Top 5 Fascinating River Myths

The legend of Kinh Thầy River is a Vietnamese myth about a brave young man who defeated an evil black dragon, and the story behind the river's name today.

1. The Birth of Kinh Thầy

Long ago, a childless elderly couple prayed for a child. One day, the wife met an old beggar woman who, after receiving a gift from her, revealed that she was a goddess. She instructed the woman to pick a special flower in the mountains, promising that she would have a child. The next day, the woman did as told, and soon after, she gave birth to a handsome son named Kinh Thầy. However, her husband passed away shortly before the birth. Kinh Thầy grew up strong and skilled, learning archery, magic, and many other abilities.

2. Seeking the Black Dragon in the Kinh Thầy Legend

As Kinh Thầy matured, a wise hermit sent him on a quest to rid the world of an evil black dragon terrorizing the northern regions. Armed with a magical sword, Kinh Thầy set off to face the beast. Upon reaching Kinh Môn, he discovered deserted villages and learned that the dragon had been killing people daily. The dragon had also blocked the rivers, causing drought. The villagers told Kinh Thầy that the dragon could only be defeated once the villagers were able to have water again. Kinh Thầy used magic to create a huge fire that drained the lakes and rivers, forcing the villagers to put it out. As they did so, the black dragon appeared.

The Fierce Battle and the Origin of Kinh Thầy River

The dragon's arrival stirred powerful winds, and a fierce battle ensued. Kinh Thầy wielded his sword, summoning rain to weaken the dragon's fire. Eventually, he struck the dragon with a rainstorm that made its scales brittle, and then he shot it with arrows. After five days of struggle, Kinh Thầy finally defeated the dragon by piercing its eyes and decapitating it. Exhausted, Kinh Thầy fell asleep, only to wake up surrounded by villagers. He then remembered that the dragon had blocked the rivers, and using his magical abilities, he carved out a new river to bring water to the land. This river came to be known as the Kinh Thầy River, in honor of the hero who saved them.

Once upon a time, during the Ly Dynasty, the king fell ill with a severe eye disease. Despite summoning many renowned physicians from within and beyond the capital, none could cure him. His eyes were swollen and painful, and the king could not attend to his duties for nearly two months. The entire court was in chaos as efforts to heal the king's eyes proved futile. One day, two soldiers brought a famous fortune-teller from Mount Van Mong to the palace. After casting divination sticks, the fortune-teller revealed:

- Your Majesty, the divination suggests that your illness is caused by a curse. You have been struck by 'water of the capping hexagram,' and only by suppressing this force can you be cured.

The king ordered two officials to travel to the northern outskirts of Thang Long, where two small rivers, Tô Lịch and Thiên Phù, merged and flowed out into the Red River at what is now known as Giang Tân. The officials were to make an offering to the river god in hopes of curing the king. That night, one of the officials, fasting, slept near the altar and had a prophetic dream. The god instructed him: 'At dawn on the thirtieth day of the lunar month, send someone to stand by the ferry. The first person to cross the river should be thrown into the water and honored as a deity to suppress the curse.'

Upon hearing this, the king quickly prepared the task. Despite objections from a loyal minister who warned against such an immoral act, the king insisted, as his health was critical and the royal rituals could not be disrupted during the New Year's celebrations.

In the village of Cảo, near the left bank of the Tô Lịch River, there lived a couple known as Mr. and Mrs. Dầu, who sold oil in the capital. On the thirtieth of the lunar month, they set out early to sell oil to various temples for the upcoming New Year. After reaching the Tô Lịch – Thiên Phù confluence, they rested at a small shack while waiting for the ferry. Two guards stationed there suddenly accosted them, asking where they were going. After explaining their modest work, the guards, seeming sympathetic, asked if they desired anything in return for their hardships. The couple, confused but polite, jokingly mentioned that they would enjoy some sticky rice with crab meat and a dish of fried cakes.

As they waited for the ferry, the guards secretly seized them, blindfolded them, and dragged them to the riverbank. Despite their pleas for mercy, the guards threw them into the river, where they drowned. On the first day of the lunar new year, the king's eyes mysteriously healed. Meanwhile, the couple's spirits were filled with rage. The following day, the two guards who had murdered them were found dead, hanged in the royal palace's courtyard.

