Top 9 Best Summaries of 'The Story of the Woman from Nam Xuong' by Nguyen Du (Grade 9 Literature)

The story is about a woman named Vu Thi Thiet from Nam Xuong. She is known for her beauty and grace. Her husband, Truong Sinh, is a jealous man. When Vu Nương is about to give birth, her husband is called away to war. While at home, Vu Nương takes excellent care of her mother-in-law, who falls ill from missing her grandchild and eventually dies. Vu Nương arranges the funeral as if her mother-in-law were her own parent. To comfort herself in her husband's absence, she often plays with her son by projecting her shadow on the wall and telling her child that the shadow is his father. After Truong Sinh returns from the battlefield, he goes to visit his mother’s grave, bringing his son with him. At the grave, the child cries, saying that the man with him is not his father. He claims that his real father visits every night and sits with him but never picks him up. Without seeking clarification, Truong Sinh becomes enraged and banishes Vu Nương, who cannot defend herself. Unable to clear her name, Vu Nương tragically drowns herself in the river, hoping that death would prove her innocence. She is rescued by Linh Phi, the Queen of the South Sea.

Although Truong Sinh is angry, he feels deep sorrow. One evening, the child points to the shadow on the wall and says, 'Look, here comes father.' Truong Sinh is filled with regret, but it is too late. In the underwater kingdom, Vu Nương meets Phan Lang, a fellow villager, and asks him to deliver a golden flower and a message to Truong Sinh, asking him to hold a ritual to clear her name. Truong Sinh performs the ritual, and as a result, Vu Nương appears to him, seated in a palanquin surrounded by colorful flags and umbrellas. She bids him farewell and is never seen again on Earth.

Vu Nương, whose real name is Vu Thi Thiet, comes from Nam Xuong and is a modest, graceful young woman with excellent qualities. Her beauty caught the eye of Truong Sinh, who proposed to marry her, offering a large dowry. Aware of her husband’s jealous nature, Vu Nương carefully maintained her propriety. When war broke out, Truong Sinh went off to fight, leaving Vu Nương at home to give birth and care for her elderly mother-in-law. The mother-in-law, longing for her son, grew ill and passed away, but Vu Nương attended to the funeral with as much care as if it were her own parents'. Just when she thought happiness would return, Vu Nương faced a grave injustice. One day, Truong Sinh, upon returning home, learned that his son had been seeing a figure who appeared every night, even though he had been absent. Without investigating the matter, Truong Sinh flew into a jealous rage, accused Vu Nương of infidelity, and cast her out of the house. Despite her protests, Vu Nương could not clear her name. In desperation, she drowned herself in the Hoang River, where she was rescued by Linh Phi, the Queen of the South Sea, and taken to the Turtle Cave. At home, Truong Sinh, noticing the shadow on the wall one night, realized the truth too late—his wife had been innocent. With the help of Linh Phi and Phan Lang, a villager, Vu Nương was honored through a ritual at Hoang Giang, where her ghost appeared in a grand procession. She disappeared forever, leaving her family behind.

The tale of the Woman from Nam Xuong is drawn from the collection 'Truyen Ki Man Luc'. Vu Thi Thiet, a gentle and graceful woman from Nam Xuong, caught the eye of Truong Sinh, who was so impressed by her beauty and virtue that he offered a large dowry to marry her. Shortly after their marriage, Truong Sinh had to leave to fight in the Chiêm wars. As he departed, Vu Nương poured him a cup of wine and said, 'I do not hope for wealth or titles, just that you return safely.'

While he was away, Vu Nương gave birth to a son, named Dan. After half a year, her mother-in-law, lonely and ailing from missing her son, passed away. Vu Nương took great care of her mother-in-law, treating her with love and respect. After the mother-in-law’s death, Vu Nương arranged the funeral with the utmost care as if it were her own parents'.

