The 6 Best Fairy Tales Featuring Legendary Heroes - Mytour.vn

Summary:

Long ago in the district of Cao Binh, an elderly couple had no children. Seeing their kind nature, the Jade Emperor sent a divine child to be born to them. Many years later, after the father passed away, the mother gave birth to a son. When the boy grew up, his mother died, and he lived alone in a small hut, with only a hatchet left by his father. He was called Thach Sanh.

One day, Li Thong, seeing Thach Sanh's kind heart, made him a sworn brother. At that time, a fearsome serpent terrorized the region, devouring people. That year, it was Li Thong’s turn to be sacrificed, and he and his mother devised a plot to trick Thach Sanh into taking his place. With his skills, Thach Sanh killed the serpent. Li Thong presented the serpent’s head to the king and was rewarded with a noble title.

The king had a daughter of marriageable age, but during a festival, the princess was abducted by a giant eagle. Thach Sanh, witnessing this, shot the eagle with an arrow, breaking its wings. He followed the trail of blood and tracked the eagle’s lair.

The king, deeply saddened by his daughter's disappearance, sent Li Thong to find her, promising to marry her off and make him heir to the throne. Li Thong once again enlisted Thach Sanh to rescue the princess and seal the entrance of the cave. Inside, Thach Sanh freed the prince and was gifted a magical instrument by the Sea King.

The spirits of the serpent and the giant eagle returned to take revenge on Thach Sanh, leading to his imprisonment.

After the princess returned, she became mute and could not smile. No one could cure her until Thach Sanh played his magical instrument, bringing joy and laughter back to the princess. The king, puzzled, summoned Thach Sanh and heard the entire story. Realizing the truth, the king spared Li Thong and his mother, but on their way home, they were struck by lightning and transformed into dung beetles. Thach Sanh married the princess. The neighboring kingdoms, enraged, attacked, but Thach Sanh played his instrument, and the enemy forces surrendered. Eventually, Thach Sanh ascended to the throne.

Thach Sanh is a classic tale that portrays a hero with extraordinary strength, fighting against evil. He embodies goodness and fairness, representing the triumph of virtue over vice. The story reflects the people's hope to conquer evil and their deep belief in the ultimate victory of goodness. Those who do wrong will receive their just punishment.

Once upon a time, there was a man named Yet Kieu from Ha Bi village, who made his living by fishing. One day, while walking along the shore, he saw two bulls fighting under the moonlight. With a rod in hand, he rushed over and struck them hard. Surprisingly, the two bulls ran into the sea and disappeared. Yet Kieu realized they were magical bulls, and as he looked at his rod, he noticed some of their fur stuck to it. In excitement, he swallowed the fur.

From then on, Yet Kieu became incredibly strong, unmatched by anyone. He also gained the remarkable ability to swim. Whenever he dove into the sea to catch fish, it seemed as though he was walking on land. Sometimes, he would stay underwater for six or seven days before resurfacing.

At that time, foreign invaders came to plunder the country, bringing a hundred ships to blockade the Van Ninh sea entrance, capturing all ships and destroying fishing nets. Everywhere they went, they looted and killed people, causing devastation along the coast. The king’s navy was defeated and sunk. Worried, the king issued a decree offering a high rank to anyone who could defeat the invaders.

Yet Kieu then went to the king, saying, 'I may be weak, but I will certainly send them into the belly of a fish.' The king asked, 'How many men and ships do you need?' 'Only I can handle them,' Yet Kieu replied. The king, overjoyed, immediately appointed him as the commander of the navy.

He went to Van Ninh and instructed the soldiers to prepare a drill and a hammer. Then, he dove into the sea alone, swimming to the enemy ships. He quietly drilled and broke the ships, sinking one after another. In a single day, more than twenty ships were destroyed. The invaders panicked, sending their best swimmers to investigate. They eventually spotted Yet Kieu, but they were no match for him. He killed every one of them.

The invaders, terrified, later sent a captain with a special spyglass that could see underwater. They saw Yet Kieu moving swiftly as if walking on land. They dropped a steel net to capture him while he was drilling a ship, and they managed to catch him. The invaders interrogated him:

'Are there many people like you who can swim?' 'Not counting those who can stay underwater for ten days without coming up,' Yet Kieu answered, 'as for people like me, even a hundred ships couldn’t carry us. Right now, down there, we are in layers, one on top of the other, rarely empty.'

