Top 18 Best Vietnamese Fairy Tales

Dã Tràng was a kind-hearted young man who, after helping a male snake, was gifted a precious jewel. However, due to this jewel and his own good nature, Dã Tràng was later betrayed by the villagers and falsely accused by a group of crows plotting his downfall. Yet, thanks to the jewel, he escaped a fatal punishment. Later, Dã Tràng saved a pair of geese and was rewarded with another precious gem.

With this powerful gem that could stir the Dragon Palace, Dã Tràng was granted gold, silver, and jewels by the Dragon King, under the condition that he never use the gem to disturb the waters. Believing he had everything, he eventually lost his wife, who left him under the temptation of the Dragon King, lured by the precious gems. In his anger and despair, Dã Tràng, wanting to reclaim his jewels, began filling the ocean with sand to create a path. Ultimately, he perished, transforming into a sand-burrowing insect, forever rolling sand to cover the sea, only for the waves to wash it away again.

Moral lesson: Those who are consumed by greed and commit evil deeds will face fitting consequences.

Once upon a time, there was a boy who was spoiled by his mother, making him mischievous and playful. One day, after being scolded by his mother, he ran away in anger. His mother, unaware of his whereabouts, grew very worried, waiting for him day after day. As time passed, and the boy still didn’t return, his mother grew exhausted and heartbroken, eventually collapsing in despair. Not knowing how long he had been gone, the boy, cold, hungry, and bullied by older children, suddenly remembered his mother: “That’s right, when I was hungry, she always fed me, and when others bullied me, she stood up for me. I must go back to her.” The boy hurried home, but when he arrived, everything looked the same, except his mother was nowhere to be found. He cried out in a hoarse voice:

“Mother, where have you gone? I’m so hungry!” The boy collapsed, holding a tree in the yard and crying. Miraculously, the tree shuddered. Tiny flowers bloomed from its branches, white as clouds. The flowers withered, and fruit appeared, growing quickly with smooth, shiny skin. One large fruit fell into the boy's hands. He bit into it, but it was too sour. The second fruit fell, and he peeled it, biting into the seed, which was too hard. The third fruit fell, and when he squeezed it gently, the skin softened and cracked open. A stream of white, sweet milk poured out, tasting just like his mother's milk. The boy drank the sweet milk, and the tree's branches rustled, whispering:

“Eat the fruit three times to understand its sweetness,
Only when you grow up will you truly understand a mother's love.”

The boy burst into tears, realizing that his mother was gone. He looked up at the tree’s leaves—one side was green, the other side was red, just like his mother's eyes, crying while waiting for him. The boy embraced the tree’s trunk, feeling its rough bark, as if it were his mother’s hardworking hands. Tears fell onto the tree’s roots, and the tree spread its branches, cradling him, its leaves rustling like a mother’s gentle touch. He shared his story with everyone, teaching them about his regret and his mother’s eternal love. The sweet fruit of the tree became beloved by all, and people planted it everywhere, naming it the Soursop Tree.

Moral lesson: Children must respect and love their parents. A mother’s love is vast and eternal.

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Tich Chu. His parents passed away when he was young, and he was raised by his grandmother. Every day, his grandmother worked tirelessly to earn money to care for him, always saving the best food for Tich Chu. At night, while Tich Chu slept, his grandmother stayed awake to fan him. Seeing the grandmother’s love for Tich Chu, someone remarked:

– Grandma, your love for Tich Chu is higher than the sky, wider than the sea. As he grows up, he will never forget your kindness.

However, as Tich Chu grew older, he didn’t show the same love for his grandmother. While she worked hard every day, Tich Chu spent his time playing. Due to the hard work and poor diet, his grandmother became ill. She suffered from a fever but had no one to care for her. Tich Chu, still playing with his friends, didn’t think about her illness. One afternoon, in the scorching heat, the fever grew worse, and his grandmother called out:

– Tich Chu, please bring me some water. I’m so thirsty!

She called again and again, but there was no response. It wasn’t until Tich Chu felt hungry that he returned home, only to find his grandmother transformed into a bird, flapping its wings and flying away. Panicked, Tich Chu shouted:

– Grandma! Where are you going? Stay with me, I’ll bring you water!

