Top 10 Fairy Tales About Kindness and Generosity

The Fool and the Golden Goose is a Grimm fairy tale about a kind-hearted, helpful young man, who is considered a fool but ends up living happily with a princess.

Once upon a time, there was a couple with three sons. All the wisdom was given to the two older sons, while the youngest, though kind-hearted, was considered a fool and often ridiculed. People called him 'the Fool.' He was excluded from any family activities.

One day, the eldest son decided to go into the forest to chop wood. Before he left, his mother made him a delicious cake and a bottle of wine to take along. In the forest, he encountered an old man with gray hair, who greeted him and asked:

– Can you spare a piece of cake and a sip of wine? I am very hungry and tired.

The clever son responded:
– If I give you my cake and wine, what will I eat? Go away!

He left the old man and continued his work. A moment later, he injured himself with his axe and had to return home to treat his wound. The accident was caused by the old man.

The second son had to go in place of the first. His mother gave him the same cake and wine. In the forest, he also met the old man, who asked for food. The second son refused too:

– No way! If I give you anything, I’ll be the one who loses. Go away!

He left the old man and continued chopping. He too was punished, injuring himself with the axe and returning home.

Seeing both his brothers injured, the Fool said:
– Father, let me go into the forest to chop wood for them.

The father replied:
– No! Both your brothers are injured. How could you chop wood?

The Fool begged persistently, and finally, the father relented:
– Fine, go ahead. Maybe you’ll learn your lesson.

His mother gave him a steamed cake and a bottle of sour beer. In the forest, he encountered the same old man. The old man greeted him and asked:

– Can you spare a piece of cake and a sip of wine? I am very hungry and thirsty.

The Fool replied:

– I only have a steamed cake and sour beer. If you are okay with that, let’s share.

They sat down, and when the Fool took out the steamed cake, it turned into a delicious cake, and the sour beer became wine. After eating, the old man said:
– You are kind and generous. You deserve a reward. There’s a tree over there, chop it down, and you’ll find something precious in its roots.

The old man then left.

The Fool chopped the tree as instructed. By dusk, the tree was felled, and he found a golden goose in its roots. He carried the goose to an inn to spend the night.

The innkeeper had three daughters, who, curious about the golden goose, tried to steal a feather from it. The eldest tried first, grabbing the goose’s wing, but her hand got stuck.

Later, the second daughter tried to take a feather but got stuck as well.

Finally, the youngest daughter approached, unaware of what had happened to her sisters, and tried to take a feather too. As soon as she touched the goose, she got stuck as well. The three daughters spent the night stuck to the goose.

The next morning, the Fool left with the golden goose, unaware that the three girls were following him. As they walked, the priest saw the procession and exclaimed:
– What is this? You girls should be ashamed, following a man like that?

But as soon as the priest touched one of the girls, he got stuck too and had to follow.

Not long after, a sacristan saw the priest and called out:
– Father, where are you going in such a hurry? Aren’t you supposed to baptize a child today?

He tried to grab the priest’s sleeve, but he too got stuck.

The procession grew longer, with seven people in total. They all followed the Fool, who was oblivious to the chaos behind him.

The Fool eventually reached the royal city, where the king had a daughter who had never laughed. The king promised her hand to anyone who could make her laugh. The Fool took the golden goose and led the procession of seven people before the princess. She saw them and burst into laughter. Finally, she could not stop laughing.

The Fool demanded that the king fulfill his promise, but the king was not happy with such a suitor. He made a new condition: the Fool must find someone who could drink an entire barrel of wine.

The Fool remembered the old man and went to the forest to find him. He found a man sitting sadly, who said:
– I’m so thirsty. I’ve already drunk a whole barrel of wine, and I’m still thirsty.

The Fool said:
– I can help you. Come with me, and you can drink as much as you want.

They went to the king’s wine cellar, where the man drank endlessly until he was full. In one day, he drank the entire cellar dry.

The Fool demanded the king fulfill his promise. The king, upset, set another challenge: the Fool must find someone who could eat a whole mountain of bread.

The Fool immediately went to the forest and found a man who said:
– I’ve eaten a whole oven of bread, and I’m still hungry.

The Fool replied:
– Come with me, and you can eat to your heart’s content.

They went to the royal palace, where the king ordered a mountain of bread to be baked. The man ate it all in a single day.

Finally, the Fool demanded to marry the princess. The king, unable to refuse, made one last challenge: the Fool must find a ship that could sail both on land and water.

The king said:
– If the ship reaches port, the person who brought it will marry my daughter.