The invaders, frightened, tried to bribe him, saying, 'If you cooperate with us, we’ll reward you. Otherwise, we’ll kill you.' 'Fine, I’ll help,' Yet Kieu agreed.

They took him, along with ten soldiers, on a small boat to search the sea. But as soon as they let their guard down, Yet Kieu jumped into the water and escaped. The invaders were left bewildered. After suffering heavy losses, they decided to retreat and stop their raids.

The king was overjoyed and praised Yet Kieu, appointing him as a great prince. After his death, people built temples to honor him at Van Ninh and many other coastal locations.

Yet Kieu, with his incredible swimming skills, became a hero, earning the title 'First Commander of the Water Army of the Tran Dynasty.'

In a distant village, there lived a very hardworking woman. From the break of dawn, when the Mơ Lang birds began singing, she would already leave the village and head to the fields. She worked tirelessly until the North Star twinkled high in the sky before returning home.

One day, while working in the fields, she suddenly felt dizzy and uncomfortable, her throat dry as if on fire. She hurriedly sought shelter in a hut in the middle of the field and reached for her water pipe, only to find that it was completely dry. The thirst grew unbearable. She looked around desperately for water and spotted a trickle of water coming from the mountainside. With joy, she rushed towards it. There, she saw a mountain that resembled a giant man holding a staff, gazing towards the sky. From the top of the man's head, clear, cool water dripped. She tilted her head back and drank three gulps, instantly feeling relief as the water's sweet taste lingered in her throat.

From that day on, she felt much better, and her belly began to grow. She had conceived.

However, after nine months, then a year, and two years passed, she still hadn’t given birth. It wasn’t until the third year, on the day of a solar eclipse, when the sun and moon met and bathed the land in a gentle golden light, that she finally went into labor. She gave birth to three healthy, chubby, and identical sons.

As time went by, the three boys grew strong. The mountains and forests now had three mighty young men. Their arms were as strong as iron, able to snap large trees like twigs. Their legs could run faster than the wind, leaping over entire forests with a single bound. Their eyes were sharp, able to see further than an eagle.

One day, seeing her sons grow, the mother told them:

– The world is vast. Go in different directions and make your own living. Don’t forget to visit me now and then!

The three brothers agreed and left on their journeys.

The youngest headed east, following the rising sun. As he traveled, the land gradually descended until a vast plain and the endless sea appeared. He was captivated by the beauty of the place and decided to settle there. From then on, he bathed in the crystal-clear ocean every day and slept on the soft sand every night. His skin slowly became fair and smooth, like dough. People began calling him Ngọc (Jade).

The second brother went west, following the setting sun. The land rose higher beneath his feet, and dense forests stretched out in front of him, with majestic mountains rising like greetings. He came upon a stream, its water shimmering like bronze. He crossed the stream, and as he did, his skin turned dark, matching the color of the water. Finding fertile land, he decided to settle there and people began calling him Lèo.

The eldest stayed in the village. He built a tall, wide house with a curved roof that touched the clouds, its columns standing like forest trees. He lived there, watching over the mountains and forests, ensuring that streams played their melodies, flowers danced, and animals and winds sang in harmony.

But one day, a monstrous serpent spirit, known as Xà Tinh, appeared. Its body was as long as a mountain range. It had wings to soar high and fins to dive deep into the water. However, its most terrifying power came from the three magic gems it had stolen from the heavens, hidden in a round pouch slung over its right side. The first gem was green, and when held aloft, a violent storm would immediately arise, uprooting entire forests. The second gem was pale white, and upon its release, the waters would surge, flooding entire villages. The third gem was bright red, and when thrown, flames would erupt, burning everything in its path. Xà Tinh used these gems to devastate the lands it passed through.

One day, Xà Tinh arrived at the village of the three brothers. Wherever it went, trees bent, winds howled, and smoke and fog filled the air. The eldest brother noticed something was wrong and rushed out of his house, shield and dagger in hand.