Later, on the first day of the new year, a tavern owner near Giang Tân began loudly proclaiming curses, declaring that he was the spirit of Mr. and Mrs. Dầu, and that the cruelty of the guards would be avenged. He cursed the royal family and foretold the downfall of the Ly dynasty and the eventual rise of the Trần dynasty. The king, deeply alarmed, ordered a temple to be built at the confluence of the Tô Lịch and Thiên Phù rivers to honor the spirits of Mr. and Mrs. Dầu as protectors. Every year, officials would visit the temple on the thirtieth of January to offer food to the spirits.

However, the prophecy came true. The Ly dynasty soon fell, and the Trần family took the throne. Over time, the Tô Lịch and Thiên Phù rivers slowly silted up, leaving only small, stagnant streams. Today, the Tô Lịch is little more than a foul, murky drain, but the temple dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Dầu still stands, where locals continue to honor the couple with offerings every year on the thirtieth of January.

The Legend of Kỳ Cùng River is a Vietnamese tale about two snakes, known as Ông Dài (Long Man) and Ông Cộc (Short Man), which explains the origin of the Kỳ Cùng River.

Ông Dài and Ông Cộc

Long ago, in the region of Sông Tranh in Đông Province, there lived an elderly couple who were wealthy but had no children. They prayed for a child to bring joy to their old age.

One day, while working in the fields, the husband found two large eggs the size of his fist and showed them to his wife. He planned to discard them, but his wife stopped him.

– Don’t throw them away, let’s see what hatches.

They placed the eggs near the stove, and within a few days, two small snakes hatched, each with a red crest on its head. The husband wanted to kill them, but the wife stopped him.

– Don’t kill them, they’re just babies. Let me take care of them as our children.

The snakes were clever, following the couple everywhere. They grew quickly, and soon were as large as a finger. One day, while the husband was working in the garden, the snakes followed closely, looking for food. Accidentally, the husband’s hoe struck one of the snakes, cutting off its tail. The snake writhed in pain, and the wife cried out:

– Oh, poor thing! Why do you always follow the old man like this, causing so much harm?

From then on, the snake with the broken tail became fiercer than the other.

The snakes grew larger and began eating more. They often went into nearby chicken coops to catch chicks. The neighbors complained, and one day, the husband told his wife:

– It’s time to release them into the river; we can’t keep feeding them anymore.

So, the couple took the snakes to the river and said:

– Children, stay here and find your own food. We can’t take care of you any longer.

As soon as the snakes were released into the water, a great storm arose, and aquatic creatures gathered in a frenzy. The couple was astonished. That night, the snakes appeared in their dreams, telling them that they had been appointed by the River King to guard the Sông Tranh area.

From that day on, the snakes ruled over the river, and people built a shrine for them, calling them Đức Ông Tuần Tranh, or Ông Dài and Ông Cộc. Despite having numerous followers and servants, the snakes occasionally still took humans and animals from the river. Ông Cộc, in particular, became more vicious and lustful. He would create whirlpools to sink boats, robbing people of their possessions. Whenever a disaster occurred, the couple would plead with the snakes, hoping they would stop their mischief. They sometimes listened, but the behavior remained unchanged.

The Legend of Kỳ Cùng River

One day, a couple named Trịnh were traveling by boat and stopped near the river. The wife, Dương, was beautiful, and Ông Cộc became infatuated with her. That night, two women appeared on the boat, each carrying a tray of offerings. They placed the trays before the husband and said:

– These are gifts from Ông Cộc. He doesn’t usually do such things, but he wishes to please you and take your wife.

The husband was furious and shouted:

– Tell your master to stop his arrogance. I am a scholar and fear no spirits.

Before he could finish, the two women vanished. Despite his words, the husband, having heard of Ông Dài and Ông Cộc, feared the snakes and told his wife to take their belongings and leave the boat.