A year later, Truong Sinh returned home after the war, only to find that his son had started speaking. He took the child to visit the mother’s grave. The child, confused, asked, 'Is this man my father? My real father never speaks but only sits quietly beside me every night.' Truong Sinh, who had a jealous nature, became enraged at the suggestion that his wife had been unfaithful. Without asking for clarification, he scolded her harshly and sent her away. Despite her protests and the pleas of neighbors, Truong Sinh refused to listen. In despair, Vu Nương threw herself into the Hoang River, vowing, 'If I am chaste, may I become the precious stone of the river; if I have betrayed, let me be prey for fish and birds.' After her death, one night, while Truong Sinh was sitting alone, his son pointed to a shadow on the wall and said, 'Look, father has come again!' Only then did Truong Sinh realize his tragic mistake.

Phan Lang, a former ferry manager at Hoang Giang, had a dream one night where he saw a woman in a green dress pleading for mercy. The next morning, he was gifted a green turtle. Thinking of his dream, he released the turtle, and later found himself shipwrecked, washed ashore on an island where he was rescued by Linh Phi, the Queen of the South Sea. At a feast held in his honor, Phan Lang saw a beautiful woman who resembled Vu Nương. After the feast, the woman, who was Vu Nương, spoke to Phan Lang and revealed that she had been wronged. She sent him a golden flower with instructions for her husband to perform a ritual to clear her name. Phan Lang relayed the message, and Truong Sinh, heartbroken, held a three-day ceremony at Hoang Giang. During the ritual, fifty palanquins appeared, adorned with colorful banners and umbrellas, and Vu Nương's spirit appeared in a glowing palanquin, saying, 'Thank you for your love, but I cannot return to the living.' She then disappeared into the mist.

Vũ Thị Thiết quê Nam Xương xinh đẹp, nết na. Trương Sinh cùng làng, mến vì dung hạnh xin mẹ đem trăm lạng vàng cưới về. Biết tính chồng đa nghi, nàng giữ gìn khuôn phép không để xảy ra thất hòa. Cuộc sum vầy chưa được bao lâu thì Trương Sinh phải tòng quân đi đánh giặc Chiêm. Trong ngày đưa tiễn, Vũ Nương rót chén rượu đầy đưa cho chồng và nói chỉ mong ngày chồng trở về mang theo hai chữ bình yên.

Chồng ra lính được một tuần thì Vũ Nương sinh được đứa con trai đặt tên là Đản. Nửa năm đã trôi qua, bà mẹ chồng già yếu, buồn lo rồi đau ốm. Nàng hết lòng săn sóc cơm cháo thuốc thang, ngọt ngào khôn khéo khuyên lơn. Bệnh mỗi ngày một nặng, mẹ chồng qua đời, nàng vô cùng thương xót, mọi việc ma chay tế lễ, nàng lo liệu như đối với cha mẹ mình.

Qua năm sau giặc tan, Trương Sinh được trở lại nhà, con vừa học nói. Chàng bế con đi thăm mồ mẹ, đứa trẻ không chịu và quấy khóc. Nghe Trương Sinh dỗ dành, con ngây thơ nói: "Thế ra ông cũng là cha tôi ư? Ông lại biết nói, chứ không như cha tôi trước khi chỉ nín thin thít". Nghe Trương Sinh gạn hỏi, đứa bé lại nói: "Trước đây, thường có một người đàn ông, đêm nào cũng đến, mẹ Đản đi cũng đi, mẹ Đản ngồi cũng ngồi, nhưng chẳng bao giờ bế Đản cả".

Vốn có tính ghen, nghe con nói, Trương Sinh đinh ninh là vợ hư. Chàng la um lên cho hả giận. Vợ khóc lóc, chàng càng mắng nhiếc đuổi đi. Trước cảnh binh rơi trâm gãy, Vũ Nương tắm gội chay sạch, ra bến Hoàng giang, ngửa mặt lên trời mà than, mong thần sông linh thiêng chứng giám. Nàng nguyền, nếu đoan trang, trinh bạch xin được làm ngọc Mị Châu, làm cỏ Ngu Mĩ; nhược bằng lòng chim dạ cá, lừa chồng dối con thì xin làm mồi cho tôm cá, làm cơm cho diều quạ, ...

Vũ Nương nhảy xuống sông tự tử. Chẳng bao lâu sau, một đêm vắng vẻ, ngồi dưới đèn khuya, bỗng đứa con chỉ chiếc bóng in trên vách mà nói rằng: "Cha Đản lại đến kìa!" Lúc bấy giờ Trương Sinh mới thấy nỗi oan của vợ.

