Top 10 Best Fairy Tales for Children in Vietnam

The Legend of Thạch Sanh is one of the most beloved and widely known fairy tales in Vietnamese folklore. It tells the story of a young man named Thạch Sanh, who bravely faces life’s challenges with confidence and ingenuity.

Orphaned and kind-hearted, Thạch Sanh forms a bond with a man named Lý Thông, only to be betrayed by him. Thus begins his incredible adventure, where he battles a giant serpent, an eagle, and a vicious water spirit. Along the way, Thạch Sanh also saves the King of the Sea and is invited to the underwater palace, where he receives a magical lute and a never-ending rice pot, along with many other exciting moments.

This story carries a profound message that good always triumphs over evil, and that virtuous people will always be rewarded. It encourages readers to live for themselves and for the good of others.

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Vietnamese fairy tales are numerous, passed down from generation to generation, forming an important part of the nation's cultural heritage. One such story that many of us are familiar with from childhood is The Clever Boy, a tale deeply rooted in ancient Vietnamese culture.

The Clever Boy centers around a character who would later grow up to become the famous scholar Trạng Quỳnh. Even as a child, he displayed exceptional intelligence and wit. The story features him solving various tricky challenges, such as how to make three male buffaloes produce nine calves or how to thread a single strand of silk through a snail shell to connect two ends. These tasks, along with many others posed by envoys from neighboring countries, are resolved with ingenuity and cleverness.

This story exemplifies patience, creativity, and the kind-hearted nature of the hero. It encourages learning, developing skills, and finding innovative solutions to life's problems. It also highlights the importance of gratitude and compassion.

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The Legend of Ba Bể Lake reflects the deep bond of family and the love a father has for his daughter. This story also emphasizes the beauty of nature and the cultural significance of natural landmarks in Vietnamese folklore. Ba Bể Lake is considered a symbol of the northern mountain region and is a popular tourist destination in Vietnam.

The legend tells of an old beggar woman who, wearing tattered clothes, comes to the village of Năm Mẫu to ask for food. She is rejected by most people due to fears of contagion, except for a widow and her son who offer her shelter. The beggar woman later warns them of an impending disaster, teaching them how to survive before disappearing. The village is eventually flooded, with waters rising over houses and trees, drowning everyone except the widow and her son who had cared for the old woman. The area where the village once stood became three large lakes, now known as Ba Bể Lake. The widow and her son later settled on the mountainside, and the place eventually became a village called Năm Mẫu.

Through the kindness shown by the widow and her son, they were spared from the natural disaster. This story teaches the value of compassion, helping others in times of need, and the importance of mutual support in difficult times.

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Fairy tales hold a special place in the hearts of every Vietnamese person, and they often brighten our spirits with the life lessons they impart. Stories like The Story of Sọ Dừa have been passed down through generations, continuing to captivate young and old alike.

This tale follows a married couple who, after many years together, are unable to have children. One day, the wife drinks water from a coconut shell found in the forest and becomes pregnant. When the child is born, he is born without limbs and his body is round like a coconut, rolling around like one. The mother considers abandoning him, but when he speaks, saying, "Mother, I am your child! Don't abandon me!" she decides to keep him and names him Sọ Dừa.

As Sọ Dừa grows up, he struggles with his condition, but he finds work as a cowherd for a wealthy man. His two older daughters mock him, but the youngest daughter feels sympathy and brings him food. Eventually, she agrees to marry him. On their wedding day, Sọ Dừa transforms into a handsome young man, becomes a top scholar, and lives happily. The two older sisters, regretful of their cruelty, plot to harm the youngest daughter, but thanks to Sọ Dừa's preparations, his wife survives and is reunited with him. The two older sisters are left embarrassed and disappear after confessing their wrongdoings.

This story teaches us that hard work, perseverance, and kindness lead to success, while cruelty and deceit bring about negative consequences.

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The Bamboo with a Hundred Joints is a well-known folk tale in Vietnamese literature. It is often used to teach lessons about patience, perseverance, and determination in life.

Once upon a time, an old man had a beautiful daughter. He hired a servant boy and promised to marry his daughter to him. The boy worked diligently, helping the old man become wealthier, but in the end, the old man chose to marry his daughter to a rich man in the village. When the wedding day arrived, the old man tricked the servant once again. He told him to find a bamboo stalk with a hundred joints to bring back, and only then would he marry his daughter off.

The servant went into the forest, searching but unable to find such a bamboo. He sat down and cried, when suddenly a fairy appeared and offered help. The fairy instructed him to chop a bamboo stalk with exactly one hundred joints and gave him a magical chant to join the pieces together. The servant followed the instructions and returned just as the wedding ceremony was taking place. He laid out the bamboo and recited the chant. The old man and the groom both became stuck to the bamboo, and they begged the servant to release them, promising to keep his word and marry off the daughter to him. From then on, no one dared to mistreat the servant again.

