Top 9 Fairy Tales Featuring Benevolent Spirits and Wise Figures

The Tale of the Three Brothers tells the story of an honest, hardworking young man who values labor more than gold and is deserving of a happy life.

Once upon a time, there were three brothers named the Eldest, the Second, and the Youngest. Their parents passed away early, and the three brothers decided to set off to find a way to make a living. They reached a crossroads at the edge of their village and parted ways, agreeing to reunite in three years to see who had earned the most money.

The Eldest headed right and traveled for several days until he reached a city. After working hard and saving money, he opened a tavern. His wine was delicious and quickly became popular, but as his sales increased, he began watering down the wine, which led to fewer customers. Nonetheless, he managed to save some money.

The Second Brother headed left and wandered for a long time until he found a shop. He worked for the shopkeeper and, not being entirely honest, took a bit more than his fair share, eventually saving enough money to return home.

The Youngest Brother walked straight ahead. He crossed a field of blooming flowers, passed through valleys, and arrived at a clear stream. Near the stream, there was a small house overlooking a vast meadow filled with grazing sheep and goats. He approached and asked for rest. The homeowner, an elderly man with a long beard and a few wisps of hair, greeted him kindly. The elderly man asked, 'Where are you headed?'

The Youngest Brother explained his situation and asked for work. The elderly man smiled and said, 'Stay with me. We will tend the sheep together. But it is not an easy life here. Are you willing to endure hardship?'

The Youngest Brother proudly stated, 'I may be small, but my strong arms can handle any task. I am not afraid of hard work; in fact, I enjoy it.'

The elderly man laughed heartily and patted him on the back. The Youngest Brother worked diligently, and soon the flock of sheep grew and multiplied.

Three years passed quickly. The Youngest Brother, thinking about the promised reunion, asked the elderly man for permission to leave.

Before he left, the elderly man gave him a bag of gold coins and three peach pits.

The elderly man said, 'You are a strong, courageous, and capable young man. You truly deserve a reward. I have two gifts for you: one is this bag of gold, and the other is these three peach pits. Choose whichever you wish.'

The Youngest Brother thought for a moment. Not being greedy, he chose the three peach pits over the gold.

He bade farewell to the elderly man and set off.

When the brothers reunited, the Eldest and the Second Brother eagerly showed off their bags of money. When it was the Youngest Brother's turn, he revealed only the three peach pits. His two brothers, angry and frustrated, mocked him for being foolish and chased him away, fearing he would become a burden.

The Youngest Brother calmly walked away. After a long time, feeling hungry, he rested beneath a tree. Remembering the peach pits, he took one and bit into it. To his surprise, a feast appeared before him. He ate his fill and continued on his journey.

After a while, he bit into the second peach pit. As soon as he did, a two-horse carriage appeared, and the flock of sheep he had tended earlier came running toward him. He climbed onto the carriage, and the sheep followed.

Unable to resist, he took the third peach pit and bit into it. A loud noise echoed, and a beautiful fairy appeared beside the road. The fairy smiled brightly and asked to marry him.

The couple rode back to the village in the two-horse carriage. The next day, they held a grand wedding celebration, and the villagers came to rejoice with the couple.

The Wishful Gem of the Crow is a Vietnamese folk tale that serves as a reminder to children to avoid bad habits like greed and selfishness in life.

1. The Wishful Gem of the Crow

Once upon a time, there were years of continuous storms and floods, crops were destroyed, and famine spread everywhere. In a small village by the dyke, there lived a very poor family with many children. During this difficult time, they were even poorer and faced much hardship.

The eldest son, De, decided to work as a servant for a wealthy old man to earn some food for his siblings during the famine.

The old man saw that De was strong and quick, so he made him tend to his entire herd of cattle.

One day, De accidentally lost the old man’s most prized bull. He frantically searched everywhere, and his fellow herders joined in to help. They searched from field to field, from village to village, and climbed mountains, but the bull was nowhere to be found.