The bird answered,

– Cuckoo... cuckoo! It’s too late, my child. I was so thirsty that I couldn’t bear it anymore. I have turned into a bird to search for water. I am leaving now, and I won’t return!

With that, the bird flew away. Tich Chu, horrified, ran after the bird, following its flight path. Eventually, he found the bird drinking from a cool stream. Tich Chu cried out:

– Grandma! Please come back to me. I’ll fetch water for you. I’ll help you and never make you sad again!

– Cuckoo... cuckoo... It’s too late now, my child. I cannot return!

Hearing this, Tich Chu burst into tears, feeling deep regret and sorrow for his grandmother. At that moment, a fairy appeared and told him:

– If you want your grandmother to become human again, you must fetch water from the Fairy Spring for her to drink. The journey is long and dangerous. Are you willing to go?

Tich Chu eagerly agreed, and without hesitation, he set off on the perilous journey. After many days and nights, facing countless dangers, Tich Chu finally brought the magical water back. When his grandmother drank it, she returned to her human form and lived with Tich Chu again.

From then on, Tich Chu cared for his grandmother with all his heart.

Moral lesson: Children must show respect and love for their grandparents.

Once upon a time, a little girl lived with her mother in a humble, leaking cottage. Despite their poverty, the girl was very respectful and loving toward her mother. Unfortunately, the mother fell seriously ill, but because they were poor, they couldn’t afford medicine, and the girl was deeply saddened.

One day, while sitting by the road, crying, an old man passed by and, upon hearing her story, stopped to speak with her. The old man said:

– Go into the forest and find the largest tree. On it, there is a single flower. The number of petals on that flower represents the number of days your mother has left to live.

The girl immediately went into the forest. After much searching, she finally found the white flower at the top of a tall tree. She climbed and picked the flower, but when she counted the petals, there were only four. The girl was devastated, thinking her mother would only live for four more days. Unable to accept this, she began tearing the petals off one by one, making the flower grow more and more petals until they couldn’t be counted anymore. From then on, the flower became known as the White Chrysanthemum, symbolizing the deep filial piety of the girl for her mother.

Moral lesson: Children must show respect and gratitude toward their elders.

Once upon a time, there was an elderly couple who had long struggled to have children, so they worked for a wealthy family. One day, the wife went into the forest to gather firewood and drank water from a coconut shell. When she returned home, she realized she was pregnant. After some time, she gave birth to a strange child, who had no arms or legs and was round like a coconut. Despite his unusual appearance, the child could speak, and the couple decided to raise him, naming him Sọ Dừa (Coconut Shell).

Feeling sorry for his mother’s hard work, Sọ Dừa took up the job of herding cattle for the rich man. He was excellent at it, and all the cows grew healthy and strong. The rich man’s three daughters would bring him food, and while the two older sisters treated him poorly, the youngest sister treated him kindly.

Over time, the youngest daughter saw the goodness in Sọ Dừa and grew to love him. Sọ Dừa asked his mother to go to the rich man’s house to ask for her hand in marriage. The rich man, although initially hesitant, was forced to agree when Sọ Dừa brought the necessary dowry. On their wedding day, Sọ Dừa revealed himself as a handsome young man, and the two older sisters were filled with jealousy.

Sọ Dừa, dedicating himself to learning, eventually passed the imperial exams and became a top scholar. The king sent him on a diplomatic mission to a foreign land. Before leaving, he gave his wife a flint stone, a knife, and two eggs to protect her in case of danger.

While he was away, the two older sisters plotted to harm the youngest and threw her into the sea, hoping to steal her husband. Thanks to the items her husband had given her, she survived the ordeal and was rescued when Sọ Dừa returned. The couple was reunited, and the two jealous sisters, filled with shame, disappeared and were never seen again.

Moral lesson: Goodness will always be rewarded.

During the reign of King Hung, in the village of Giong, there lived an elderly couple who were hardworking and virtuous but had no children. One day, while working in the fields, the wife discovered a large footprint and, curious, placed her foot inside it. Later, she became pregnant and, after twelve months, gave birth to a handsome baby boy. The strange part was that by the age of three, the child still could not walk, speak, or even smile.