Upon seeing the brother’s impressive stance, Xà Tinh hesitated. It reached into its pouch and pulled out the green gem. A massive storm broke out, uprooting trees and rocks. Enraged by the devastation of his homeland, the eldest brother charged at Xà Tinh, swinging his shield with such force that it created a strong gust of wind, pushing the storm away. After a fierce battle lasting half a day, Xà Tinh was forced to put the green gem away. With a furious roar, it took out the white gem, and immediately, a flood of water surged forward, covering the mountains and villages. Wild boars, civets, and snakes floated on the floodwaters. Overwhelmed by the rising tide, the eldest brother fled to the highest mountain, gathering dry branches and leaves, setting them on fire. As promised, when they parted ways, the brothers had agreed that in times of danger, the eldest would light a signal fire on the mountain to call his brothers. One fire meant to call the youngest, and two fires meant to call the second brother.

When the youngest saw the fire from his home, he initially mistook it for the sunlight. But as the fire grew, he realized it was a signal from his brother. He rushed back home as fast as he could.

Arriving at the village, he saw the devastated land and was filled with anger. He sat by the stream, thinking of a way to defeat Xà Tinh.

One morning, he bid farewell to his eldest brother and ventured straight into the lair of the serpent spirit. Upon seeing the fair-skinned boy, Xà Tinh snarled and shouted:

– You white rabbit! You’ve come to be skinned, haven’t you?

The youngest brother boldly retorted:

– I’ve come to seek revenge. The water spirits of my homeland, I can defeat them, let alone your stinking swamp!

Furious, Xà Tinh immediately took out the white gem. A torrent of waves surged forward, but the youngest brother quickly stamped his foot. Suddenly, a great wall of earth rose from the ground, trapping the water and holding it at bay. Xà Tinh, seeing its magic defeated, put the white gem away and pulled out the red gem. A blaze of fire erupted, scorching the land. The youngest brother could not control the fire and retreated towards the sea.

Seeing his brother in danger, the eldest again climbed the mountain and lit a fire, signaling for the second brother to come and help. The second brother saw the flames and, without hesitation, ran towards them, moving faster than the wind. He arrived at the village and immediately headed to the serpent’s lair. Without warning, the second brother threw a spear straight at Xà Tinh’s face. Knowing that the warrior was of their kin, Xà Tinh tried to retaliate, summoning a swarm of wasps to attack. The second brother calmly placed a flower on the ground, and soon, a beautiful carpet of flowers spread out, trapping the wasps inside as they gathered to feed on the nectar.

Seeing his magic fail, Xà Tinh screamed and raised the red gem. Flames erupted, but the second brother swiftly unstrapped a water tube from his back and poured its contents onto the ground. The water surged, forming hundreds of water serpents that doused the flames. Xà Tinh, unable to withstand the onslaught, retreated towards the mountains.

With both brothers failing to defeat Xà Tinh, the eldest brother, concerned for their safety, sought the help of the villagers. They built a ladder long enough to reach the heavens, and the eldest brother climbed to seek guidance from the gods. He explained the situation, and after some thought, the god agreed to help:

– The serpent is indeed powerful, but your strength is also great. You simply need to work together. Go back and unite. If you still cannot defeat it, I will help further.

The eldest brother returned, lighting the signal fires once more. The three brothers, together with the villagers, formed three groups and marched to Xà Tinh’s lair.

Upon seeing them, Xà Tinh growled:

– Here come the little rabbits, ready to offer their lives. Wait until I finish eating, and I’ll deal with you!

The eldest brother responded with a voice as loud as a gong:

– Monster, today you will pay for your crimes. You’ve destroyed our mountains and killed our people, but today, we will stand together and defeat you.

Xà Tinh, enraged, immediately unleashed the green gem. The storm raged, but the eldest brother wielded his shield with such power that it turned the wind back. Xà Tinh, defeated, quickly pulled out the white gem, unleashing a flood. The youngest brother, undeterred, raised his sword, and soon, a massive wall of earth surrounded the water. Seeing his magic fail, Xà Tinh threw the red gem. The fire blazed, but the second brother countered with the water serpents, extinguishing the flames. With no more magic left, Xà Tinh fled, but the youngest brother blocked its path, and the second brother stood ready with his spear.

The eldest brother, determined, charged forward with his dagger, and together, the three brothers defeated Xà Tinh, who collapsed and turned into a barren, broken mountain.