De, fearing he would be punished by his master, did not dare return home. He wandered for hours, exhausted and ready to rest. Just as he was dozing off, he was suddenly jolted awake by pain across his face and limbs, and the flapping of wings filled the air. The crows, thinking he had died, had come to peck at his body.

De remained still, then suddenly sprang to life and caught one of the crows.

The crow begged him in human speech:

– Please spare me, I will give you a precious gift.

Then, the crow dropped a small, glowing gem into De’s hand and said:

– This is the most magical wishful gem in the world. Whatever you wish for, you shall receive. Please take care of it.

De, captivated by the gem, didn’t notice when the crow flew away. He muttered aloud:

– Oh gem, I wish to find the lost bull to return to my master.

Instantly, the prized bull appeared right in front of De, and he was astonished, unable to believe his eyes.

– Oh, this truly is the magical wishful gem of the crow! I must be blessed!

De happily tucked the gem away.

2. The Complexity of Human Nature

From the day he possessed the precious gem, De became prosperous and wealthy. He built a house, bought land, and purchased cattle for his parents. He also brought in a teacher to teach his siblings.

De often used the crow’s wishful gem to wish for food and money to help his neighbors, ensuring no one had to suffer from hunger like before.

Time passed, and De’s parents urged him to marry, but he kept postponing. One day, he spoke to the gem:

– Oh gem, I wish for a beautiful wife.

As soon as he spoke, a matchmaker arrived at his door, saying:

– A wealthy family in the neighboring village has expressed interest in marrying their daughter to you.

De went with the matchmaker to that house, where he saw a girl with the most beautiful eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes. He immediately agreed to marry her.

However, after moving in with De, his wife refused to work and spent all her time trying to discover the location of the magical gem. When she could not get De to reveal where he hid it, she got him drunk one evening. In his drunken stupor, De mumbled the secret place where he kept the gem. That night, while De slept deeply, his wife secretly stole the gem and ran back to her parents’ house.

When De awoke and realized his wife was gone and the gem was missing, he rushed to her parents' home. But as he reached the gate, his father-in-law chased him away with dogs.

De was deeply saddened and left, muttering as he walked:

– The nature of people is truly hard to understand! If even my wife can do this, what can we expect from others?

Just then, an old man appeared holding a white and a red flower. He kindly approached De and said:

– Do not be sad. Take this white flower and place it on your father-in-law’s door. When they need help, give them the red flower. Then you will retrieve both your wife and the gem.

Before De could thank the old man, he vanished with a wave of his hand.

3. A Lesson for Those Who Stole the Wishful Gem

The next morning, De’s wife saw a strange flower hanging on the door. The sweet fragrance of the flower intoxicated her, and she brought it inside to admire it. The white flower shimmered magically as its petals emitted an enchanting scent.

The house was immediately filled with this strange fragrance, causing everyone to want to touch the flower and inhale the scent. Those who smelled it felt rejuvenated, except for De’s wealthy father-in-law and his daughter, who both started to itch and their noses began to grow longer.

They scratched their noses, but the more they scratched, the longer they grew, until their noses resembled elephant trunks. The mother and daughter quickly hid in the back room to avoid the servants and neighbors' curious stares.

The wealthy man, terrified, sent for doctors from all over the region, but when they saw the strange illness, they all shook their heads:

– This nose can only be cured by cutting it off, but even that may not help. It might just make it grow even faster, which could be dangerous to your health.

De waited for the chaos to unfold at his in-laws' house before casually walking in. When he saw the long noses of his father-in-law and wife, he could not contain his laughter and fell to the ground. After laughing for a long time, he finally said:

– This is all because your daughter stole my wishful gem. If you return it and send my wife back home, her nose will return to normal.

The wealthy man had no choice but to agree. De handed them the red flower, and in an instant, their noses shrank back to their normal size.

De took his wife back, and she, ashamed, silently followed him. From that day on, she became obedient and worked hard. They lived peacefully together.

Anyone in the village who faced difficulty came to De and his wife for help, relying on the magical gem of the crow.