When the country was threatened by the invading An forces, King Hung sent his people to search for a hero to save the kingdom. At that moment, the boy spoke for the first time, asking to be sent to fight the enemy. He demanded that the king provide him with an iron horse, iron whip, and iron armor. From that point, the boy grew rapidly, consuming large quantities of food—seven baskets of rice and three baskets of vegetables—and transformed into a strong warrior. Wearing iron armor, riding an iron horse, and wielding an iron whip, he charged into battle and defeated the invaders. When his whip broke, he used bamboo from the roadside as weapons to continue fighting.

After defeating the An army, the warrior rode his horse to the top of a mountain and ascended into the sky. To honor his heroic deeds, the people built a temple in his memory and held annual village festivals to commemorate him. The remnants of the battle can still be seen in the earth and bamboo groves where the boy fought.

Moral lesson: Love for the country and the Vietnamese people.

During the reign of King Hung the Eighteenth, there was a beautiful and gentle daughter named Mi Nuong. The King wanted to find a suitable husband for her. Two powerful deities came to propose, both equally qualified to marry the King's daughter.

One was Son Tinh, the Lord of the Mountain, and the other was Thuy Tinh, the Lord of the Waters. To decide between them, King Hung set a challenge: "Whoever brings a hundred sticky rice cakes, a hundred square cakes, nine tusked elephants, nine-cock-footed roosters, and nine-maned horses, each in pairs, will win my daughter's hand in marriage."

The next day, Son Tinh arrived first with the required offerings and married Mi Nuong. Thuy Tinh arrived late, unable to claim his bride, and enraged, he summoned storms and floods to submerge Phong Chau. However, Son Tinh remained calm. Using his magic, he lifted mountains, moved hills, and built barriers to stop the flood. The two gods battled fiercely, but eventually, Thuy Tinh, exhausted, was forced to retreat. From then on, Thuy Tinh, filled with bitterness, unleashed storms and floods every year, but each time, he was defeated by Son Tinh.

Moral lesson: One must have a good heart, loving the people as one's own children.

Long ago, during the reign of King Hung the Fourth, there were two brothers, Tan and Lang, who loved each other dearly. However, after Lang married, he neglected his brother, which made Tan feel sad, and he left home. Tan wandered far until he grew tired and lay down by the riverbank to sleep. In his deep sleep, he turned into lime.

Lang, waiting for Tan to return, grew worried and went in search of him. After a long search, he found Tan’s image by the riverbank and began to weep. Lang was then transformed into an areca palm tree. When Lang's wife heard of his search for Tan, she went looking for her husband and was transformed into a betel vine that wrapped itself around the palm tree.

The betel, areca, and lime, when intertwined, created a red color like blood. Later, when a king passed through the area and heard the story, he decreed that these three elements—betel, areca, and lime—become symbols of deep, eternal bonds of love between siblings and spouses.

Moral lesson: The deep and inseparable bond of love between spouses and siblings.

Once upon a time, there were two brothers. The elder brother was extremely greedy, while the younger one was kind-hearted and hardworking. After their parents passed away, the elder brother moved away with his wife and took all the family wealth, leaving only a starfruit tree to the younger brother.

Despite this, the younger brother never complained. He built a small hut next to the starfruit tree and worked hard to earn a living by taking on various jobs.

The tree grew well and one year, it bore an abundance of fruit. The younger brother was overjoyed. One day, a strange bird appeared and began eating the fruit from the tree. Seeing this, the younger brother sighed and spoke to the bird. The bird replied, "Eat one fruit and I will give you a pouch of gold the size of three hand spans."

A few days later, the bird returned and took the younger brother to a distant island full of gold, silver, and jewels. The brother filled his pouch with gold, and rode back on the bird's back. Upon returning home, he used the gold to buy rice and helped those in need in the village.

Seeing his brother's good fortune, the elder brother came to visit and demanded to exchange his land and property for the starfruit tree. The younger brother, once again, did not complain and agreed to the trade.

That year, the starfruit tree bore fruit again, and the bird returned to eat the fruit. The elder brother, greedy as ever, cried out for more gold. This time, he had his wife sew a six-hand-span pouch to carry more gold.