From then on, peace returned to the land. The three brothers went their separate ways, each continuing their work. Every year, the youngest brother brought salt to the others, the second carried gifts, and the eldest shared the wealth of the forest. The people of the region still remember the three brothers as symbols of unity and strength.

To this day, the people of the Central Highlands tell the tale of the three brothers: the eldest, who could control the winds, is the people of the Central Highlands; the youngest, skilled at water management, is the Vietnamese; and the second, who could tame the flames, is the Laotians. The three brothers were children of the same mother.

The story speaks of heroic figures who bravely defended their homeland, showing gratitude for those who built and protected their lands. It also serves as a lesson in bravery, unity, and the importance of protecting one’s homeland.

In the era of Hung Kings, there was an elderly woman who lived alone. One morning, she went to visit her fields and unexpectedly found a set of large footprints that had trampled several rows of beans. She exclaimed: – “Oh! Whose foot is this big?”.

Suddenly, she shuddered as she placed her foot into the mysterious footprint. From that moment, she became pregnant. After the usual months, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, named Giong. However, by the time the child was three years old, he still lay on his back, unable to sit up, roll over, speak, or smile.

At that time, the An invaders attacked the country. The An forces were ruthless, led by a general named King An. Wherever they went, they burned villages, killed people, and stole goods. The Hung Kings’ army attempted to fight but could not defeat them. King Hung grew concerned and sent messengers throughout the land to seek out capable commanders to help defend the country.

One day, a royal messenger came to the village where young Giong lived. Upon hearing the announcement that the king sought talented individuals, Giong’s mother, while soothing her child, jokingly said to him:

– My child, with your slow movements and speech, how long will it take before you can go to war to help the king?

Unexpectedly, Giong opened his mouth and spoke:

– Mother, call the royal messenger here for me!

After that, he fell silent again. His mother, both astonished and anxious, rushed to tell the neighbors. Everyone who came to the house was equally surprised. Eventually, one person suggested:

– Let us call the royal messenger to see what he wants.

When the royal messenger arrived and saw young Giong, he asked:

– You’re a three-year-old who has just learned to speak. Why did you ask me to come here?

Giong replied firmly:

– Tell the king to forge me an iron horse, a steel sword, iron armor, and a metal helmet. I will defeat the invaders!

Everyone around was astonished, believing that a supernatural being had appeared. The messenger quickly rode back to the king. Upon hearing this, King Hung was overjoyed and immediately ordered blacksmiths to gather all the iron they could and forge a horse, sword, armor, and helmet as requested. The finished products were unbelievably heavy, and it took dozens of men to lift the sword, but they couldn’t budge it. The king had to send thousands of soldiers to carry it to young Giong.

When Giong’s mother heard that the soldiers were bringing the iron horse to the village, she hurriedly ran to him and said:

– My child! The king’s tasks are not a joke. The soldiers are coming to the field right now. What are we going to do?

Upon hearing this, Giong jumped up and said:

– Don’t worry about the battle, mother. But you must feed me well!

His mother quickly cooked rice for him, but no sooner was one pot of rice ready than Giong finished it. Every time he ate a pot of rice, he grew a little bigger and asked for more. The more his mother fed him, the larger he became, until he grew into a tall, strong young man. When the rice ran out, his mother called the villagers, and everyone eagerly brought rice, potatoes, cattle, wine, fruits, and cakes. But no matter how much food they brought, Giong ate it all and still asked for more.

Then Giong requested:

– Mother, find some fabric for me to wear.

The villagers rushed to bring silk for Giong’s clothes. But his body grew so rapidly that, as soon as the clothes were finished, they were too tight and too short. The villagers had to bring more silk to add more pieces. Soon, Giong’s head touched the roof of the house. While they were still amazed, the soldiers arrived with the iron horse, sword, armor, and helmet. Giong stepped out, stretched, and suddenly became tall and imposing, with legs over a yard long. He shouted with a voice like thunder:

– I am the general of Heaven!