But it was too late. Ông Cộc, having set his sights on the woman, created a terrible storm, preventing the couple from leaving. The husband took his wife to a nearby temple for shelter. The storm raged through the night. In the morning, when the storm cleared, the husband woke to find his wife gone. He followed the trail to the riverbank, where he found only her clothes.

Devastated by the loss of his beloved wife, the husband wandered in search of revenge. After many days, he encountered a strange fortune teller who offered him a reading. The fortune teller, using his powers, revealed:

– Your wife was taken by a powerful being.

The husband asked:

– Where is she? Can she be saved?

The fortune teller revealed that he was Bạch Long Hầu, the Rain God, and that he had been watching over the situation. He promised to help the husband seek revenge on Ông Cộc. Bạch Long Hầu instructed the husband to gather evidence and promised to assist in bringing the case before the River King.

Over the next few days, the husband followed Bạch Long Hầu and, with his help, obtained proof of Ông Cộc’s wrongdoings. They brought the case to the River King, and Ông Cộc was punished. Dương was returned to her husband, but the child she had with Ông Cộc was left in the snake’s care.

When Ông Cộc was exiled, he traveled with his captors until they reached the edge of the Vietnamese territories. There, he asked the locals where they were, and they told him it was the border with another country.

Ông Cộc declared:

– This is the Kỳ Cùng, where my reign ends.

The group continued, but when Ông Cộc arrived, he encountered a giant water serpent, the Thuồng Luồng, who was guarding the river. A fierce battle ensued between the two. The water surged, and fish and creatures were killed. The banks of the river eroded, causing severe damage to the people living along the river.

After several days of battle, neither side emerged victorious. Ông Cộc was wounded, and the Thuồng Luồng lost an ear. The soldiers reported the battle to the River King, and the conflict was brought to the royal court. The River King ordered that the two sides divide the river. Ông Cộc placed a large stone near the river, and the Thuồng Luồng placed a bell on the opposite bank as a boundary.

However, the Thuồng Luồng was still angry at the division of power and frequently fought with Ông Cộc. Whenever the sound of the bell or crashing waters was heard, the people knew a fierce battle was occurring.

Eventually, the River King grew angry at the Thuồng Luồng’s disobedience and had him captured. Ông Cộc was granted authority over both areas of the river.

Today, a large stone shaped like a head lies on the southern bank of the Kỳ Cùng River, near the provincial capital of Lạng Sơn. On the northern bank, in an ancient temple, a bell with one broken ear remains, symbolizing the defeat of the Thuồng Luồng. The name Kỳ Cùng River originated from Ông Cộc’s exile.

The Legend of Nhà Bè River is a Vietnamese myth that tells the story of a scribe who redeems himself after witnessing horrific punishments in the Underworld.

1. The Scribe Thủ Huồn

Long ago, in Gia Định, there was a man named Thủ Huồn. He worked as a scribe for over twenty years, causing countless families to fall apart and innocent people to suffer. In return, he accumulated great wealth. His wife passed away young, and he had no children, so he had no idea what to do with his money. Apart from funeral expenses, he spent his wealth on buying land and building homes. His land was incredibly fertile, yielding thousands of bushels of rice every harvest.

Feeling that life had become too easy, he quit his job and settled into a life of luxury.

One day, someone told Thủ Huồn that Mạnh Ma Market in Quảng Yên was a place where the living and the dead could meet. To see the dead, the living had to wait until the first day of the sixth month, bring an offering to the market at midnight, and search for their loved ones. Thủ Huồn, who had never forgotten his wife despite her passing over ten years ago, decided to visit the market in hopes of seeing her again. He left his home in the care of a relative and traveled north to meet his beloved wife once more.

2. Journey to the Underworld

Upon meeting his wife, Thủ Huồn was reluctant to ask her questions, as she appeared elegant and royal. Eventually, she recognized him. Overjoyed, he led her aside to recount his life since their separation. He then asked:

– What have you been doing all this time?

– I serve as a wet nurse in the royal palace. My life has been peaceful. I have a private room in the palace, and all my needs are taken care of.

Thủ Huồn said:

– I miss you so much. Can I follow you to the Underworld for a while?

– You may, but only for a few days. Staying too long would be dangerous.