Years passed, and when De had grown old with a white beard, the crow from that day returned and called out:

– It’s the crow! It’s the crow! Return my gem! Give me back my gem!

De quickly took the wishful gem and handed it to the crow. The crow took the gem in its beak and flew high into the sky, disappearing forever. Many people have tried to find that magical wishful gem ever since, but none have been successful.

The Ninth Fairy is a folk tale of the H’rê people, recounting the challenging journey to the heavens undertaken by a father and son to retrieve the wife, who had been taken by the Thunder God.

1. The Guidance of the Fairy Elder

Long ago, there was an elderly woman with a grown-up son. She was so poor that she couldn’t afford to find a wife for him. Every night, she would sit by the fire, watching her son sleep alone and cry to the sky.

One night, after crying for a long time, she unknowingly fell asleep leaning against the wall. A flash of lightning woke her up, and she saw an old man with a white beard and hair, wearing blue clothes, blue shoes, and holding a blue cane, standing atop a jackfruit tree. Terrified, she tried to run into the kitchen, but the old man gestured to her with a gentle voice:

– I am a fairy, I know you suffer from poverty and cannot afford to find a wife for your son, so I will help. Tomorrow, tell your son to follow the direction I point, and keep walking until he reaches a mountain with a large white stone, as big as a house. There, he will see nine fairies coming down to bathe. He should choose the fairy he loves, take her wings, and bring them back home.

With that, the fairy disappeared. Overjoyed, the woman hurried to open the door, stoked the fire, woke her son, and told him everything that had happened.

The next morning, the son packed some rice, strapped his water jug, crossed forests, and climbed mountains, arriving at the place the fairy elder had mentioned by noon. What appeared before him was a breathtaking sight. A crystal-clear, turquoise lake with a path leading down to a bathing spot. On the shore, strange flowers bloomed, and the stones sparkled like diamonds.

As the sunlight danced on the surface, the young man looked up and saw nine fairies in white robes descending from the pink clouds. He hid behind a bush to observe. The fairies stood on the jade stones, removed their wings, and waded into the water. The water was clear, and the fairies’ skin glowed like porcelain, each one more beautiful than the rising sun. Among them, the ninth fairy stood out as the most graceful. Her hair was as smooth and long as a stream, her laughter sounded like a melodious flute, and her face was more beautiful than blooming flowers. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and when she looked at something, it seemed to glow with a thousand rays of light. The young man quietly snuck up and stole her wings before heading back home.

2. The Ninth Fairy

The thunder from above signaled that it was time for the fairies to return to the heavenly palace. The eight older sisters quickly dressed and flew off, while the youngest remained, playing in the cool water.

Realizing her wings were gone, the ninth fairy panicked and frantically searched the shore. The thunder above urged her to hurry, but she could not find her wings.

She noticed human footprints in the sand and followed them to a small house at the foot of the mountain. Unsure of what to do, she was greeted by an elderly woman who said:

– Child, the road is long and dangerous. Come inside, rest, eat, and drink before continuing.

Moved by the woman’s kindness, the fairy leaned into her shoulder and cried, recounting how she had lost her wings and could not return to the heavens.

The old woman invited her inside, and her son came out to greet her. He went into the forest to gather bamboo shoots and mushrooms, which his mother used to cook for the fairy. That night, he played a K'ni, a traditional musical instrument, to help her sleep peacefully.

Days passed, and although the fairy initially longed for her parents, the care and affection from the old woman and the young man eased her sadness. She started helping with the farming and water gathering, and over time, the two became closer.

After a few months, the young man married the ninth fairy. They lived happily together, and the villagers admired them as the perfect couple, hardworking and beautiful. The man never scolded his wife, always bringing home gifts from the forest and fields.

After two or three seasons, under a full moon, the ninth fairy gave birth to a healthy son. The family’s home became even warmer and happier.