The Fool went to the forest and found the old man, who said:
– Since you helped me, I will help you. I will make you the ship.

The old man took an axe and carved the tree the Fool had felled earlier, turning it into a ship. This ship could sail on land, water, and even fly. The king had no choice but to accept the Fool as a suitor, and they were married.

The Fool, now wise and kind, lived happily with the princess. After the king’s death, the Fool became the new king.

The story of The Snail Fairy tells of an elderly woman who lived in poverty but was kind-hearted and virtuous. Due to her goodness, she was helped by the Snail Fairy. The story teaches us to love and cherish one another, as doing so brings happiness.

"Once upon a time, in a small village, there was an elderly woman who was poor and frail. She looked very thin, her face wrinkled with a permanent sorrow. She lived alone in a tiny, shabby hut, just enough to shield her from the rain but not the cold winter winds. She had no children or relatives to care for her when she fell ill.

Day by day, she went to the fields, gathering crabs and small snails to exchange for rice to survive.

One day, while collecting snails, she came across a particularly beautiful one. Its shell was a brilliant emerald green, slightly bigger than her thumb, sparkling beautifully in the sunlight. Overjoyed, she carefully held the snail in her gnarled, calloused hands. She felt compassion for it, so instead of selling it, she decided to keep it in a jar of water in her garden.

Days passed, and although she still worked tirelessly in the fields, she was astonished to find that when she returned home, everything was immaculate. Her garden was weed-free, and dinner was prepared. She couldn't understand who had been helping her.

The next day, she went back to the fields as usual. But this time, she returned early and quietly hid behind the door to see who was helping her. She watched as a beautiful young woman emerged from the snail's shell. She had fair skin, large dark eyes like those of a dove, and long, shiny black hair. She wore a shimmering green outfit and moved gracefully while quickly completing all the housework. After tending to the garden, she cooked the evening meal.

The old woman then realized that this was the Snail Fairy. Gently, she approached the jar, broke the shell, and heard a noise. The girl rushed to the jar to return to her shell, but it was too late. The old woman embraced her and said:

– My dear! Stay with me!

From then on, the two of them lived together happily, like mother and daughter. They shared a warm and joyful life together."

The Legend of the Crab highlights the kindness and compassion of an orphaned girl living with her stepmother. Despite her hardships, mistreatment, and constant punishment from her stepmother, she remains innocent and generous, always helping others. In return, her goodness is rewarded. The story also includes a unique element: the biological daughter of the stepmother, who is arrogant and dismissive, is transformed into a crab, doomed to live in the mud for her pride. The tale teaches us that goodness will ultimately triumph over evil, and those who do harm will be punished.

The Legend of the Crab is a folktale that teaches children the importance of helping others and being respectful to elders. It tells the story of a beautiful and gentle girl, although less fortunate than others. She lost her mother when she was just a baby. After some time, her father remarried, but soon fell ill and passed away, leaving her alone. She lived with her stepmother and her step-sister.

The step-sister was lazy, often admiring herself in front of the mirror and avoiding any work. Even when she did attempt tasks, she failed miserably. Despite this, her mother showered her with praise, making the step-sister arrogant and proud. Meanwhile, the orphaned girl did all the chores. Knowing her place, she quietly accepted her fate and worked diligently without complaint. She bore all the abuse directed at her by the stepmother. Many people sympathized with her, but they were helpless in aiding her.

One day, while washing clothes at the river for her stepmother and her step-sister, the orphaned girl encountered a poor, tattered old woman begging for water. The river water was murky, so the girl gave the old woman a drink using her own clean water. In gratitude, the old woman gave her a beautiful dress. The girl intended to return it, but when she looked for the old woman, she had disappeared. When the girl returned home, her stepmother discovered the dress and beat her, demanding to know where it came from. Upon learning the truth, the wicked stepmother instructed her daughter to go to the river and meet the old woman to ask for a more beautiful dress. From that day on, the orphaned girl no longer had to do the laundry, as the step-sister took over the task. Washing clothes by the river was not an easy chore, but the step-sister was driven by her desire for beauty. One day, while washing clothes, she saw an old woman appear.

The step-sister arrogantly prepared to give the old woman water, but the woman asked her to wash a dress covered in mud. The step-sister disdainfully retorted, "This filthy old woman thinks I will help her with such a disgusting task. She’s not even worthy of carrying my sandals." Immediately, the old woman transformed into a fairy. The step-sister panicked, realizing her mistake. She opened her mouth to ask for forgiveness and to plead for beauty, but the fairy's expression hardened. The fairy replied, "A person with an ugly soul can never become beautiful." With those words, she vanished, leaving the step-sister behind. Where she had been standing, a small, gray creature appeared, scuttling toward the river whenever anyone approached. That creature was the crab.