A few days later, the bird arrived and took the elder brother to the island of riches. The elder brother filled his large pouch with gold. On the way back, however, the bird grew tired from carrying the heavy load. It urged the elder brother to throw some of the gold away, but the greedy man refused.

Frustrated by the weight, the bird tilted its wings and threw the elder brother, along with the gold, into the sea. And so, the greedy man met his end.

Moral lesson: Siblings should help and support each other, and only through hard work can true success be achieved.

Once upon a time, there was a couple in a village who lived good, virtuous lives, but sadly, they could not have children. Moved by their plight, the Jade Emperor sent his son down to be reborn as their child. Unfortunately, both parents passed away early, leaving their son, Thạch Sanh, orphaned and alone. He lived under a banyan tree, surviving by gathering firewood.

Lí Thông, a man who made a living brewing alcohol, saw Thạch Sanh's strength and pretended to become his sworn brother to exploit him. When it came time for Lí Thông to offer himself to the fearsome ogre, he tricked Thạch Sanh into taking his place. Bravely, Thạch Sanh defeated the ogre. However, Lí Thông tricked him again, making Thạch Sanh flee while he presented the ogre's head to the king, earning a high-ranking military title.

The king had a beautiful daughter who reached the age of marriage. A grand festival was held to allow her to choose her husband, but during the festivities, a giant eagle swooped down and carried the princess away. Lí Thông once again sought Thạch Sanh’s help to save her. Thạch Sanh ventured to the eagle's lair, battled the creature, and rescued the princess. However, after bringing her back to safety, Lí Thông sealed the lair in an attempt to kill Thạch Sanh.

Thạch Sanh not only defeated the eagle but also freed the Water King's son, who had been captured by the eagle long ago. The Water King rewarded Thạch Sanh handsomely, but Thạch Sanh only asked for a magical lute before returning to live beneath the banyan tree.

As for the princess, ever since Lí Thông had brought her back, she mysteriously became mute. The ogre and the eagle, now united, devised a plan to take revenge on Thạch Sanh, resulting in his wrongful imprisonment. Thạch Sanh played his enchanted lute, and upon hearing it, the princess regained her speech. Thạch Sanh revealed the truth, and the king ordered the punishment of Lí Thông and his mother. They were spared by Thạch Sanh, but on their journey home, they were struck by lightning and transformed into dung beetles.

The king then arranged for Thạch Sanh to marry the princess. However, neighboring kingdoms, angered by this alliance, declared war. Once again, Thạch Sanh used his magical lute to calm the warring soldiers. He offered them a small pot of rice, but they could not finish it. Overcome with respect, they laid down their arms and retreated.

Moral lesson: Do not scheme against others for personal gain, for such deeds will always lead to downfall.

Once upon a time, King Hùng the 18th adopted a bright and handsome boy named Mai Yển, later known as An Tiêm.

As he grew, the king arranged a marriage for An Tiêm and entrusted him with an important position in the court. However, An Tiêm, full of pride, believed that his own abilities had earned him his success, not the king's favor. When the king heard this, he considered An Tiêm ungrateful and arrogant. As punishment, he exiled An Tiêm and his family to a remote island in the sea, near Nga Sơn (Thanh Hoá, Northern Vietnam).

His wife, named Ba, feared they would die alone on the desolate island, but An Tiêm remained calm, saying, "Life and death are in the hands of Heaven and ourselves; there is nothing to worry about."

On the isolated island, the family lived humbly, cultivating the land and growing crops to survive. One summer day, a strange bird from the West flew down and landed on a sand dune, dropping several seeds. Soon, the seeds sprouted and grew into sprawling vines.

The plants blossomed and bore large fruits, with green rinds and red flesh. An Tiêm told his wife, "This tree must be a gift from Heaven to sustain us." He tasted the fruit, which was sweet, fragrant, and refreshing. An Tiêm planted the seeds, and soon the fruits spread across the island.

One day, a ship caught in a storm washed ashore. The crew, discovering the strange, delicious fruit, traded supplies with An Tiêm’s family. Word spread about the delightful fruit on the island, and merchant ships began to visit, exchanging goods and food for the fruit. This trade allowed An Tiêm’s family to thrive.

