thuỷ Tinh. This teaches us that with unity, there's nothing we cannot achieve.

King Hùng the eighteenth had a princess named Mị Nương, who was as beautiful as a flower, gentle and graceful in nature. When Mị Nương came of age, King Hùng desired a highly skilled son-in-law but couldn't find anyone worthy of his daughter.

One day, two deities arrived to propose to the princess. Both were equally matched in talent and strength, making it challenging for King Hùng to decide. One, named Sơn Tinh, ruled over the highlands, possessing the ability to move mountains and shape hills. The other, Thủy Tinh, ruled over the open sea, with the power to summon rain, winds, and raise water levels. Unable to choose, King Hùng set a condition: 'Tomorrow, whoever brings offerings including one hundred sticky rice cakes, one hundred square-shaped cakes, nine ivory elephants, nine long-tailed roosters, and nine red-maned horses, each in pairs, will marry my daughter.'

The next morning, Sơn Tinh arrived promptly with the offerings and married Mị Nương, taking her to the high mountains. Thủy Tinh, arriving later, failed to win the princess. Enraged, he summoned rain, called forth winds, unleashed a tempest, and raised water levels to drown Sơn Tinh and reclaim Mị Nương. At that moment, the entire region of Phong Châu seemed submerged in a watery abyss. Unperturbed, Sơn Tinh, with divine powers, moved mountains, lifted hills, and built barriers to stem the rising flood. Both sides engaged in fierce battles day and night. The Tản Viên mountain range and the Sông Đà river became a battlefield, with shattered rocks and the lifeless bodies of sea creatures filling the waters. Eventually, Thủy Tinh, unable to overcome, admitted defeat.

However, the deep-seated grudge and hatred within Thủy Tinh persisted. Every year, during the seventh and eighth months, Thủy Tinh would wage war against Sơn Tinh, unleashing storms, winds, and tempests to satisfy his vengeful desires.

King Hùng the eighteenth had an incredibly beautiful daughter named Mị Nương. The king wanted to find a deserving groom for her. In the region, two young men came to propose to Mị Nương – one named Sơn Tinh, lord of the highlands, and the other Thủy Tinh, lord of the open sea. Both were equally skilled, leaving the king undecided. He decreed that whoever brought the offerings first the next day would marry Mị Nương. The offerings included 'one hundred sticky rice cakes, two hundred square-shaped cakes, nine ivory elephants, nine long-tailed roosters, and nine red-maned horses, each in pairs.' The next day, Sơn Tinh brought the offerings first and married Mị Nương.

Thủy Tinh, arriving later, enraged, led his army to pursue and capture Mị Nương. Thủy Tinh called upon rain, summoned winds, and raised water levels. Unfazed, Sơn Tinh, with determination, lifted hills to block the flood. The two sides clashed for months, and Thủy Tinh, weakened, eventually admitted defeat. However, driven by relentless hatred, every year, Thủy Tinh unleashed floods against Sơn Tinh, losing in every encounter.