Top 10 Best Summaries of the Legend of Saint Giong

During the reign of King Hung Vuong the Sixth, in the village of Giong, an elderly couple who were hardworking and virtuous, but had no children, lived together. One day, the wife stepped into a large footprint in the field, and soon after, she became pregnant. After twelve months, she gave birth to a strong and healthy boy. Curiously, although he was three years old, the boy could neither walk nor speak.

When the invading An army appeared, the boy suddenly spoke, asking to go fight the enemy. He grew rapidly, and no matter how much food he ate, he could never be satisfied. Clothes would quickly become too small, and the villagers had to pool resources to feed him. When the enemy arrived, the boy transformed into a mighty warrior, wearing iron armor, riding an iron horse, and wielding a steel whip to defeat the invaders. When the whip broke, Giong tore up bamboo along the road to strike the enemy down.

After the victory, Giong rode his horse to the top of a mountain, then ascended into the sky. The people built a temple in his honor, and each year they held a village festival to remember him. The ponds, the bamboo groves, and the golden-colored trees are all remnants of the battle fought by Giong many years ago.

Once upon a time, in the village of Giong Mot, there was a giant footprint imprinted on a stone. It was believed to be the footprint of Mr. Dong, who had come to gather coffee during a stormy night. Mr. Dong was a figure of immense size, so tall that his head touched the sky, his feet struck the earth, and his shoulders reached the clouds. His strength was such that when he moved stones, they became mountains, and when he dug, rivers were formed. His voice boomed like thunder, his footsteps shook the land, and his eyes flashed like lightning. His breath created storms, bringing both rain and wind. The remnants of his legacy can still be seen in places like Go Binh Tan, Mount Kham, Soc Son Mountain, and the village of Giong Mot. Every year, on the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, Mr. Dong returns to gather coffee, causing storms and thunder to follow.

In the village of Giong Mot, there was an elderly woman who had never had children. She lived alone in a small, dilapidated hut. Every day, she would tend to her coffee garden or catch crabs and snails in the fields, selling them at the market to buy rice and sustain herself. One stormy night, as Mr. Dong came to gather coffee, he left behind enormous footprints in her garden. The next morning, when the old woman saw the footprints, she was astonished. Curiously, she placed her foot beside one of the marks, and soon after, she found herself pregnant.

She fled to Trai Mon Forest, and after nine months, she gave birth to a son under a large tree, on a mound of earth in a pond. She named the child Giong. Miraculously, the sky turned into seafood for her to eat, and stone tubs appeared for bathing, while bamboo beds appeared to rock her baby to sleep. For three years, Giong lay quietly on his bamboo bed, neither speaking nor moving. Then, when the country was invaded by the An Dynasty, Giong awoke, grew into a tall, strong young man, and insisted on joining his mother to fight the invaders. This is why our ancestors sing:

The heavens favor the mountains and rivers of the Bai Viet,

From the wilds, a hero is born.

(The Hero of Giong Village - Cao Huy Dinh)

Long ago, in the village of Giong, there was a poor couple who had been living together for many years without a child. They longed for a child to care for, and their wish was eventually granted. One day, as the mother went to the fields, she noticed a large footprint in the middle of the field. Curious, she placed her foot on it to measure. Twelve months later, she gave birth to a handsome and strong boy whom she named Giong. However, something strange happened: the child, though three years old, could neither speak, smile, nor walk. Wherever he was placed, he simply lay still.

When the An invaders attacked, King Hung sent emissaries to seek help from the wise to save the country. The child, hearing the call of the emissary, suddenly stood up and spoke for the first time: “Mother, invite the emissary in.” The emissary entered, and the child instructed him to tell the king to prepare for him an iron horse, an iron whip, and an iron armor, and he would drive the invaders away. The emissary, astonished and overjoyed, rushed back to the king with the message. The king ordered these items to be made immediately, working day and night to fulfill the child's request. From that day, the child grew rapidly, eating so much that he could never be full. The villagers had to contribute rice to feed him, working together to help Giong defeat the invaders.

When the enemy arrived, the emissary brought the items Giong had asked for. Suddenly, Giong stood tall and transformed into a mighty warrior. Armed with his iron armor, riding his iron horse, and wielding his iron whip, Giong charged into battle. Wherever he went, the enemy was defeated. When his whip broke, he tore down bamboo from the roadside to continue the fight. The enemy scattered in disarray, trampling over each other in their retreat. Giong pursued them to the foot of Soc Son Mountain. There, he turned to face his village, bowed three times to his mother, and then soared into the sky. To honor the brave warrior who saved the nation, the king bestowed upon him the title of Phu Dong Thien Vuong and built a temple in his homeland.