Since the bird had brought the seeds from the West, An Tiêm named the fruit "Tây Qua" (Western Fruit). The Chinese found the fruit delicious and called it "hẩu," which eventually evolved into the name we use today: "dưa hấu" (watermelon).

After some time, the king sent an envoy to check on An Tiêm’s situation. The envoy reported that An Tiêm was living prosperously. The king, impressed, summoned An Tiêm back to the court and reinstated him to his former position.

An Tiêm presented the king with the watermelon seeds he had cultivated and distributed them to the people. As a result, watermelon became a renowned fruit in Vietnam. The island where An Tiêm lived was later named An Tiêm Island.

Lesson: With hard work and persistence, success will come.

Once upon a time, there was a kind farmer named Ngọc Tâm, married to a beautiful but lazy woman named Nhan Diệp. While Ngọc Tâm worked diligently in the fields, his wife spent her days indulging in luxury and pleasure.

Unexpectedly, Nhan Diệp passed away. Grief-stricken, Ngọc Tâm refused to part with her body, selling all his belongings to buy a boat, where he placed her coffin and set it adrift on the water.

One morning, the boat drifted to a mountain filled with fragrant plants and trees heavy with fruit. Curiously, Ngọc Tâm climbed the mountain, marveling at the strange beauty of the place. Halfway up, he encountered an elderly man with white hair and a wise demeanor, leaning on a bamboo staff. Sensing that this was a celestial being, Ngọc Tâm bowed deeply and begged the man to revive his beloved wife.

The old man, moved by his devotion, warned Ngọc Tâm, "You still cling to worldly attachments and have not freed yourself from them. I can grant your wish, but you must not regret it later."

Ngọc Tâm followed the instructions, opening the coffin and pricking his finger to drip three drops of blood onto his wife's body. Miraculously, she opened her eyes and sat up as if she had awoken from a long sleep.

Before departing, the old man spoke to Nhan Diệp, saying, "Remember your duties as a wife. Always cherish the love and loyalty of your husband. May you both live in happiness."

On their way back, Ngọc Tâm hurried the boat along. One evening, they stopped at a port, where Ngọc Tâm went ashore to buy food. Meanwhile, a wealthy merchant noticed Nhan Diệp’s beauty and invited her aboard his ship. He coaxed her with tea and then ordered his crew to sail away, leaving Ngọc Tâm behind.

Ngọc Tâm searched for her tirelessly, and after a month, he found her. But by then, she had grown accustomed to the lavish lifestyle with the merchant and had forgotten her past love. Seeing the truth, Ngọc Tâm calmly said to her, "You are free to leave, but I no longer wish for any memory of me to remain. Please return the three drops of blood I gave to bring you back to life."

Nhan Diệp, realizing she could leave so easily, took a knife to prick her finger. But as the blood began to drip, she collapsed and died.

Her betrayal caused her to regret her actions, and in her sorrow, she transformed into a small creature, constantly following Ngọc Tâm, trying to steal the three drops of blood to return to life. This creature, endlessly whining and lamenting, came to be known as the mosquito. People, who despised her for her disloyalty, would often swat at the mosquitoes, ending their existence with a swift blow.

Lesson: Those who are ungrateful will soon face their own reckoning.

Long ago, there was a poor couple with two children. The older child, a boy, was eleven, and the younger child, a girl, was six. Whenever the parents went to work in the fields or elsewhere, they would leave their children at home, instructing the boy to look after his sister.

One day, before leaving for work, the mother handed the older boy a sugar cane and told him to chop it for his sister to eat. As the boy took a knife to cut the cane, the blade slipped from the handle and struck his sister in the head. The girl fell unconscious, blood pouring from her wound. Believing his sister was dead, the boy, frightened and overwhelmed with guilt, ran away.

The boy wandered aimlessly for over fifteen years, living with various families, eating wherever he could. Eventually, he became an adopted son of a fisherman in the coastal area of Bình Định. The life of fishing kept him in the region.

As time passed, the boy grew into a young man, marrying a beautiful woman skilled in weaving nets. Together, they lived a simple, happy life, their joy increasing with the birth of a child. On a stormy day, the husband stayed home to repair the nets. After lunch, his wife asked him to help remove lice from her hair. Their young child was playing in the yard, making a mess with sand.