However, one peaceful day, the sky suddenly darkened, and a furious thunder roared. The Thunder God descended, holding his hammer, and demanded that the fairy return to the heavens or face death, along with her son, husband, and mother-in-law. Heartbroken, the fairy fell to the ground, crying bitterly. She went inside, prepared three bamboo tubes full of milk, gently laid her son on a mat, and left a lock of her hair for her husband before following the Thunder God back to the heavens.

3. The Journey to Find His Wife

The next day, when the old woman and her son returned home, they found only the sleeping child beside the lock of hair. Seeing the scorched trees, they realized something tragic had occurred. The man carried his son on his back and went into the forest, crying for nine days and nights. His sorrowful wails echoed in the air. The villagers, moved by his grief, decided to help. They gathered their resources and hired a blacksmith skilled in creating flying iron birds to forge a metal peacock for the father and son.

With the peacock, father and son soared into the sky. They crossed clouds of various colors, but when they reached the mighty Ganges River, the peacock couldn’t cross due to the fierce winds and waves. Despite several attempts, they were forced to stay on the river’s edge. One day, while the wife was washing clothes by the river, the child saw her and cried out:

– Mother!

The wife turned and saw her husband. Though they were near each other, they could not meet. They wept bitterly.

The villagers, deeply moved, petitioned the heavens to allow them to reunite, but the gods refused, saying the ninth fairy was to be married to a nobleman.

Unwilling to give up, the villagers continued their efforts, and finally, the Jade Emperor decreed that if the husband could complete several tasks, he could marry his wife. The first task was to gather all the sesame seeds in a field long enough to match the distance a bird could fly without tiring. The second was to eat all the ripe chili peppers in a pepper forest. The third was to build a beautiful diamond house in the Ganges River.

Determined to bring his wife back, the man accepted the challenge. The next morning, he and his son began collecting sesame seeds, but by noon, they had barely made a dent. Seeing their struggle, the fairy elder invoked a spell, summoning a flock of sparrows to help. The task was completed in no time.

Next, the man struggled to eat the fiery chili peppers. His stomach burned, his eyes reddened, but he barely managed to eat a few. The fairy elder then summoned a flock of red-cheeked birds to finish the task.

The final challenge was to build a diamond house in the Ganges. The villagers worked tirelessly, but no matter how heavy or large the wood, it was swept away by the powerful current. After days of failure, the man sat by the river, holding his son and crying out in despair.

The Fish God then ordered all the river creatures to assist. A large eel rose from the water and assured him:

– Do not worry. Tomorrow, you will have your beautiful house and be reunited with your wife. Cheer up!

True to the promise, the next morning, a magnificent diamond house appeared in the river, built by the fish. The eel served as a pillar, the snakehead fish created the platform, and the other fish contributed to the structure, including a beautiful bridge that connected the house to the shore.

The Jade Emperor, seeing the house, allowed the man to cross the river and meet his wife. Meanwhile, the malicious gods celebrated by preparing a feast, but when they lit the fire, the turtle who served as the stove collapsed into the river, followed by the eel, snakehead, and other fish, drowning the evil gods in the swirling waters.

From that day on, the ninth fairy and her husband were tasked with overseeing the heavens, ensuring rain for the earth, sunshine for crops, and occasional visits to the old woman and their village.

The Grasshopper's Trial is a folk tale that explains the ancient custom of bringing a rooster to court during disputes, and why roosters incubate duck eggs.

1. The Stretching of the Leg, a Calamity

Once upon a time, a grasshopper, busy searching for food, lost its way back home. As night fell, the cold and drizzling rain made the grasshopper shiver. It wanted to find a place to sleep, but the dense darkness made it impossible to find its way. “I’ll crawl around and hope to find a dry spot to spend the night,” it thought. So, the grasshopper kept crawling up a tree branch until it finally settled. Little did it know, it had crawled into a sparrow’s nest. There, the warmth was inviting, but suddenly a voice called out:

– “Who’s there, entering my house so late at night? Be careful not to step on my little ones!”

The grasshopper, shivering from the cold, barely managed to reply:

– “It’s me, the grasshopper! The night is too cold… Please, let me stay here just for the night, and I’ll leave in the morning.”