Giong donned the iron armor, put on the helmet, and took the sword. He danced around for a few moments before bidding farewell to his mother and the villagers. He mounted the iron horse, which reared up, and a blast of fiery breath shot forward. Giong spurred the horse, which galloped as if flying, taking giant steps as it rushed toward the enemy camp in the forest. Giong’s sword flashed like lightning, cutting down the invaders wherever they appeared. The horse’s fiery breath burned down the enemy camps and entire forests.

Despite the chaos, King An continued to shout commands, urging his troops to advance. But Giong became stronger as he fought. The invaders’ bodies lay scattered, and when his sword broke, Giong calmly pulled up bamboo stalks along the roadside and used them to strike the remaining soldiers. Soon, the invaders fled in all directions, and King An was killed. The remaining soldiers begged for mercy. The army of King Hung and the villagers simply captured them. Within hours, Giong had saved the country. When it was over, Giong’s horse had reached the foot of Soc Son Mountain. There, Giong dismounted, took off his armor and helmet, and with his horse, flew straight into the sky.

After the victory, to honor the hero, King Hung ordered a temple to be built in Giong’s village and posthumously named him Phu Dong Thien Vuong.

Today, traces of Giong’s legend can still be seen. The series of circular ponds stretching from Kim Anh, Da Phuc, to Soc Son are said to be the hoofprints of Saint Giong’s iron horse. The forest that was burned by the horse’s fiery breath is now known as the “Burnt Village.” The bamboo Giong used to strike the invaders, scorched by fire, turned yellow with burn marks, and the variety of bamboo still exists today, called “Ngà Bamboo” or “Ngà Bamboo.”

The image of Saint Giong embodies the strength of both nature and humanity, combining the ancient and the modern, resulting in a mighty force capable of defeating even the most formidable enemies.

In ancient times, there was a giant from the Khoa Phu clan who noticed that the sun rose every day in the east and set in the west, only to rise again the next morning in the same place. He was curious about where the sun disappeared at night. Khoa Phu, who loved brightness and couldn't bear the darkness, decided, "I must chase the sun and make it stay fixed in the sky so the world is always illuminated, and day and night no longer exist."

With enormous strides, Khoa Phu sped across the vast fields, chasing the sun as it set in the west. In the blink of an eye, the giant had covered thousands of miles.

Continuing his pursuit, Khoa Phu chased the sun all the way to Ngung Coc, the place where the sun sets. Before the sun could sink beneath the horizon, Khoa Phu arrived, his long legs carrying him swiftly. A blazing red ball of fire appeared before him, and Khoa Phu was enveloped in the dazzling light of the sun. Ecstatic, he raised both of his massive arms, intending to capture the burning orb.

However, the heat from the sun and exhaustion after running for half a day forced Khoa Phu to take a break. He dipped into the Hoang and Vi rivers to drink, gulping down large quantities of water. In no time, both rivers had dried up, but his thirst remained unquenched. Khoa Phu then ran north, aiming to drink from the Hanhai Lake in the north of Yanmeng Mountain, which stretched for thousands of miles. Unfortunately, before he could reach it, he perished from thirst along the way.

He collapsed like a falling mountain, causing the earth to tremble violently. At that moment, the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting the last golden rays onto Khoa Phu's face. Angrily, he watched as the sun slowly sank to the west, then sighed deeply, throwing his staff forward before closing his eyes and passing away.

The next morning, the sun rose again in the east, spreading light across the earth. As for Khoa Phu's body, it had transformed into a towering mountain range in the vast field where he had fallen. To the north of the range, a peach forest grew, with lush green leaves and fruit hanging heavily from the branches. This was the staff of Khoa Phu transformed. The sweet peaches from the forest helped travelers overcome their thirst and renewed their energy, encouraging them to continue on their journey without giving up.

This story reflects the unyielding spirit of the Chinese people, embodying the great ideals that have become a tradition of this nation. It also symbolizes the people's desire to overcome droughts, never yielding to the fierce forces of nature.