According to legend, during the reign of King Hung the Sixth, there was a humble and hardworking couple in Giong Village who had no children. One day, the wife noticed a giant footprint in the field and placed her foot on it. Shortly after, she became pregnant. Twelve months later, she gave birth to a healthy and handsome boy. The child, however, did not speak, smile, or walk, and remained motionless wherever he was placed.

At that time, the An invaders attacked the country. King Hung sent messengers to find talented individuals to defend the kingdom. When the messenger arrived at Giong Village, the child suddenly spoke. He asked for an iron horse, an iron armor, and an iron whip to defeat the invaders. From that moment, the boy began to grow at an incredible rate, eating more than he could ever be full. The villagers contributed rice to help him grow.

As the enemy approached, the boy transformed into a mighty warrior, donning his iron armor, riding his iron horse, and wielding his iron whip. His whip broke, and Giong pulled up bamboo from the roadside to continue fighting. The enemy fled in panic, and Giong, alone on his horse, rode to the peak of Soc Son Mountain, where he ascended to the sky.

Once upon a time, in the village of Giong, there lived a kind and virtuous couple who had no children. One day, the wife went to the fields and noticed an unusual footprint. Curious, she placed her foot next to it. When she returned home, she discovered that she was pregnant. Twelve months later, she gave birth to a healthy boy, but even by the age of three, the child was still unable to speak or smile.

At that time, the An invaders began their assault on the country. King Hung, in search of a hero to save the land, sent emissaries across the nation. When they reached Giong village, the boy suddenly spoke to his mother, asking her to invite the emissaries in. He instructed them to tell the king to provide him with an iron horse, an iron sword, and iron armor, and he would defeat the invaders. From that moment, the boy grew rapidly, eating more than ever before. The villagers, moved by his destiny, contributed rice to nourish him.

When the enemy forces arrived, the boy immediately transformed into a mighty warrior. Clad in iron armor, riding the iron horse, and wielding the iron sword, he charged into battle, defeating the invaders at every turn. When his sword broke, Giong uprooted bamboo from the roadside to continue his fight. The enemy fled in chaos, and Giong, alone on his horse, rode to the peak of Soc Son Mountain. There, he ascended into the sky. To honor the hero who had saved the nation, King Hung named him Phu Dong Thien Vuong and built a temple in his homeland.

Legend has it that during the reign of King Hung the Sixth, in the village of Giong, there lived a hardworking and kind-hearted couple. One day, the wife went to the fields and noticed an unusually large footprint, much bigger than that of a regular person. She decided to measure her foot against it. To her surprise, when she returned home, she found herself pregnant. After twelve months, she gave birth to a baby boy. The couple was overjoyed, but the boy, even at the age of three, could neither speak nor smile.

At that time, the An invaders attacked the land. The king sent emissaries to search for a hero who could save the country. When the emissary arrived in Giong village, the boy suddenly spoke and instructed his mother to invite the emissary in. He asked the emissary to tell the king to provide him with an iron horse, an iron whip, and an iron armor, promising that he would defeat the invaders. After the meeting, the boy began to grow rapidly, eating without ever being satisfied. His parents could not keep up with his hunger, so the villagers contributed rice to feed him, hoping that the child would fulfill his promise to save the nation.

When the enemy arrived, the emissary delivered the iron horse, whip, and armor. The boy, now transformed into a powerful warrior, rode the iron horse, wielding the iron whip, and charged into battle. The invaders were quickly defeated. When his iron whip broke, the warrior uprooted bamboo from the roadside to continue the fight. The enemy, overwhelmed, fled in disarray. The warrior, alone on his horse, rode to the top of the mountain, removed his armor, and ascended into the sky. To honor his bravery, the king established a temple to commemorate him and named him Phu Dong Thien Vuong. The village of Phu Dong, also known as Giong village, still houses a temple in his honor. The bamboo groves in Gia Binh turned golden after being scorched by the fiery breath of his horse, and the hoofprints of his horse are now the ponds and lakes that stretch across the land. There is also a tale that the fire from the horse’s breath burned down a village, which later came to be known as the village of Fire.