The Gentleman is a captivating folk tale from the vast collection of Vietnamese legends. The story teaches us valuable lessons about kindness, love, and the importance of not harming animals, with the understanding that such virtuous actions will ultimately lead to deserving rewards.

Once upon a time, there lived a poor man who was all alone. He lived a life of compassion and generosity toward others, and his kindness even extended to the animals. For this reason, people called him the Gentleman.

He would give away whatever wealth he had to help those in need, living humbly in return. One day, just before the anniversary of his father’s passing, he managed to save some rice and a chicken to prepare for the memorial. That night, a mouse entered the rice jar, and a fox tried to sneak into his house to steal the chicken. The Gentleman noticed both and, despite the temptation, chose not to kill or capture them but simply let them go. On the day of the memorial, as he was preparing his offerings, a fly landed on the steamed rice and began to feast. Despite the fly's antics, the Gentleman swiftly caught it, but instead of harming it, he released it unharmed. Word of his kindness spread far and wide. Meanwhile, the king, who was looking for a worthy suitor for his princess, heard the rumors and summoned the Gentleman to the palace. However, upon meeting him, the king was displeased with his lack of manners. To dismiss him easily, the king set three major challenges for the Gentleman. With the help of the animals he had once spared, the Gentleman overcame all three challenges effortlessly. Impressed by his achievements, the king accepted him as the prince consort. After the king passed away and without a male heir, the Gentleman was crowned as the new king.

This story celebrates the Gentleman’s kindness and compassion for both humans and animals. His good deeds, which had earned him the admiration of the king, ultimately led him to become king after the death of the former ruler. This tale teaches that if we live with kindness and care for all living beings, no matter how small, we will eventually be rewarded with the happiness we deserve.

The first pumpkin story is a fairy tale about a poor boy who is incredibly kind-hearted and helpful. He is always ready to assist others and show care for everyone around him.

Once upon a time, there was a poor boy who was very kind-hearted and generous. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, show compassion to those in need, and take care of all things around him. The birds adored him, and every spring, they would come in flocks to make their nests and sing joyfully around his house.

One day, a fox appeared and tried to catch a swallow from the roof of the boy's house. The young swallow fell to the ground and broke its wing. The boy rushed out to save the bird. He gently cradled the swallow and decided to bring it home to care for it, making a new nest for it and feeding it daily with great love and attention. Thanks to his care, the swallow gradually healed.

As autumn came and the air grew colder, the boy would look up and see flocks of swallows heading south to escape the winter chill. The swallow, torn between flying with the others and staying with the boy, felt reluctant to leave. Understanding the bird's dilemma, the boy lovingly said, 'Go ahead, little swallow, follow your flock to the warm south. Come back in the spring.' With that, he gently released the swallow, which fluttered up into the sky and joined the migrating swallows heading to warmer lands.

When spring arrived, the swallow returned to the boy's modest home. It chirped happily upon seeing the boy, who was sitting outside weaving baskets. The swallow swooped down, and with great joy, it dropped a large pumpkin seed at his feet. The boy planted the seed in the rich soil in front of his house, nurturing it with water and care.

Day after day, the boy tended to the growing plant, which soon sprouted into a strong pumpkin vine, blooming and bearing fruit. Strangely, only one pumpkin grew, but it was enormous, far larger than any regular pumpkin. The boy cared for it with love, watching it grow to a massive size, bigger than him. He was filled with joy!

When it came time to harvest, the boy tried to bring the giant pumpkin home. It was so big that his whole family had to help carry it. When they cut it open, they were astonished to find it filled with gold, jewels, and treasures beyond their wildest dreams. The family joyfully shared the riches with their neighbors and loved ones.

In the village, there was a greedy and cruel landowner who heard about this miraculous pumpkin. He wanted to get his hands on the magical seeds, so he captured a young swallow and broke its wing. He pretended to pity the bird and took it in to care for it. When the flock of swallows returned in the spring, he tossed the bird into the air and ordered it to bring back a pumpkin seed. The swallow reluctantly flew off, and, like a miracle, it returned with a seed. The greedy landowner was ecstatic and thought to himself, 'This will make me rich beyond measure!'