– “My house is too small for my own children to sleep. Go find somewhere else,” the sparrow said.

But the grasshopper pleaded:

– “Please let me sleep on the outer edge; I can’t move anywhere else, I’m freezing.”

The sparrow, moved by pity, agreed:

– “Alright, you can rest on the side, but be careful not to step on my babies.”

The grasshopper curled up beside the sparrow’s chicks, and soon both the grasshopper and the sparrow slept soundly.

Suddenly, a loud “crack” from the nearby forest startled the grasshopper awake. It stretched its long legs and forgot the sparrow’s warning. The tree branch, weakened by wind and age, cracked as the grasshopper stretched its legs. The sparrow cried out:

– “Oh no! It’s broken!”

The damage was done. The chicks were pushed to one side, and the nest tilted. In no time, the nest detached from the tree, and one of the chicks, still asleep, fell into the river below. The sparrow mother and her chicks frantically searched, but the current had already swept the chick away.

2. The Grasshopper’s Trial

Furious, the sparrow family decided to take the grasshopper to Buddha the next morning. After hearing the complaint, Buddha visited the scene and summoned the grasshopper:

– “Why did you come and cause harm to another’s home?”

The grasshopper bowed its head and admitted its fault but explained to Buddha that it didn’t intend to cause harm:

– “I am not an ungrateful creature. The loud cry of the stag startled me, and I stretched out of habit, causing the accident.”

Buddha, feeling some sympathy, summoned the stag and explained the situation to it:

– “The house collapsed, and the chick died because of your scream. Why did you shout so loudly in the night, causing this disaster?”

The stag quickly responded:

– “It’s not my fault! I was dozing when a green fruit fell on my face, causing me to cry out in fright. It’s the fruit’s fault, not mine.”

Seeing the stag’s reasoning, Buddha then asked the tree:

– “Why did you allow the fruit to fall and hit the stag in the face, causing all this trouble? Have you recognized your fault?”

The tree responded immediately:

– “Master, I didn’t want the fruit to fall. It was the worm that gnawed at the stem, causing the fruit to drop.”

Buddha then summoned the worm to explain itself, and the worm replied:

– “Master, I was peacefully living under the dry leaves, where I had plenty of food. But recently, a chicken came looking for me, threatening my family. I had no choice but to climb up here and gnaw at the fruit to survive. If the fruit fell and caused problems, it’s not my fault, it’s the chicken’s.”

Next, the chicken was summoned to explain. The chicken, unfamiliar with the area, had been looking for food and was now unable to respond to Buddha’s questioning. The chicken had brought its chicks across the river to search for food, which was getting scarce. When questioned three times, the chicken couldn’t answer and was imprisoned by Buddha.

3. Clearing the Mother’s Name

The chicken’s four hens and one rooster, upon learning that their mother had been imprisoned, rushed to find a way to help. The hens searched for food to help their mother, but they couldn’t persuade Buddha. The next day, the rooster went to Buddha and pleaded:

– “Master, my mother was wrongfully imprisoned.”

Buddha frowned and replied:

– “What injustice? If your mother had stayed on her side of the river, the worm would not have gnawed the fruit, it would not have fallen, and the stag would not have cried out. The grasshopper would not have been startled, and the nest wouldn’t have collapsed. Your mother is clearly the cause of this misfortune.”

The rooster respectfully responded:

– “Master, I must speak up for my mother. Among all creatures, only chickens do not have milk to feed their young. That’s why we must work harder to find food. My mother had no choice but to cross the river in search of food. This was a difficult situation; it was not her fault.”

Buddha, moved by the rooster’s reasoning, decided to release the mother chicken.

From that day on, people began to bring roosters to court, hoping their presence would ensure victory in disputes. As for the chickens, they continued to incubate duck eggs in gratitude, a custom passed down through generations.

The story of "Của Thiên trả Địa" is a Vietnamese folk tale that condemns ungrateful people and expresses the desire for justice in ancient society.