Lại nói chuyện Phan Lang người cùng làng, làm đầu mục ở bến đò Hoàng Giang. Một đêm chiêm bao thấy người con gái áo xanh đến xin tha mạng. Sáng dậy người phường chài đem biếu một con rùa mai xanh. Phan chợt nghĩ đến chuyện mộng bèn đem thả con rùa ấy. Chẳng bao lâu, dưới thời Khai Đại nhà Hồ, giặc Minh sang cướp nước ta. Nhiều người sợ hãi chạy trốn, thuyền bè bị đắm, chết đuối đầy sông trong đó có Phan Lang, xác dạt vào động Rùa ở hải đảo. Linh Phi là vợ vua Nam Hải chợt nhìn thấy, bèn nói: "Đây là vị ân nhân cứu sống ta thuở xưa". Linh Phi lấy khăn dấu mà lau, thuốc thần mà đổ, một chốc sau Phan Lang hồi sinh.

Linh Phi rước Phan Lang vào cung nước, mở tiệc lớn ở gác Triều Dương để đãi ân nhân. Trong bữa tiệc có nhiều mĩ nhân quần áo thướt tha, tóc búi xể, trong đó có một người chỉ điểm qua son phấn trông rất giống Vũ Nương. Tiệc xong, người đàn bà ấy đến gặp Phan Lang. Vũ Nương nói lại tình cảnh mình được các nàng tiên trong cung nước thương tình mà cứu sống. Nghe Phan Lang nhắc lại cố hương, mồ mả tiền nhân ... Vũ Nương khóc ... Hôm sau Linh Phi lấy một cái túi bằng lụa tía, đựng mười hạt minh châu, sai xứ Xích Hồn đưa Phan ra khỏi nước. Vũ Nương cũng gửi Phan chiếc hoa vàng đưa về cho Trương Sinh và lập đàn giải oan, đốt cây đèn thần trên bến Hoàng Giang thì nàng sẽ trở về. Nhận được chiếc hoa vàng, Trương Sinh thốt lên: "Đây quả là vật dụng mà vợ tôi mang lúc ra đi ...". Trương Sinh lập đàn tràng, đốt cây đèn thần ba ngày đêm trên bến Hoàng Giang. Vũ Nương đã hiện về, ngồi trên một chiếc kiệu hoa, theo sau có năm mươi chiếc xe cờ tán, võng lọng rực rỡ đầy sông. "Đa tạ tình chàng, thiếp chẳng trở về nhân gian được nữa…". Tiếng Vũ Nương vọng vào, bóng nàng loang loáng mờ dần rồi mất hút.

Truyện kể về Vũ Thị Thiết hay còn gọi là Vũ Nương - người con gái Nam Xương, tính tình thùy mị nết na, tư dung tốt đẹp. Trương Sinh cảm mến xin mẹ cưới về làm vợ. Nhưng cuộc sum vầy chưa được bao lâu thì gặp phải thời chinh chiến, Trương Sinh phải đi lính, Vũ Nương lúc ấy đang mang thai. Khi chồng đi xa, nàng ở nhà phụng dưỡng mẹ chồng già yếu và sinh con trai đặt tên là Đản. Mẹ chồng vì quá nhớ mong con mà sinh ốm, nàng hết lòng chăm sóc nhưng chẳng may mẹ qua đời, nàng lo ma chay chu tất như chính cha mẹ đẻ của mình. Giặc tan, Trương Sinh về nhà biết tin mẹ mất thì rất buồn khổ. Chỉ vì câu nói ngây thơ của con trẻ mà chàng đã cho rằng vợ mình hư hỏng. Vì quá ghen tuông, hồ đồ mà chàng xử sự thiếu suy nghĩ, mắng nhiếc đuổi vợ ra khỏi nhà. Uất ức, Vũ Nương gieo mình xuống sông Hoàng Giang tự vẫn. Nhưng nàng lại được các tiên nữ dưới cung nước thương tình cứu giúp. Ở đây nàng đã gặp Phan Lang - người cùng làng. Nàng đã nhờ Phan Lang nhắn gửi với Trương Sinh lập đàn giải oan thì nàng sẽ trở về. Nhưng khi Trương Sinh lập đàn giải oan, Vũ Nương hiện về rực rỡ đầy sông nhưng lại nói lời vĩnh biệt: "Đa tạ tình chàng, thiếp chẳng thể trở về nhân gian được nữa."