Thủ Huồn followed his wife through the dark and eerie roads, and soon they arrived in the realm of the dead. As they passed through many gates into the inner city, he shivered at the grotesque faces of the guards. With his wife by his side, he managed to pass unnoticed. They arrived at a small building, and his wife told him:

– This is the kitchen, over there is the prison, and in front of us is the Queen's palace, where I serve daily. Beyond that is the King's palace. You must stay here as you cannot enter my room upstairs. I will find a way to let you see some sights, but you must return quickly.

Later that day, the wife gave Thủ Huồn a permit and said:

– You may visit anywhere except the King's and Queen's palaces. Everywhere else is open to you.

Thủ Huồn wandered around the kitchen and then casually entered the prison. As soon as he stepped inside, the sounds of wailing and screaming disturbed him. Passing through rooms filled with ghastly scenes of torture, he realized that this was indeed a horrific place, just as the rumors on Earth had suggested.

After seeing a gruesome table used for dismemberment, he noticed a large chest of shackles. One particular shackle caught his attention. It was long and heavy, made of thick wooden planks. Thủ Huồn asked the prison guard:

– What is this shackle for?

– It's reserved for a particularly evil soul who will descend from the living world. All the shackles here are already assigned. You can tell the severity of the crime by the size of the shackle.

Thủ Huồn asked again:

– Who will wear this large shackle?

The prison guard slowly opened a thick book, pointing to a line and reading aloud: "He is Võ Thủ Hoằng, also known as Thủ Huồn." Then he added:

– He is from Đại Nam, Gia Định Province, Phúc Chính district...

Hearing this, Thủ Huồn was struck with shock. His face turned pale, but he remained calm and asked:

– What crime did he commit?

The guard kept his eyes on the book as he replied:

– When he was a scribe, he twisted many cases, causing numerous injustices. His crimes are so numerous that they fill several pages here. For example, in the year Ất Sửu, he altered the words "accidental death" to "intentional murder," causing the deaths of a mother and child so that a relative could steal their inheritance. For this, Thủ Huồn received ten gold coins, ten silver coins, and a hundred copper coins. He also falsely accused Ngô Lai of a crime, leading to a twenty-year sentence, all to steal his twelve acres of land. And that's just one example...

Thủ Huồn went pale as he realized the full extent of his past actions. He interrupted the guard, trying to change the subject.

– What about his wife? Does she wear a shackle too?

– Oh, she did nothing wrong, so she is not punished. She is already here, living peacefully.

Thủ Huồn asked again:

– If he wants to repent, what must he do?

The prison guard closed the book and replied:

– If he wants redemption, he must give away the wealth he unjustly gained and make offerings to the gods.

Thủ Huồn, shaken by what he had seen, no longer had the heart to explore further. His wife led him out of the palace of the King of Hell and back into the dark roads. As they were about to part ways, he told her:

– I will return to repay my debts. Perhaps in three years, I will come back. Please wait for me at the market.

3. The Legend of Nhà Bè River

Back in Gia Định, Thủ Huồn began giving away his wealth. He gathered the poor from the surrounding areas, distributing money and rice. He donated his land to the village and temples, and invited monks from nearby pagodas to offer prayers at his house, spending vast amounts of money. People were amazed by his sudden generosity. No one understood why a miserly man like him had become so charitable. Some whispered, "A person who gained wealth through evil deeds can’t keep it forever!" Others speculated that he had no children and didn’t know how to spend his fortune, so he was simply getting rid of it.

After three years, Thủ Huồn had given away almost three-quarters of his wealth. Remembering his promise, he packed his bags and traveled north again to Mạnh Ma Market. There, he convinced his wife to let him visit the Underworld once more.

When he returned to the prison, he found everything just as he had left it. The same prison guard was there, and the torture chambers were unchanged. However, the shackles had been altered. Some had grown larger, while others had shrunk. The particular shackle that had caught his attention earlier had now become smaller, although still larger than the others. Thủ Huồn asked the guard:

– This shackle was huge before, but now it's smaller. What happened?