The landowner planted the seed and guarded it carefully, having his servants watch over the growing pumpkin day and night. The pumpkin grew quickly, swelling larger and larger. When it was ready, it was so huge that it took several people to carry it. The landowner eagerly waited to cut it open, anticipating a treasure. But when the pumpkin was sliced, instead of gold and jewels, out poured venomous snakes and insects that attacked the man, causing him to fall over in fear. He was ultimately bitten and killed by the very creatures he had sought to exploit. This was the fate of the greedy, wicked landowner.

The Magic Jewel is a Vietnamese folk tale about a kind-hearted hunter who is gifted a magic jewel by a snake, allowing him to survive a devastating flood.

Once upon a time, there was a man with an honest and straightforward character. If he saw someone being mistreated, he would always stand up for them, even at the cost of his own well-being. He was quick to offer help to those in need. For this reason, the rich people in the area disliked him, trying to suppress him. Forced to leave his home, he lived in the mountains and made a living by hunting. Despite his hardships, his heart remained good. Even when his family was starving, he never hunted pregnant or nursing animals. He would rather return empty-handed than kill animals during their breeding season.

Having spent many years hunting, he knew the mountains like the back of his hand and could easily identify the animals he frequently encountered. Among them were a pair of snakes. These snakes were as large as banana trees, their black skin resembling charcoal, and they lived together in a deep cave. Every morning, the two snakes would go hunting together. Whenever the female snake shed its skin, the male snake would bring food back to their cave. That winter, the male snake also shed its skin and stayed in the cave. Suddenly, the female snake grew cold-hearted and decided to abandon her husband for another male snake, planning to bring him back to kill her husband.

When the hunter saw their treachery, he became furious and waited by the cave to kill both snakes. However, he only managed to shoot the female snake. The male snake escaped into the forest. When it was time for dinner and the female snake had not returned with food, the male snake crawled out of the cave to wait for her. Upon seeing her lifeless body, pierced by an arrow, the male snake realized that the hunter had killed his wife and swore to take revenge. After shedding his skin, the male snake waited outside the hunter's house, watching for an opportunity to strike. That night, the hunter woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, and told his wife about the treachery of the female snake and how he had shot her to save the male snake, who was shedding its skin.

The male snake heard everything from outside. He now realized that the hunter had saved him. If the hunter had not killed the female snake, both he and his rival would have been killed. Filled with gratitude, the male snake crawled into the house, bowing his head and quietly slipping through the door. Startled, the hunter reached for his slingshot, intending to shoot. However, when he saw the male snake's humble posture, he lowered his weapon. The snake then dropped a magical jewel at the hunter's feet and slithered away. The hunter picked up the jewel, amazed, and as he held it, he could hear the sounds of mosquitoes buzzing, birds calling in the night, and even the voice of the male snake saying, 'I repay you for saving my life.'

One day, the hunter killed a large wild bull. While he and his wife were preparing to butcher it, a flock of crows arrived, trying to steal the meat. Despite the hunter's loud protests, the crows continued to attack. Frustrated, he shot an arrow, accidentally hitting the crow leader. The crows flew away with both the body and the arrow. As they passed over villages, they couldn't find anyone to blame for the hunter's actions. However, when they flew over a river, they spotted a drowned body and decided to stick the arrow into it. The family of the deceased found the body and reported it to the king. The king ordered all people with bows and arrows to bring them to court. From the mountains to the remote villages, everyone obeyed the royal decree. The hunter also went, bringing the magic jewel with him. At court, the king had all the arrows compared to the one found in the corpse. After many attempts, only the hunter's arrow, with the jewel, matched. The king ordered the hunter to be imprisoned while awaiting his punishment.

The hunter pleaded his innocence, but the king paid no heed, and the wealthy people in his village took the opportunity to speak against him. The hunter resigned himself to await his punishment for the drowning death.

In prison, the hunter could not sleep, missing his wife, his home, and the mountains. Late at night, he heard the voice of the magic jewel and listened as the ants on the wall talked among themselves:

– The great flood is coming soon! We must raid the royal granary and store up food. If we wait too long, we’ll starve!

The next morning, he heard the sparrows and doves whispering:

– The only place with plenty of food is the king's granary. There is much grain there.

The mice, who were too busy playing to notice, argued in distress:

– The grains in the king's granary have already been taken by the sparrows, doves, and ants! If we don't join them, we’ll starve! The flood is going to be very big and last for a long time!

Hearing all of this, the hunter passed the message to the soldier who brought him food:

– Tell the king the flood is coming. The food in the granary is already being taken by the animals. He needs to escape or he’ll drown.