Once upon a time, deep inside a cave in a mountain, there was a giant snake. Its head was as large as a big jar, adorned with a red crest, and its eyes were like two oranges. Its body was longer than a yard. Wherever it went, it whipped up a storm, knocking down trees and stirring up dust. It had devoured countless animals and humans. People tried many ways to eliminate it, but the serpent grew fiercer and more destructive. Eventually, the king ordered the construction of a temple for the beast and promised that each year, one human life would be offered to it to lessen its rampage. The king decreed that each village must send a young girl to the snake, but also declared a reward: anyone who could kill the monster would be made a noble and could marry the princess. At this time, a young man had been raised by a monk at a temple on a high mountain. Every day, the monk taught him swordsmanship and martial arts. Mastering these skills, the young man was given a precious sword by his teacher and allowed to leave the mountain. One day, he returned to his village. After a long day of traveling, he saw a temple with a dim light. Not realizing it was the snake’s temple, he stopped to rest. As he entered the temple gates, he heard soft sobs coming from within. Surprised, he ventured inside. In the dim light of an oil lamp, he saw a girl, about eighteen or twenty years old, bound to a pillar in a corner of the temple. He immediately approached her, untied her, and asked: – How did you end up tied here? The girl wiped away her tears and said: – Who are you, from where, that you don’t know this is the temple of the serpent? She then told him of the serpent’s yearly demand for a human sacrifice, and finally, she cried out: – My mother and I are alone. If I die, I do not mind, but I pity my old mother, who will be left with no one to care for her. But please, go quickly, if the serpent comes, it will take your life. – When will it come? – Sometime tonight! The young man spoke kindly: – I wish to take your place and sacrifice myself to the serpent so that you may return to your mother. The girl responded: – I do not want anyone else to die because of me. Let me bear this tragic fate and the debts of this life. I only ask that if you pass through my village, please visit my mother to comfort her. – No. You must leave now, and I will face the creature myself. He unsheathed his sword and said: – It cannot harm me. I will confront it. You go back to your village! After leading the girl out of the forest, he returned to the temple, prepared himself, and waited for the serpent. Around midnight, strange sounds filled the air: branches cracking and the air grew thick with a foul odor. The young man stood, drew his sword, and hid in the temple. As the serpent, as usual, slithered through the walls, it slowly entered. Just as it poked its head into the temple, the young man immediately attacked. His sword flashed like lightning in the darkness. The serpent, injured, lunged to devour him, but the young man struck again. The serpent let out a painful roar, breathing heavily and whipping its tail, knocking him over. Just as it was about to swallow him whole, he managed to stand and thrust a third time, though his sword snapped. He quickly continued attacking, and the serpent, severely wounded, thrashed its body with such force that the walls and roof of the temple collapsed, with bricks and tiles falling down in a cacophony. The young man raised his sword and severed the serpent’s head. After slaying the beast, he felt parched and wandered the forest searching for water. Exhausted, he eventually found a stream and fell asleep by its banks for a full day and night. The next afternoon, a guard assigned to monitor the area entered the temple and was shocked to find the serpent lying in a pool of blood and the girl nowhere to be seen. However, remembering the king’s promise, he grabbed the serpent’s head and rode back to the capital to claim his reward. When the king saw the serpent’s head, he was overjoyed. The king asked: – Who killed the serpent? The officer answered: – Your Majesty, it was this humble servant. The king praised him for a long time, then issued a decree making him a noble and, as promised, arranged for him to marry the princess. The wedding was grand. But during the ceremony, while the king and officials were gathered, a stranger requested an audience. The king allowed him to enter. The stranger was the young man who had slain the serpent. The king asked: – Why have you come? The young man replied: – Your Majesty, I only request that you allow me to take back a piece of my broken sword that remains in the serpent’s head. The king, astonished, asked: – What? Was it not my son-in-law who killed the serpent? The king looked at the prince, who had turned pale but tried to deny it, saying: – Who is this impudent person claiming such a thing? The king ordered the wedding postponed and instructed the guards to open the serpent’s head and search for the sword fragment. A short time later, the fragment was brought in and when it was matched to the young man’s sword, it fit perfectly. The king exclaimed: – So my son-in-law has deceived me and everyone else. The king immediately stripped the prince of his noble title and placed it on the young man. The king then seated the young man in the prince’s place and ordered the wedding to continue as planned. Meanwhile, the officer was taken away to be executed. The story is based on a common fairy tale motif. The serpent symbolizes natural evil, while the young man represents goodness. All fairy tales are about the battle between these two forces. This work praises the courage and intelligence of the brave hero while strongly condemning the officer who stole another’s glory. It teaches us to be honest and not deceitful.