1. The Two Friends, Thiên and Địa

Long ago, there were two young men, Thiên and Địa, who worked as day laborers in the same village. Both were poor and orphans, but Thiên was exceptionally bright, always quick to understand whatever was taught. One day, Địa said to him:

– If we continue like this, we will never improve. You are talented, and if you had the opportunity to study, you could pass the exams and become a high-ranking official. I will work hard to earn money and support your education, and when you succeed, we will share the wealth.

Thiên agreed, but Địa cautioned: Remember me when you succeed.

So, Địa worked tirelessly day and night to support his friend. Seeing Thiên progress every day, Địa worked even harder without complaint. After ten years of study, Thiên passed the provincial exam and then the imperial exam, achieving the title of Trạng nguyên (top scholar). He became a high-ranking official with many servants, a grand residence, and great respect from others.

Upon hearing the news, Địa was overjoyed. He immediately returned the ox he had borrowed and sold his house to raise money for gifts to visit Thiên. However, when he arrived at Thiên's mansion, Thiên had become indifferent and refused to acknowledge him. He ordered his guards to prevent Địa from entering. Heartbroken and humiliated, Địa left in sadness.

2. The Lucky Boatman

Arriving at the riverbank, Địa sat down, his tears flowing as he thought of the ingratitude of people and his own unfortunate fate. He had no home to return to since he had sold his house. Suddenly, a Buddha appeared, disguised as a passerby, and asked him:

– Why are you crying?

Địa told his story. The Buddha then magically gave him a boat and said:

– Stay here and ferry people across the river. You will earn enough to live and no longer need to work for others.

Địa followed the advice and began his new life as a ferryman. However, he only earned enough to feed himself and had no savings. When the anniversary of his father's death came, he had nothing to offer for the ceremony. That afternoon, after ferrying several passengers across, Địa heard another call for the boat. He turned around, and the passenger was a young, beautiful woman. It was getting dark, and the woman asked:

– It's late, may I stay the night with you?

Although Địa's home was just a small hut by the river, with only a simple bench inside, he offered her the place to rest. As Địa was about to leave to find another place to sleep, the woman suddenly asked him:

– Are you married?

Địa replied:

– No.

– I will marry you!

Địa was taken aback and unsure how to respond. The woman continued:

– I am a celestial being. Heaven has seen that you are a good person who has suffered much, so I have come to help you.

With that, she magically transformed the humble hut into a magnificent mansion: tiled roofs, tall walls, corridors, and a courtyard with all the furniture and servants one could need.

3. Của Thiên Trả Địa

Địa was both amazed and overjoyed. The celestial woman created a grand feast for him to honor his father. The next morning, she told Địa to dress in fine clothes and ride a palanquin to invite Thiên to his house for the ceremony. This time, Thiên treated Địa with respect. But when he heard the invitation to the feast, he sneered and said to Địa:

– If you want me to come, lay out a carpet of flowers from here to your house, and I will come.

Địa told his wife the story. The celestial woman transformed a long carpet of flowers to cover the road from their home to Thiên's mansion. Thiên, surprised by Địa's newfound wealth, decided to visit. When he arrived, he was astonished by the beauty of Địa's house and everything it contained. At the feast, Địa's wife personally served wine. Thiên, feeling envious of Địa's good fortune, drunkenly said:

– If you exchange your wife and this wealth for mine, I will give you my official position and mansion in return.

Although Địa had no interest in such a deal, his wife whispered to him, encouraging him to agree. Both signed a contract, and soon Địa returned to his mansion, leaving Thiên drunk and asleep. The next morning, Thiên awoke to find himself in a humble hut by the river. His beautiful wife and mansion had vanished. From then on, he worked as a ferryman in place of Địa. As for Địa, he became wise and prosperous, living a happy life as a scholar and official.

Meaning of "Của Thiên Trả Địa"

The phrase "Của Thiên trả Địa" refers to the sudden acquisition of wealth without effort, only to lose it just as quickly. Such material wealth, gained through wrongful or dishonest means, will eventually be lost.