As the husband looked at his wife, he noticed a coin-sized scar on her right ear. For the first time, he saw the mark, as she had always kept it hidden beneath her hair. Surprised, he asked her about it. She smiled and began to explain: "Over twenty years ago, when I was just a little girl, my brother was chopping sugar cane for me. Suddenly, the knife slipped and struck me. I fell unconscious. I later learned that the neighbors had rushed to help and waited for my parents to return before seeking a doctor. Miraculously, I survived, but my brother, scared by the accident, ran away. My parents searched for him in vain, and their grief eventually led to their deaths. As for me, I was left orphaned, exploited by others, and sold to a merchant ship. I lived in constant motion until I arrived here and met you..."

When the husband heard this, his face turned pale. He now realized he had unknowingly married his long-lost sister. His heart was torn, but he kept the painful secret to himself, hiding it from his wife.

After a few days, when the storm had passed, the husband took the nets and set out to fish again. However, this time, he never returned. The wife waited at home, puzzled, not understanding why her husband sailed off into the night when others returned to shore.

Each evening, she would climb a mountain near the shore, staring out at the endless horizon. Even though her tears had dried, she never gave up her vigil, and the villagers grew accustomed to seeing her there. Eventually, both mother and child turned to stone.

Today, the stone remains on a hilltop by the Đề Gi sea in Bình Định Province. It is known as the "Stone of the Waiting Husband" or "The Stone of the Faithful Wife".

Lesson: The deep loyalty of a woman to her beloved.

Once upon a time, in a distant village, there lived a woodcutter named Cuội. One day, as was his habit, Cuội set out into the deep forest with his axe, searching for trees to fell. As he neared a small stream, he was startled to see a tiger's den. Looking around, he noticed four tiger cubs playfully wrestling with each other. Without hesitation, Cuội rushed forward and struck each cub with his axe, knocking them unconscious. However, just as he did so, the mother tiger arrived. Hearing her terrifying roar, Cuội quickly threw down his axe and scrambled up the nearest tall tree.

From his vantage point, Cuội watched as the mother tiger frantically paced in front of her dead cubs. Then, to his astonishment, the tiger calmly walked to a nearby tree, chewed on some leaves, and returned to feed them to her cubs. Miraculously, the cubs began to stir and revived. Shocked, Cuội waited until the tiger had moved her cubs away before descending and digging up the mysterious plant to take back with him.

On his way home, Cuội came across an old beggar lying lifeless on a patch of grass. Without thinking, he picked some leaves and chewed them before feeding them to the old man. To his amazement, the beggar's eyes opened, and he sat up. The beggar, curious about the plant, asked Cuội about it. Cuội told him the whole story. The beggar exclaimed:

– My goodness! This plant has the power to bring the dead back to life! It is a gift from heaven for you to help the world. Take care of this plant, but remember, never water it with dirty water, or it will float up to the sky!

With that, the beggar left, and Cuội carefully planted the magical plant in his garden, always remembering the beggar's warning to water it only with clean water from the well.

Over time, Cuội used the plant to save many people. Whenever he heard of someone dying, he would bring leaves to revive them. His miraculous deeds spread far and wide.

One day, Cuội crossed a river and found the body of a dead dog floating. He took the dog ashore, used the plant, and revived it. The dog, grateful, followed Cuội everywhere, becoming his loyal companion.

Later, a wealthy man from a nearby village arrived, desperate to save his daughter, who had drowned. Cuội rushed to help, using the plant to bring the girl back to life. As she regained consciousness, she asked Cuội to marry her, and her father gladly gave his blessing.

Cuội and his wife lived happily together, but one day, while Cuội was away, a group of bandits arrived at their home. Knowing Cuội possessed the power to bring people back to life, they decided to harm him. They killed his wife, cut open her body, and threw her intestines into the river before leaving. When Cuội returned, he found his wife dead and, despite using the plant's leaves, could not revive her without her intestines.

Seeing Cuội's grief, the dog, moved by loyalty, offered to give its own intestines in place of Cuội's wife. Cuội had never done this before, but in desperation, he tried it. To his surprise, his wife revived and appeared as young and beautiful as before. Touched by the dog's sacrifice, Cuội made a replacement set of intestines out of clay and placed them inside the dog. The dog also revived. Cuội and his wife were once again united, and they lived happily ever after.