The soldier went to the king with the message, but the king mocked him:

– A dog teaching a tiger to jump high. If it were so clever, it wouldn't have begged me for a job as an astronomer or geographer. Instead, it would be raiding and killing. It's trying to escape!

The hunter was shackled even tighter. When his wife came to visit him, he warned her of the coming flood and told her to spread the word to the villagers. Taking the hunter's advice, the villagers hurriedly harvested their crops and stored their rice high, building rafts and boats, and preparing rice cakes and roasted grains.

Only the rich spoke ill of the hunter's wife, reporting her actions to the king. The king accused her of conspiring with her husband to cause trouble, and soldiers were sent to arrest her, binding her hands and feet before bringing her to await execution.

The day of execution arrived. The hunter and his wife were brought to the execution grounds. As they stood bound to two poles, a strong wind blew, and clouds gathered above them. The sky darkened, and rain began to fall. The water rose quickly, reaching their thighs, then their chests. The officials and soldiers ran in panic. The two poles to which the hunter and his wife were tied were uprooted. The hunter freed himself and then untied his wife. With the water rising to their necks, they waded through the flooded land until a raft appeared, carrying them away. When they regained consciousness, the hunter's wife recognized the person who had brought the raft to save them was the neighbor who had first heard about the flood and warned them.

The rain continued, the wind howled, and the entire royal court drowned in the flood. The raft carried the hunter and his wife back to their old village. The rich and the deceitful were carried away by the flood, while those who had listened to the hunter's wife survived, sheltered on rafts or in the trees.

The story of the sacred goby fish is a folk tale of the Van Kieu ethnic group, reminding us that one must have a kind heart, siblings must love each other, and it serves as a lesson for those who are greedy and selfish.

Once upon a time, there were two orphaned brothers with completely opposite personalities. The younger brother was diligent, gentle, and honest, while the older brother was greedy and cruel. He took everything his parents left behind, giving nothing to his younger brother. Every day, the younger brother had to go into the forest to dig for yams, wild ginger, and catch shrimp and fish to eat. At night, he returned home to sleep with the cattle and pigs.

One day, the older brother invited the younger one to go fishing in the river. The older brother had the younger brother build the dam, scoop the water, and fish, while he took all the fish without leaving any behind. The younger brother, exhausted and saddened, suddenly noticed a small goby fish swimming by his feet, which spoke to him:

- Please take me home and raise me.

The younger brother joyfully scooped up the goby and placed it in a bowl, treating it as if it were a child. The fish grew very quickly. By the next day, it had outgrown the bowl, so the younger brother put it in a larger container. The following day, it outgrew the container, so the younger brother dug a small pond for the fish to swim. After two days, the fish filled the pond, so the younger brother dug a stream in a hidden spot and released the fish there. In just a few days, the fish grew as large as an ox. At that point, the fish spoke:

- I am the sacred goby fish. Thanks to your care, I have grown. Now, let’s be friends. Let’s go down the river together for fun.

The younger brother agreed, bringing chicken and rice with him. At every meal, he would tear up the chicken and feed it to the fish, while he ate only the bones and crispy rice. One day, a storm was coming, and the younger brother was scared. The fish reassured him:

- Don’t worry. It won’t rain. Climb up the tallest tree. If the clouds gather below, turn toward them and act sad. If the clouds gather above the water, laugh loudly.

The younger brother followed the advice, climbing up the tall tree. When the clouds gathered below the water, he acted sad, and when they moved above, he laughed loudly. His laughter echoed through the mountain like thunder. Suddenly, he heard a roar from the stream. Looking back, he saw the sacred goby fish had killed a giant snake. The fish called out:

- My brother, come down and cut open the snake to collect the treasure it holds.

The younger brother did as instructed, retrieving a great deal of gold and treasure. The fish and the younger brother returned home. Upon hearing the story, the older brother insisted on sharing the treasure, but he refused to accept the younger brother’s offer, demanding to join the fish on a trip. Reluctantly, the younger brother let him borrow the fish, warning him not to let the fish die.

So, the greedy older brother set off. The fish took him on a journey down the stream, but he was so greedy that he ate all the chicken and only gave the fish the bones and organs. When the storm came, he was delighted and asked the fish what to do. The fish gave him the same advice it had given the younger brother, but in his excitement, the older brother forgot the instructions. Instead of acting sad when the clouds gathered below, he laughed loudly, and when he needed to laugh, he acted sad. As a result, the giant snake attacked, and the fish was killed. The older brother, furious, hit the fish and returned home.

