Top 9 Best Essays Retelling the Legend of Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh in Your Own Words (Literature 6)

The 18th Hung King had a daughter named Mị Nương, whose beauty was unmatched. The king adored her and was determined to find a suitable husband.

As Mị Nương matured, her beauty attracted many suitors. News of her radiance reached Sơn Tinh, the god of the mountains, who decided to seek her hand in marriage. On the same day, Thủy Tinh, a mighty figure riding a dragon, also came to ask for her hand. The king, faced with two powerful suitors, decided that they would compete to win her. Thủy Tinh called upon storms, sending floods to ravage the city of Phong Châu. Sơn Tinh, however, raised mountains to stop the rising waters, displaying his formidable strength. After deliberating with his counselors, the king decreed that whoever could arrive first with a set of gifts would marry Mị Nương.

The next morning, before the sun rose, Sơn Tinh had already arrived with his offerings, taking Mị Nương to the Tản Mountains. Thủy Tinh arrived later, furious, and summoned his water creatures to attack. A fierce battle ensued, with Sơn Tinh calling upon wild animals to defend him. The two forces clashed violently, but Sơn Tinh’s mountains kept rising higher than Thủy Tinh’s floodwaters. After many days of fighting, Thủy Tinh, exhausted, withdrew, and the people rebuilt their homes and fields.

Since then, every year Thủy Tinh tries to flood Sơn Tinh’s lands, but Sơn Tinh always prevails. Today, we continue to build dikes and plant trees, uniting to fight floods just as our ancestors did with Sơn Tinh against Thủy Tinh.

This story reminds us that with unity, we can overcome any challenge.

Among the many legends, my favorite one is the story of "Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh," which explains the annual floods in our country and is also an exciting and captivating tale.

The 18th Hung King had a daughter named Mị Nương, who was as beautiful as a flower and gentle in nature. Legend has it that she had skin as white as snow, long flowing hair like a stream, and eyes that sparkled like stars in the sky. The king loved her dearly and wanted to find a worthy husband. When she reached the age for marriage, the king announced a contest to find a suitor for her. Many talented and handsome men from all over came to compete, but months passed without the king finding anyone he deemed worthy.

One day, two young men came to seek her hand in marriage. One was tall, strong, with a booming voice like thunder, and sharp eyes like an eagle’s. He introduced himself as Sơn Tinh, the ruler of the Tản Viên mountains. The other was massive, his body exuding the power of the ocean waves, and he introduced himself as Thủy Tinh, the ruler of the vast seas. The two asked for permission to compete. Sơn Tinh demonstrated his ability to move mountains by waving his hands toward the east and west, where hills and mountains rose. Thủy Tinh, not to be outdone, summoned storms with a single command, making the rain fall and the winds cease. Both were highly talented and noble, deserving of the king's daughter, but the king could not decide. After thinking for a while, the king declared, "Both suitors are acceptable, but I have only one daughter. Let whoever arrives first with the proper gifts win her hand."

When the suitors asked about the gifts, the king told them, "One hundred plates of sticky rice, one hundred bundles of bánh chưng, nine tusked elephants, nine-cooked chickens, and nine-maned horses. Everything must come in pairs, and nothing should be missing."

The next morning, before the sun had even risen, Sơn Tinh arrived with his gifts, and thus Mị Nương was married to him. Thủy Tinh arrived later, furious that he could not marry Mị Nương, and sent his forces to fight Sơn Tinh and reclaim her.

The god of water commanded the heavens, causing storms and floods that submerged the fields and homes. The water rose so high that it reached the base of the hills. The people of Phong Châu fled to higher ground. Thủy Tinh's army, led by monstrous sea creatures, began to attack, but Sơn Tinh was undaunted. He raised mountains and hills higher to protect the people, calling upon animals to help him. The battle raged on, with Sơn Tinh's forces throwing rocks to crush the sea creatures below. Despite the long battle, Sơn Tinh remained strong, while Thủy Tinh grew exhausted. Eventually, Thủy Tinh withdrew, and peace was restored. Since then, every year, Thủy Tinh tries to flood the land, but each time he fails, just as the floods are eventually subdued by the people's efforts.

This story has been passed down through generations, symbolizing the victory of the people against nature’s forces. No matter how many times Thủy Tinh brings floods, the people, like Sơn Tinh, always overcome them.

Long ago, during the reign of the 18th Hung King, the king had a daughter named Mị Nương. She was stunningly beautiful and gentle in character. The king loved her dearly and wanted to find a worthy husband for her.