However, after the incident, Cuội's wife began to act strangely. She forgot things easily, much to Cuội's frustration. He repeatedly warned her not to urinate near the sacred tree in their yard, as it might cause the tree to float away. Unfortunately, she forgot, and one day, while Cuội was out, she urinated on the base of the tree. The ground shook, the tree began to lift, and a strong wind blew. The sacred tree uprooted and began to rise into the sky.

When Cuội returned and saw what had happened, he rushed to try and pull the tree down, but it was too late. The tree had already risen too high. Cuội grabbed his axe and tried to pull the tree back down, but it continued to rise, taking Cuội with it. He was carried up into the sky, where he remains, with his tree, in the moon.

Now, every year, the tree drops a leaf into the sea, and the dolphins eagerly gather to consume it, believing it to be a rare and powerful medicine. When people look at the moon, they see the shape of a tree with a figure sitting beneath it, which is known as Cuội's tree.

Lesson: Be careful in important matters.

Once upon a time, there was a poor woodcutter who had lost both of his parents at a young age. He was left with nothing but an axe, and every day, he would venture into the forest to chop wood to sell and make a living. Near the edge of the forest was a fast-flowing river, so dangerous that anyone who fell in would have great difficulty swimming to safety.

One day, as he was chopping wood by the riverbank, his axe broke, and the blade fell into the rushing water. Despite being able to swim, the woodcutter couldn’t retrieve the blade because the current was too strong. Feeling desperate, he sat down and began to weep.

Suddenly, an old man with a long white beard and kind eyes appeared before him. He looked at the woodcutter and asked:

- My child, what troubles you so that I see you in such distress?

The woodcutter explained:

- Sir, my parents passed away when I was young, leaving me to grow up alone. My only possession is this axe, which I use to chop wood and make a living. But now, the axe has fallen into the river, and I have no way of earning a living. That is why I am so upset.

The old man replied:

- Oh, do not cry, my child. I will dive into the river and retrieve your axe for you.

With that, the old man plunged into the fast-flowing river. A moment later, he surfaced, holding a shiny silver axe and asked:

- Is this the blade you lost?

The woodcutter looked at the silver axe, realizing it was not his, and shook his head:

- No, that is not mine, sir. My axe is made of iron.

The old man nodded and dived into the river again. After a short time, he emerged holding a golden axe. He asked again:

- Could this be the blade you lost?

The woodcutter looked at the golden axe, shook his head, and replied:

- No, sir, that is not mine either.

For the third time, the old man dove into the river. This time, he came back with the iron axe that the woodcutter had lost. He asked once more:

- Is this the one?

Seeing his own axe, the woodcutter shouted in joy:

- Yes, that’s mine! Thank you so much for retrieving it!

The old man smiled and handed him the iron axe. He then said:

- You have shown great honesty and integrity. You are not driven by greed for riches. Because of this, I will give you these two additional axes, one of silver and one of gold, as a gift.

The woodcutter happily accepted the gifts and thanked the old man. Then, the old man disappeared, leaving the woodcutter to realize that he had been helped by a magical being.

Lesson: Those who are honest and virtuous will always be rewarded with good fortune.

Once upon a time, there were two sisters, Tam and Cam, who had the same father but different mothers. After their parents passed away early, Tam was forced to live with her stepmother, Cam’s mother. While Cam was spoiled and pampered, Tam was made to do all the hard work—tending to the buffalo, fetching water, chopping firewood, and doing chores without end. She worked day and night without respite.

One day, following her stepmother’s instructions, Cam and Tam went to the fields to catch shrimp. Tam worked diligently under the scorching sun, hoping to win a red scarf she longed for. Meanwhile, Cam played around, chasing flowers and butterflies, completely forgetting their task. By the time they returned, Cam’s basket was empty. She tricked Tam into going for a swim in the pond and secretly stole all the shrimp Tam had gathered. Tam, heartbroken, cried alone. Seeing her distress, the Buddha appeared and comforted her. He instructed her to raise the remaining fish she had caught. Every day, Tam saved part of her meal to feed the fish and would call, 'Bong bong bang bang, come eat the golden rice, not the stale rice from others!' The fish appeared, devouring the precious rice Tam had saved.