When the younger brother heard that the fish had died, he rushed to the stream. There, he found the fish’s lifeless body and cried for it. The fish’s spirit appeared and whispered to him:

- Don’t cry, my brother. Cut off my head and bury it in the yard, and I will help you in the future.

The younger brother followed the advice, burying the fish’s head in the yard. A few days later, a tall bamboo shoot grew from the spot. The younger brother went to the bamboo and asked:

- What help will you provide?

The bamboo answered:

- When you hear the wind from above, say, “Where is my new robe?” You will receive beautiful clothes. When you feel the wind from below, shout, “Where are my silver coins and bronze pots?” You will receive many treasures.

The younger brother followed the bamboo’s advice and received plenty of gold, silver, and clothes. The older brother, filled with greed, rushed to the bamboo, and when the wind blew from above, he shouted:

- Where is my new robe?

Immediately, rags fell from the sky. When he felt the wind from below, he shouted:

- Where are my silver coins and bronze pots?

From the top of the bamboo, skulls and cow bones fell onto the greedy brother’s head, causing him to scream in pain. Enraged, he chopped down the bamboo and returned home, scolding the younger brother:

- You lied to me. This bamboo is evil, and I’ve cut it down.

The younger brother ran to the bamboo and mourned. The bamboo spoke to him:

- Burn me and take the ashes into the forest. When you see the footprints of any animal, scatter the ashes and follow them. The animal will die, and you will have plenty of meat to eat.

The younger brother did as instructed and returned with a great deal of game. The greedy older brother heard about it, grabbed the remaining ashes, and scattered them around the field. He followed every footprint, even those of mice and people, because he thought there were thieves in his field. Once he finished, he rushed home to clean up before going to collect wild animals.

When he arrived home, he found his wife and children dead on the floor. Panicked, he rushed to the field, where he realized that the footprints he had followed were those of his family. In his madness, he spread the remaining ashes over everything, even his own footprints. Before he could return home, he collapsed and died.

When the younger brother heard of his brother’s death, he still mourned for him, fulfilling his duties as a brother. From then on, the younger brother lived peacefully, working and getting along with his neighbors.

The story of the invisible cloak tells of a fisherman named Trieu who, out of kindness, was granted an invisible cloak by an immortal. Wearing the cloak, he helped the poor across various places and eventually became an official after aiding the king.

"Once upon a time, in Cao Bang, there was a young fisherman named Trieu. He had no wealth besides his fishing gear. However, he had a compassionate nature. Whenever he caught a lot of fish, he would exchange them for rice and help the poor he met. Therefore, everyone in the region loved him.

After staying in Cao Bang for a while, Trieu moved to fish in Thai Nguyen. Here, he continued to help people tirelessly. One day, after failing to catch any fish, while heading home, he saw an old beggar lying shivering under a tree. Feeling sorry for the old man, Trieu immediately took off his coat and covered the beggar.

Some time later, while he was fishing in the river, Trieu suddenly heard music coming from the mountains. He stopped, listening intently. The next day, he heard the same music from the mountain. On the following day, the familiar music echoed again from the same mountain. Curious, Trieu packed his gear and climbed up the mountain to find the source of the music.

Following the sound, he made his way through the grass and reeds. Finally, he arrived at a clearing where he saw an elderly man sitting on a stone, engrossed in playing a musical instrument, unaware of Trieu's approach. Trieu recognized the old man’s face as the same beggar from the tree. When the music stopped, Trieu approached him and asked:

– Sir, who are you sitting here playing music?

The old man looked at him fondly and pointed to a stone in front of him, saying:

– I’ve been waiting for you! Was the climb tiring? Come sit here and rest for a bit.

As Trieu took a cup of water from the old man, he asked:

– Do you remember me?

– Yes, you’re the one who gave your coat to me under the banyan tree the other day.

– That’s right. When you gave me your coat, your kindness was rare. Now, I want to reward you with another cloak.

With that, the old man removed his cloak and placed it on Trieu before disappearing. Trieu stood there, stunned for a moment, realizing that the old man was actually an immortal in disguise.

From the moment Trieu wore the cloak, he discovered that it was not an ordinary garment but a magical artifact that made him invisible. Whenever he wore it, no one could see him. Trieu was thrilled and began traveling everywhere.

He would wear the cloak and visit the rich, entering their rooms without being noticed, taking their wealth to distribute to the poor. He secretly punished the evil and wicked. Sometimes, the impoverished who were lying on the streets would suddenly see money appear before them. Officials who were beating people in public would be struck by an unseen force, causing them pain, but when they looked around, no one was there.