One day, two young men came to seek her hand in marriage. The first was from the Tản Viên mountains and had an extraordinary ability: with a wave of his hand, hills would rise in the east, and mountains would emerge in the west. He was Sơn Tinh. The other was from the sea and had a remarkable talent as well: with a command, he could summon the wind and the rain. He was Thủy Tinh. The Hung King was faced with a difficult decision, as both were highly skilled. He called upon his advisors to deliberate, then declared:

- Both suitors are worthy, but I have only one daughter. Therefore, whoever arrives tomorrow with the gifts I requested will marry her.

The two men asked what the gifts should include, and the king answered:

- One hundred plates of sticky rice, one hundred bánh chưng cakes, nine tusked elephants, nine-cooked chickens, and nine-maned horses. Each item must come in pairs.

Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh returned to prepare their gifts. At the crack of dawn the next day, Sơn Tinh arrived with his offerings. The king then gave Mị Nương to him. Thủy Tinh, arriving later, was furious and could not accept his defeat.

The Water God called upon the winds and rain, creating storms that shook the heavens and flooded the land. The water rose so high that it submerged the fields, homes, and even reached the hillsides, drowning Phong Châu in a sea of water, causing great suffering for the people. Sơn Tinh, however, remained unfazed. Using his magic, he moved entire hills and mountains, building barriers to stop the floodwaters. For every inch the water rose, Sơn Tinh raised the mountains higher.

The battle continued for months, but in the end, Thủy Tinh's forces were exhausted. The Water God had no choice but to retreat. However, from that moment on, a deep resentment remained, and every year Thủy Tinh would send floods to challenge Sơn Tinh, but he never succeeded.

Mị Nương was the daughter of the 18th Hung King, known for her breathtaking beauty. The king, deeply fond of his daughter, wanted to find a wise and talented man to marry her, so he decided to host a contest to find a suitable husband.

When news of the king's contest spread, young men from all over the land came to the capital to compete. Each of the suitors was handsome and skilled in both letters and arms. However, days passed, and the king had not yet found a suitable match. It was only when Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh arrived and demonstrated their abilities that the king was truly impressed. Sơn Tinh, from the Ba Vì mountains, had the power to make mountains disappear with a wave of his hand, transforming the landscape. Thủy Tinh, from the East Sea, could summon storms and raise tidal waves.

The king was unsure whom to choose, as both men were worthy of his daughter. Eventually, he set a challenge: the suitor who could bring the requested bride-price first would marry Mị Nương. The required gifts included one hundred plates of sticky rice, two hundred bánh chưng cakes, nine ivory tusked elephants, nine-cocked roosters, and nine red-maned horses. The next morning, Sơn Tinh arrived early with his gifts and proudly took Mị Nương to the mountains. Thủy Tinh, arriving later, saw that Mị Nương had already been taken by Sơn Tinh and, enraged, gathered his army to reclaim her. He summoned a fierce storm that flooded the land, sweeping away crops and submerging villages.

Sơn Tinh, however, remained calm and used his powers to stop the flood. With a wave of his hand, hills rose to block the water, and as the floodwaters surged higher, the mountains grew taller. After months of fighting, Thủy Tinh’s forces were exhausted, and he had to retreat in defeat.

Every year thereafter, Thủy Tinh would challenge Sơn Tinh with floods, but each time he was defeated. The struggle between these two reflects the battle between humanity and the natural forces of nature. Each year, floods and storms threaten crops and homes, but the people, like Sơn Tinh, persist in overcoming these challenges. Sơn Tinh represents the strength of the people in their fight against natural disasters, which is why he is honored as one of the Four Immortal Heroes of the nation.

Among all the stories I’ve read, the legend of "Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh" feels the most connected to nature. This tale explains the annual floods and storms that plague our country.

During the reign of the 18th Hung King, there was a daughter named Mị Nương, who was not only beautiful but also virtuous. Like any loving parent, the king wanted his daughter to find happiness. So, he decided to hold a contest to choose the most handsome, capable, and noble suitor for her. The news of the royal contest spread far and wide, attracting young men from all over the land who hoped to win Mị Nương's hand. However, despite days of competition, none of the suitors had impressed the king.

It was only when Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh arrived that the king found two individuals who were truly exceptional. Sơn Tinh, a mountain god from Tản Viên, was a giant of a man with the power to move mountains, flatten plains, and create towering peaks. On the other hand, Thủy Tinh, the god of the vast oceans, could summon storms and floods with a single command, making the waters rise and the waves crash. Both men were extraordinary, and the king, unsure of whom to choose, decided to set a challenging bride-price. Whoever brought the requested gifts first would marry Mị Nương.