Cam and her mother, envious and malicious, discovered this and killed the fish. Once again, the Buddha appeared, advising Tam to bury the fish’s bones in a jar and place it under her bed.

The king held a grand festival, and everyone eagerly attended. Cam and her mother, not wanting Tam to go, devised a plan to make her sort a basket of mixed rice and millet. The Buddha appeared, sending sparrows to help Tam. He also instructed Tam to dig up the bones from under the bed. To her surprise, the bones transformed into magnificent clothing that fit her perfectly. Tam joyfully attended the festival.

In her hurry to return, Tam accidentally dropped a shoe into the river. She searched, but couldn’t find it. The king, noticing the beautiful shoe, ordered that whoever could wear it would become his queen. People in the kingdom rushed to try it on, hoping to be chosen. Unfortunately, none fit, except for Tam, whose foot the shoe perfectly matched. The king invited her to the palace, and she became the queen.

Still bitter, Cam and her mother plotted to harm Tam. When Tam went to her father’s memorial, they secretly killed her and took her place in the palace. Tam transformed into a golden bird, a neem tree, a weaving loom, and finally a quince fruit. Eventually, she became the daughter of an old woman selling water. When the king passed by and recognized her, he took her back to the palace. In the end, Cam and her mother were punished for their wicked deeds, and Tam lived happily ever after with the king.

Lesson: Goodness and virtue are always rewarded.

Once upon a time, there was a kind-hearted and strong young man named Khoai, who worked as a farmhand for a wealthy couple. The couple had promised, 'If you work hard for us, after three years, we will marry our daughter to you.'

Trusting their promise, Khoai worked diligently without complaint. But after three years, when the couple had gathered all their wealth, the wealthy man went back on his word. He set a condition: Khoai must find a bamboo tree with exactly 100 joints to be allowed to marry his daughter. Determined to marry the daughter of his employer, Khoai set off into the forest to find the magical bamboo tree. After searching in vain, he sat down and cried. Suddenly, the Buddha appeared and instructed him to gather 100 separate bamboo joints and gave him two magical chants: 'Khắc nhập, khắc nhập!' to bind the joints together, and 'Khắc xuất, khắc xuất!' to separate them.

With the magical incantations, Khoai was able to gather and transport the bamboo joints easily. When he showed the 100-joint bamboo to his future father-in-law, the wealthy man was skeptical. He touched the bamboo and counted the joints, only to be magically stuck to the bamboo. Realizing the power of the Buddha’s magic, the wealthy man reluctantly agreed to honor his promise. Khoai then used the chant 'Khắc xuất' to release the man. The wealthy man, now afraid of angering the Buddha, had no choice but to marry his daughter to Khoai.

In the end, Khoai and the wealthy man’s daughter lived happily ever after.

Lesson: Hard work, perseverance, and dedication always bring about miracles.

Truong Ba, a kind-hearted gardener nearing 60, was a skilled and wise man. However, due to a careless mistake, the God of Death mistakenly struck his name off the list, leading to his untimely death. His wife went to Heaven to file a complaint. Following the advice of the Jade Emperor, the God of Death, to atone for his mistake, decided to allow Truong Ba's soul to enter the body of a butcher who had recently died at the age of 30, giving him a second chance at life.

Living in the butcher’s body, Truong Ba faced numerous challenges. The village leader became a nuisance, the butcher's wife demanded that Truong Ba be a real man for her, and Truong Ba’s family started falling apart. His son grew increasingly arrogant, disrespecting him, while his wife, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren began distancing themselves. Worst of all, living in the butcher’s body, Truong Ba began to adopt some of his new body’s vices and desires, which were foreign to his peaceful nature. The butcher's wife relentlessly pushed him to be the man she wanted, and the village leader extorted money from him. Eventually, Truong Ba’s son grew so proud that he began to look down on his father. Truong Ba was devastated by this and felt helpless.

Faced with such a dire situation, Truong Ba decided to reject the butcher’s body. He refused to take over the body of Cu Ti, a young boy, and chose to accept death rather than continue living in a body that no longer reflected his true self.

Lesson: Marital fidelity and loyalty are essential in a relationship.