Many such incidents spread rumors throughout the region. Some were worried, others happy, but everyone believed that Heaven and Buddha had eyes everywhere.

As time passed, Trieu traveled far and wide, helping those in need. One day, he arrived in the capital city. Wearing the cloak, he roamed freely, entering the homes of the wealthy and even the royal palace, a place no one had dared to enter. He saw the poor on the streets and sneaked into the royal treasury, distributing the king’s riches to them. The treasury was always running low, but no one could identify the thief.

Meanwhile, rumors about a mysterious immortal who helped the poor and punished the wicked spread throughout the capital. People believed in the tales of this invisible figure, but no one ever saw him.

Trieu, meanwhile, continued his work of helping the poor, never thinking about receiving anything in return. The wealthy grew more and more anxious as their money mysteriously disappeared, even though their homes were heavily guarded.

One day, after punishing an arrogant noble, Trieu hurriedly escaped, fearing that the noble’s servants, hearing the noise, would soon rush to find him. In his haste, he caught his cloak on a thorn and tore a piece of it. Worried that the cloak would be revealed, he patched it up with a scrap of cloth. He continued his secret mission in the royal treasury as usual.

Upon noticing the disappearing funds in the treasury, the king grew alarmed. He ordered his officials to capture the secret thief or face severe punishment. Despite numerous attempts, they could not catch the thief, and the money continued to vanish without a trace. Eventually, they set up an intricate net trap around the suspected areas.

One day, the royal guards saw a white butterfly flying into the treasury. It fluttered around the silver coins before flying back out. Immediately, they dropped the net where the butterfly had passed. And that’s how Trieu was caught. It was the patch on his cloak that had exposed him. The guards celebrated, arresting Trieu and bringing him to the king, who imprisoned him while awaiting his trial.

Meanwhile, a neighboring king, who had long harbored plans to invade, was marching his army toward the capital. The king of Trieu’s land sent his forces to defend, but every battle ended in defeat, and they could not stop the enemy’s advance.

The situation grew desperate. News of the enemy’s approach came in waves, causing panic throughout the capital. When Trieu heard the news, he asked the jailer to inform the king that he could help defeat the invaders. The king was overjoyed, immediately ordered his release, and asked him:

– How many soldiers do you need?

– Only one, Your Majesty. I can defeat the enemy on my own. All I need is a sword.

The king handed him his sword and appointed Trieu as the commander-in-chief of the royal army. The king ordered the troops to follow Trieu’s command.

Before they left, the poor, who had heard the news of Trieu’s release and promotion, came to thank him and volunteered to join him. Trieu organized them into a unit, and they set off together.

When they reached the enemy’s camp, Trieu donned his cloak and entered the camp alone. In a short time, he killed the enemy’s commander, causing the invaders to flee in disarray. Trieu’s companions captured the fleeing soldiers one by one.

Trieu continued to defeat the invaders’ camps, and soon, the entire enemy vanguard was wiped out and captured. The remaining enemy forces, terrified, believed that a divine being was aiding the Vietnamese army, as their best commanders were being slain.

Seeing his soldiers losing heart, the enemy king ordered his forces to retreat. From then on, the border remained secure. People everywhere sang praises of Trieu’s bravery.

When Trieu returned victorious, the king greeted him with great joy, praising his deeds. The king appointed him as a high-ranking official, granted him land and wealth, and married his daughter to him.

From that day on, Trieu became known as General Trieu. Today, in Cao Bang and Thai Nguyen, there are still temples dedicated to General Trieu."

The Road to the Sky is a folk tale of the Dao ethnic group, reflecting the old hope that good-hearted people will always be rewarded for their kindness.

"Once upon a time, there was a strong, kind young man, an excellent farmer who collected firewood twice as fast as anyone else, yet he remained poor and hungry.

He decided to find the road to the sky to ask why he had to suffer like this. He traveled from dawn till dusk, and stopped at a house at the foot of a mountain. The old woman asked him what was troubling him, and he told her the truth:

– I want to go to the sky and ask why people like me, who are strong and hardworking, still suffer.

The old woman replied:

– While you're at it, could you ask why my five-year-old daughter can’t speak? Is she mute?

The young man agreed. The next morning, he set off early. Along the way, he came across a large river and couldn’t find a way to cross. Suddenly, a large black eel appeared and offered to carry him across. Knowing he was going to the sky, the eel asked him to inquire why, after eighteen years of ferrying people across the river, it still hadn't turned into a dragon. The young man gladly agreed.