The bride-price consisted of one hundred plates of sticky rice, one hundred bánh chưng cakes, nine ivory tusked elephants, nine roosters with sharp claws, and nine red-maned horses. These were rare and difficult to find, yet they could be sourced from the land and the forests. As such, Sơn Tinh was able to bring the gifts first. Thủy Tinh, arriving later, was furious to find Mị Nương had already been taken, and in his anger, he led an army to try and steal her away. Wherever Thủy Tinh went, the waters rose, and dark clouds and fierce winds followed. The floodwaters destroyed homes and submerged villages, while terrifying sea creatures attacked. However, Sơn Tinh, positioned on high ground, used his powers to raise hills and block the floodwaters, moving people to safety. No matter how much Thủy Tinh increased the floods, he could not drown the mountains that protected Sơn Tinh. After several months of struggle, Thủy Tinh finally gave up.

The legend of Thủy Tinh’s floods is still remembered today. The fierce storms and prolonged rains that strike our country every year are a reflection of the legendary battles between Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh.

The most unique marriage selection ceremony in history must surely be the one held by the 18th Hung King for his daughter, Mị Nương. The story highlights two legendary characters, Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh, who represent the mountain and river gods in our traditional beliefs.

After several days of the marriage contest, the king selected two worthy suitors for Mị Nương: Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh. Sơn Tinh had the incredible ability to create mountains, hills, and plains with just a wave of his hand. On the other hand, Thủy Tinh could summon clouds, storms, and lightning, and could make the waters rise and submerge anything in their path. The king and his people were amazed by both men’s powers. However, unsure whom to choose, the king decided to set a difficult bride-price: "Whoever arrives first with one hundred plates of sticky rice, one hundred sets of bánh chưng, nine ivory tusked elephants, nine roosters with sharp claws, and nine red-maned horses, will marry Mị Nương."

The next morning, before dawn, Sơn Tinh arrived with his full offering, ready to take Mị Nương back to the Tản mountain. Thủy Tinh, arriving too late, was furious. He called upon his forces to attack Sơn Tinh and take Mị Nương back. Thủy Tinh summoned storms, lightning, and rising waters, creating dangerous waves and bringing terrifying sea monsters to battle Sơn Tinh. But Sơn Tinh was unfazed, summoning mountains and hills to block the floods and moving the people to higher ground. After months of struggle, Thủy Tinh finally exhausted his forces, unable to overcome Sơn Tinh.

It is said that from that time onwards, Thủy Tinh, filled with hatred, would create floods and storms every year in an attempt to defeat Sơn Tinh. In reality, this story serves as an explanation for the annual typhoons and floods that strike our country.

During the reign of the 18th Hung King, there was a beautiful and talented princess named Mị Nương. She was not only graceful and charming, but also possessed a kind heart and excellent manners. At the age of eighteen, it was time for her to find a worthy husband. The Hung King, as a father, wished to find a suitable son-in-law who would be worthy of his daughter, so he organized a contest to find the best suitor for Mị Nương.

The news of the competition spread throughout the kingdom, and many young men, eager to marry the princess, came from all corners of the land. Among them, two young men stood out with their strength, abilities, and outstanding characters.

One of them was Sơn Tinh, the lord of the mountains, who could move mountains, fill in seas, and summon winds with his mighty powers. The other was Thủy Tinh, the lord of the seas, capable of calling upon storms, lightning, and causing the waters to rise and submerge everything in their path.

The king asked the two suitors to demonstrate their abilities, and whoever proved to be more capable would win Mị Nương's hand in marriage. Sơn Tinh showed his power by making mountains appear and forests grow at his command. Meanwhile, Thủy Tinh raised the waters and summoned swarms of water creatures to rise to the surface. Both men demonstrated their extraordinary talents, leaving the king and Mị Nương uncertain as to whom to choose.

After much deliberation, the Hung King decided to set a challenge: "The one who brings the required wedding gifts first will win Mị Nương's hand in marriage."

The wedding gifts included: one hundred plates of sticky rice, one hundred sets of bánh chưng, nine elephants with ivory tusks, nine roosters with sharp claws, and nine red-maned horses—each pair of these items was required. Sơn Tinh, being accustomed to the mountains, had no trouble obtaining the gifts and arrived first to propose to Mị Nương. Thủy Tinh, however, was slower, and when he arrived, he found that Mị Nương had already been married to Sơn Tinh.