Vu Nuong was elegant and beautiful. Truong Sinh married her, but soon after, he had to go off to war. Vu Nuong stayed at home, taking care of her elderly mother and young child. Her mother, overwhelmed by the longing for her son, fell ill and passed away. Vu Nuong held a proper funeral ceremony. Every night, she would speak to her son, explaining that the shadow on the wall was his father. When Truong Sinh returned from the war, their child did not recognize him as his father. After hearing the child’s story, Truong Sinh became suspicious of his wife’s loyalty and unjustly drove her away. Vu Nuong, unable to clear her name, drowned herself in the Hoang Giang River. A man named Phan Lang, who had been saved by the sea goddess Linh Phi, accidentally encountered Vu Nuong in the underwater realm. Phan Lang returned to the mortal world and sent a golden flower and a message from Vu Nuong to her husband. Realizing his wife’s innocence, Truong Sinh performed a ritual to clear her name by the riverbank. Vu Nuong appeared sitting on a flower palanquin to thank him, then vanished.

The story of the girl from Nam Xương recounts the life and tragic death of Vu Nuong. Vu Nuong, from Nam Xương, was not only beautiful but also virtuous. She was married to Trương Sinh, a man who was overly suspicious and extremely cautious with his wife. When Trương Sinh went off to war, Vu Nuong devoted herself to taking care of her mother-in-law, young children, and managing the household. During her solitary days, she often played with her child and would point to her own shadow on the wall, claiming it was the child's father. When Trương Sinh returned, he, influenced by the innocent words of their child, wrongly accused Vu Nuong of infidelity. Unable to explain herself, Vu Nuong threw herself into the river to prove her loyalty. Linh Phi saved her and she continued to live in the underwater world. Later, when she met Phan Lang, a fellow villager, she shared her story with him and asked him to deliver a message to her husband, urging him to hold a ceremony to clear her name. Trương Sinh followed her instructions and performed the ritual, but Vu Nuong’s image only briefly appeared, slowly fading away and disappearing. She remained forever in the underwater world, never to return to the mortal realm.

Vu Thi Thiet was married to Trương Sinh, but not long after, her husband had to leave for military service. At home, she gave birth to their child and took care of her mother-in-law’s funeral rites. After three years, Trương Sinh returned, but he mistakenly thought his wife had been unfaithful. He harshly drove her away, and feeling unjustly wronged, Vu Nuong threw herself into the Hoang River. After her death, Trương Sinh came to realize his mistake, but it was too late. Vu Nuong was saved by Linh Phi and became a celestial being in the underwater world. One day, she encountered Phan Lang, a fellow villager, and asked him to deliver a message and a token to her husband. Upon receiving the message, Trương Sinh held a ritual at the Hoang Giang River. Vu Nuong’s apparition appeared briefly, then faded away, never to return.

Vu Thi Thiet, a beautiful and virtuous girl from Nam Xương, married Trương Sinh, the son of a wealthy but uneducated family. Not long after, Trương Sinh had to leave for military service. At home, Vu Thi Thiet gave birth to their first child, cared for her mother-in-law as if she were her own mother, and took charge of all the family affairs. When Trương Sinh returned, he misunderstood his wife after hearing the unclear words of their child. Already a jealous man, he wrongly accused her of infidelity and refused to listen to her explanation. He drove her away, and feeling deeply wronged, she threw herself into the Hoang River. Fortunately, Linh Phi saved her, and she became a celestial being in the underwater realm. After her death, Trương Sinh came to realize the truth—that the 'shadow' his child had spoken of as the father was, in fact, Vu Thi Thiet. However, it was too late to undo his mistake. Phan Lang, a fellow villager and a benefactor of Linh Phi, was once received in the underwater realm. There, Vu Thi Thiet asked him to deliver a message and a token to her husband. Upon hearing this, Trương Sinh performed a ritual at the Hoang Giang River in an attempt to honor his wife. Vu Thi Thiet appeared briefly, but she would never return to the world of the living.