He marched through the forest and streams tirelessly. One day, exhausted, he lay down to rest under a large tree, falling asleep.

Suddenly, an elderly man appeared, looking kind, with white hair like clouds and skin as red as the morning sun. The old man woke him up and asked about his journey. He respectfully replied:

– I am searching for the road to the sky…

The elderly man interrupted:

– If you have questions about the sky, you can ask me. If I can help, I will. But I am busy, so you can ask only two things.

The young man spoke:

– There is a woman at the foot of the mountain whose five-year-old daughter can't speak. Do you know why?

The elderly man smiled:

– To make the child speak, her mother must dig for a jar of gold on the right and a jar of silver on the left of the mountain near her house.

The young man asked again:

– There is an eel by a river who has been ferrying people across for eighteen years but still hasn’t turned into a dragon. What should I tell it?

– Tell it to spit out the pearl in its mouth, only then will it become a dragon.

The young man was overjoyed and thanked the old man. As he turned to ask about his own fate, the old man had vanished. He felt regretful but was happy that he could help others.

He made his way back.

When he reached the river, the eel surfaced to greet him. He passed on the message from the old man. The eel thanked him, carried him across, and then spat out a precious pearl. It was a magical pearl that could cure any disease, ensuring good health.

The eel turned into a dragon and flew away to the sky.

At the house of the woman with the mute daughter, the young man arrived to find her waiting at the door. Following his advice, the woman dug up the gold and silver. Miraculously, the little girl called out, "Mother!"

Grateful, the woman gave him half of the gold and silver she had dug up.

From that day, the young man became wealthy. He shared his wealth with the poor in his village and used the magical pearl to heal the sick.

Everyone loved and respected him."

The Legend of the Mango Tree is a Malaysian folk tale about a kind-hearted boy whose spirit transformed into a mango tree, living forever in people's hearts.

"Once upon a time, in an era long ago, beyond the memory of even the oldest ancestors, there was a poor farmer's family who had a son. The boy was obedient, sincere, and compassionate. Despite their poverty, his parents and he always helped others with food and shelter. As the boy grew, he became more filial, assisting his parents with household chores and farm work.

The boy's name was Dosi Gola, but his parents affectionately called him Dosi the Little One.

Dosi was always helping others, including a disabled old woman who lived at the end of the village. The old woman was always delighted when Dosi visited her.

– Grandma, let me gather some vegetables for you! – Dosi said. – I'll also bring you some shrimp I just caught in the pond.

– Thank you, my dear! – the old woman said. – Do you know how much joy you bring me? You are a good boy!

Not only did he help the old woman, but Dosi also assisted many other lonely villagers, earning their affection.

– This boy is truly good. – The elderly people praised him.

– What a good son! You should all learn from Dosi! – Mothers often used Dosi as a role model for their children.

One day, during a storm, a beggar woman, drenched and trembling from the cold, came to the village asking for food. Dosi gave her a change of clothes from his mother to replace her soaked garments. Then, he quickly lit a fire to warm her and brought her some food.

– You truly have a compassionate heart. People will never forget your kindness. – the old woman said.

After some time, Dosi fell ill. His parents were heartbroken. Relatives and neighbors took turns caring for him, but due to the severity of his illness, Dosi passed away. His parents were devastated, as was the entire village.

– Dosi, the kind-hearted boy, is gone! – the villagers mourned.

Suddenly, the beggar woman who Dosi had helped appeared. She was now wearing clean white clothes, and her face radiated with brightness. She came to the grieving villagers and spoke to them:

– Please do not be too sorrowful. Dosi has passed away, but his loving heart will live on forever.

The villagers were astonished. How could the heart of a deceased person still live?

As if she had read their minds, the old woman continued:

– I will take Dosi's heart to the heavens, and you will see it live on beside us all.

After speaking, the old woman placed Dosi's heart in a wooden box and buried it in the most beautiful corner of the garden.

A few days later, a young sapling sprouted where Dosi's heart was buried. The tree grew rapidly, its branches and leaves flourishing. The villagers cared for the strange tree, and it soon bore flowers that transformed into fruit shaped like hearts. The fruit ripened and became golden. The villagers eagerly picked and tasted the fruit.

– Wow, it's so sweet! The fragrance is so pleasant! It's truly Dosi's heart.

The villagers then discussed what to name the fruit.

– Let’s call it 'Dosi'!

And so, the fruit was named Dosi. Over time, the name evolved into 'Mango', which in the Pekan dialect of Malaysia means 'mango'. And that is how the legend of the Mango Tree came to be."