– You're right! The guard replied. It seems that he has repented on Earth, which is why it has shrunk. If he continues, he will receive great blessings.

Thủ Huồn returned to the living world and continued his charity. This time, he sold everything he had left, even his home, and used the proceeds to build a large temple in Biên Hòa. He then traveled down the Đồng Nai River to perform one last good deed. At that time, crossing the Đồng Nai River was very difficult, and many people from the other side hesitated to settle there.

Thủ Huồn decided to stay and built a large raft, which he used to provide shelter for the poor and travelers. He took them in, offering them a place to stay for a few days or even months without charging them any money. He continued this work until the day he finally passed away and descended into the Underworld.

Years later, the Emperor of China, Đạo Quang, sent emissaries to Vietnam to inquire about a man from Gia Định. When the emperor was born, a few words appeared on his palm: "Đại Nam, Gia Định, Thủ Hoằng." The emperor wanted to know the origins of this man, so after the emissaries explained Thủ Huồn's story, the emperor offered three golden statues to the Biên Hòa temple. It is said that Thủ Huồn, through his sincere repentance, not only avoided the punishment awaiting him in the Underworld but was also granted a new life as the emperor of China.

Today, a temple in Biên Hòa still bears his name, and the confluence of the Đồng Nai and Gia Định Rivers is known as Nhà Bè, in memory of Thủ Huồn's kindness to travelers. There is a Vietnamese folk saying:

“Nhà Bè, the river splits in two,

Those going to Gia Định and Đồng Nai should pass through.”

The Legend of the Mekong River explains the formation of the river's nine branches, each one resembling a dragon emerging towards the sea.

1. The Two Giant Gods

The Mekong River is known by many names, one of which is the River of Waiting. The word 'Chờ' in Thai-Lao means 'to wait'. The reason behind this name is explained by an interesting legend:

In ancient times, there were two giant gods. Both were incredibly powerful, able to move mountains and drain seas with a single gesture. Despite their immense strength, each god had a different way of living, which made their personalities contrast sharply. One of them spent his time hunting in the forests, while the other preferred fishing. One was quick-tempered but honest, while the other was calm yet calculating. These two gods were great friends. Whenever one hunted a large animal or caught a big fish, they would share it and enjoy a feast together.

One day, for reasons unknown, they had a fierce argument. Neither was willing to back down, and after days of stubbornness, they decided to find a judge to settle their dispute. They approached a celestial being who listened to both sides of the story. After hearing them out, the celestial being said:

– This is indeed a difficult matter. But let me suggest a solution. We will hold a race, and the one who reaches the destination first will be declared the winner. Are you both agreeable to this?

2. The Legend of the Mekong River

Both gods agreed, and the celestial being led them to a high place, where they were to start the race. They were told that upon hearing a drumbeat, they must head southeast, with the sea as their goal.

The drum sounded, and the two giant gods began their race. The path ahead was rugged, with towering mountains resembling the Great Wall, making it a difficult route to travel quickly.

The Hunting God, accustomed to climbing hills and jumping over obstacles, sped ahead without hesitation. Meanwhile, the Fishing God hesitated, thinking, “Why bother climbing hills when I can just follow the contours of the land?” Though the path was winding, it was less tiring and slower. What the Fishing God didn’t realize was that while he was still navigating the winding mountain paths, the Hunting God had already reached a vast, flat plain. Exhausted, the Hunting God rested there. The Fishing God, realizing that he was falling behind, took flight to find a shortcut. Seeing the Hunting God nearing the finish line, the Fishing God flew westward to reach the nearest coast, but it was too late. The Hunting God, after a brief rest, surged forward and crossed the finish line first, winning the race.

Today, the path the Hunting God ran became a river, which is mostly straight but features many rapids. The place where the Hunting God rested is now known as the Biển Hồ (Sea Lake). The route the Fishing God followed also became a river, but it meanders and flows gently, with fewer rapids. Because the Fishing God was delayed, this river is known as the Slow River. As the Fishing God had to wait for the other god to reach the destination first, this area came to be called the Nine Dragons River, or the Mekong River, symbolizing nine dragon-like branches reaching out to the sea.