This story shows that kindness, hard work, and perseverance lead to happiness, while breaking promises and mistreating others brings punishment. The lesson for children is to always be kind, honest, and diligent, and to keep their promises.

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Everyone's childhood memories are often filled with the colorful world of fairy tales. These magical stories, told by grandmothers and mothers, shaped our understanding of beauty, kindness, and goodness in life. The Vietnamese Folk Tales collection brings children back to this world, where they can meet familiar characters once again.

The Legend of Betel and Areca is a story that dates back to the time of the Hung Kings. It explains the Vietnamese tradition of chewing betel and areca nuts while emphasizing the deep bonds of love and brotherhood. The story personifies the betel tree, areca palm, and lime stone, explaining how they became essential ingredients in the betel chewing tradition and important elements in traditional wedding ceremonies. To honor the strong bond between three people, the betel leaf has become a symbol in the Vietnamese culture, marking important gatherings, festivals, and weddings.

This tale is rich in moral teachings, celebrating sibling love, romantic affection, and the loyalty and unity of couples. It portrays how the combination of elements like resin, sap, and steadfastness creates an enduring example of love and lasting relationships.

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The Legend of Mountain and Water Spirits is one of the most famous folk tales in Vietnamese culture. This ancient legend has become a significant part of the cultural heritage and folklore of Vietnam.

The story of Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh is often used to explain the recurring floods in the northern plains of Vietnam. It reflects the ancient dream of overcoming nature’s challenges and protecting the lives of the Hung Kings. With its interactive structure, including narratives and guiding questions, this tale is a useful tool for children to understand and appreciate Vietnamese culture and language. It is a treasure trove of language, offering children a rich experience in developing their vocabulary and comprehension.

Through these beloved folk tales, children not only develop language skills but also expand their knowledge, nurture their thoughts and emotions, and shape their character. These stories act as a nurturing force, much like a mother's milk, feeding the innocent hearts of young minds.

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The Story of Tam and Cam is one of the most beloved and popular fairy tales in Vietnamese folklore. Passed down through generations, it has become a significant part of the cultural heritage of Vietnam.

The story tells of Tam, a kind-hearted girl, who is forced to live with her cruel stepmother and stepsister, Cam. Both of them treat Tam poorly, and in their jealousy, they even plot to harm her. Despite their evil deeds, justice prevails, and Tam eventually lives a life of happiness and prosperity while her tormentors face the consequences of their wrongdoings.

This tale teaches that society is ultimately just, and those who work hard, stay kind-hearted, and live with integrity will find happiness, while the greedy and wicked will face retribution. The moral of the story aligns with the saying: “Good things come to those who do good, while evil begets evil.” Although the story has several versions, with variations across different books and publications, you can find the version that best suits your needs to share with your children.

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Saint Giong is one of the most famous and cherished folk tales in Vietnamese culture. This story tells of a legendary hero with extraordinary abilities and immense bravery, symbolizing determination and a resolute spirit.

Saint Giong fought off invading forces with the aid of three iron horses and a divine message from the heavens. After his victory, he transformed into a cluster of flames and ascended to the sky, leaving behind a promise to return whenever the country needed him. He is honored as Saint Giong Liêu Trai, one of the four figures protecting the borders of Vietnam. The tale is based on a real-life legend of a boy born in Phù Đổng village, Gia Lâm, Hanoi, during the reign of the sixth Hung King. Saint Giong is also known as Phù Đổng Thiên Vương.

Saint Giong represents the combined power of both nature and humanity, blending the modern and the primitive. This incredible strength is a force capable of overcoming any formidable enemy. The legend of Saint Giong is often referenced during Vietnam's traditional festivals and ceremonies. It is a vital part of the nation's cultural heritage, reflecting the Vietnamese spirit of determination and unity.

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The Golden Reward of the Starfruit Tree is a traditional Vietnamese folk tale, carrying a valuable lesson about filial piety, greed, and the consequences of bad behavior. The story revolves around two brothers who inherit a family fortune, but the greedy elder brother takes everything, leaving only a starfruit tree for the younger brother.

One day, a crow comes to eat from the tree and helps the younger brother become wealthy. Seeing this, the elder brother, driven by greed, follows the same actions to grow his wealth. However, his greed leads to dire consequences, and in the end, the virtuous younger brother lives happily ever after.

This story emphasizes the moral importance of modesty and the harmful effects of greed. It warns that selfish desires can lead to bitter outcomes and reminds us to appreciate what we have. It also honors filial piety and the bond between mother and child, stressing that family and respect for one's parents are more important than anything else.

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