Furious, Thủy Tinh gathered his forces and sought revenge by attacking Sơn Tinh. He summoned storms and rising waters, flooding the land and causing chaos. Despite his fury, Sơn Tinh used his powers to protect the people, raising hills and mountains to block the floods and keep them safe. The battle lasted for days and nights, but Sơn Tinh's strength and the unity of the people finally overwhelmed Thủy Tinh, forcing him to retreat.

Though Thủy Tinh was defeated, his anger persisted. Every year, during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, he would once again try to flood the land in revenge, causing the annual floods that the people had to fight against.

Long ago, during the reign of the 18th Hung King, the king had no sons, only one daughter named Mị Nương. She was as beautiful as a flower and known for her gentle and kind nature. The king loved her dearly and wished to find her a perfect husband.

One day, two suitors arrived to seek Mị Nương's hand in marriage. One came from the Tản Viên mountains, named Sơn Tinh. He was skilled in controlling nature: he could raise hills and form islands by simply waving his hands. The other suitor, Thủy Tinh, came from the coastal region, and he too had remarkable powers, such as summoning winds and rain at will. Both men were extraordinary and appeared worthy of becoming the king's son-in-law and Mị Nương's husband. The Hung King was torn and summoned his advisors for counsel. After much discussion, the king decided that whoever arrived with the wedding gifts first would marry Mị Nương.

The king then specified the gifts required: one hundred plates of sticky rice, one hundred sets of bánh chưng, nine ivory-tusked elephants, nine roosters with sharp claws, and nine horses with red manes, each item in a pair.

The following day, Sơn Tinh arrived first with all the gifts and took Mị Nương back to the mountains. Thủy Tinh arrived later, furious that he was too late to marry the princess. He summoned storms and floods to strike Sơn Tinh. The waters rose, flooding fields, homes, and even the capital city of Phong Châu.

Sơn Tinh, however, remained unfazed. Using his powers, he raised hills and shifted mountains to stop the rising floodwaters. The two fought relentlessly for months. Eventually, Thủy Tinh, weakened and exhausted, was forced to retreat. Despite his defeat, Thủy Tinh’s anger persisted, and every year he would flood the land again in his attempt to exact revenge on Sơn Tinh. However, no matter how many times Thủy Tinh attacked, Sơn Tinh always triumphed, pushing the floods back and forcing Thủy Tinh to retreat in shame.

Among the legends we studied at the beginning of grade 6, my favorite is the story of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh. This story, with its many fantastic and imaginative details, adds vibrancy to the intense struggle between the two gods to win the beautiful princess Mi Nuong's heart. Let me retell the story:

At that time, the eighteenth Hung King had only one daughter, the stunningly beautiful Mi Nuong. She had reached the age of marriage, and the king wished to find a suitor worthy of his daughter's beauty.

When the king announced he was looking for a son-in-law, Son Tinh, the mountain god, and Thuy Tinh, the water god, both came to Phong Chau to ask for her hand. Son Tinh had magical powers: with a wave of his hand to the east, sandbanks appeared; with a wave to the west, mountains and hills rose. Thuy Tinh was equally gifted, capable of calling the winds and rains at will. The king was unsure, as both were equally impressive, so he called for a council with the Lạc Hâu. Afterward, the king decreed:

Both are worthy suitors, but I have only one daughter, so I can only choose one. Tomorrow, whoever brings the dowry first will win her hand. The dowry must include: one hundred sticky rice cakes, one hundred square rice cakes, a pair of elephants with tusks, a pair of cocks with nine feathers, and a pair of horses with red manes.

The next morning, Son Tinh arrived early, bringing all the necessary gifts and took Mi Nuong as his bride.

By noon, Thuy Tinh arrived, but by then, Son Tinh had already married Mi Nuong. Furious, Thuy Tinh used his powers to attack. He summoned storms and floods, causing the sea to overflow, flooding the fields, homes, and even the city of Phong Chau. The floodwaters rose until the city seemed to float on an ocean of water. However, Son Tinh remained unfazed. He used his magic to raise mountains and hills, forming a massive, sturdy levee that held back the floodwaters.

The battle continued for months, with Son Tinh holding firm and Thuy Tinh growing weaker. Finally, Thuy Tinh retreated.

From that day forward, Thuy Tinh, full of resentment, would flood the land every year in an attempt to take Mi Nuong from Son Tinh. But every year, he failed, retreating in defeat.

I love this story—it depicts the high drama of a battle for love and provides insight into the Vietnamese people's ancient understanding of natural disasters like floods and storms.