This Vietnamese folk tale teaches a valuable lesson about ungratefulness and betrayal, showing that those who act in such ways will face undesirable consequences. It celebrates selflessness and devotion to friends, while also reminding us to be cautious about placing trust in others, as it can backfire.

A Vietnamese proverb says, "One tree cannot make a mountain, but three trees together can make a high hill." In life, an individual has more opportunities for success when they receive support from others. In the story, Thiên succeeded with the help of his friend Địa, who provided the resources for him to focus on studying. If we work together with a common goal, the results will be immense.

Like many other Vietnamese folk tales, "Của Thiên trả Địa" expresses the hopes of the poor, laboring people in the old society, and reflects the moral values of the past: good deeds are rewarded, and wrongdoings are punished.

The story of The Hundred-Joint Bamboo is a traditional Vietnamese folk tale that emphasizes moral lessons: good-hearted, honest, and humble people will always find luck and assistance in life.

Once upon a time, there was an old wealthy man who had a beautiful daughter. He employed a poor, hardworking farmer to help with the labor and plowing his fields. The wealthy man, wanting to take advantage of the young man, said to him:

– Keep working hard, and if you do, I will give you my daughter’s hand in marriage!

The young man was thrilled to hear this, as he secretly admired the daughter but dared not express his feelings. So, he worked tirelessly for the wealthy man, without worrying about the hardships, always putting in long hours regardless of the weather.

Three years passed, and seeing his household prosper, the wealthy man thought to himself:

– My family is so rich now. If I marry my daughter to a servant, it will be a waste and a source of ridicule!

With that, the wealthy man secretly arranged for his daughter to marry another rich man from a nearby family.

The morning of the wedding, the wealthy man called the young man over and told him:

– Go into the forest and find a bamboo stalk with exactly a hundred joints to make wedding chopsticks. If you do that, I will allow you to marry my daughter!

The young man, always obedient, immediately took his axe and set off into the forest in search of the bamboo.

But after searching far and wide, he couldn’t find a single bamboo stalk with exactly one hundred joints. Feeling despondent, he sat down and cried.

Suddenly, an old man with a head of white hair appeared and asked:

– Why are you crying? Tell me your troubles!

The young man explained the situation, and the old man advised:

– Go ahead and cut the bamboo. Once you have one hundred joints, bring them to me, and I will help you.

The young man followed the advice and cut exactly one hundred bamboo joints, returning to the old man.

The old man then instructed him to chant: “Khắc nhập! Khắc nhập!”

As he repeated the words three times, the bamboo joints magically joined together to form a single long bamboo stalk.

The young man was overjoyed and tried to carry it back home. However, the bamboo was so long and heavy that he couldn’t move it.

He sat down again, crying.

The old man appeared again and asked:

– Why are you crying now?

– The bamboo is too long. I can’t carry it home! – the young man replied.

The old man smiled and told him to chant: “Khắc xuất! Khắc xuất!”

When the young man repeated the words three times, the bamboo immediately separated into its individual joints.

He thanked the old man, tied the bamboo together with vine, and carried it home.

When he returned, he saw that the two families were celebrating, with the wedding just about to begin. He then realized that the wealthy man had tricked him and married his daughter off to someone else while he was away.

Without saying a word, the young man silently laid the bamboo joints on the ground and chanted:

– Khắc nhập! Khắc nhập!

Miraculously, the bamboo joints rejoined into a single stalk.

The wealthy man, seeing the strange phenomenon, rushed over to investigate.

The young man chanted again:

– Khắc nhập! Khắc nhập!

Immediately, the wealthy man became stuck to the bamboo, unable to escape.

The father-in-law, seeing this, ran over to try and free the wealthy man.

The young man waited until the father-in-law was close, then chanted again:

– Khắc nhập! Khắc nhập!

And soon, the father-in-law was also stuck to the bamboo, struggling but unable to break free.

The two families, seeing the situation, dared not approach.

The two men begged the young man to release them. The father-in-law asked to return to his home, and the wealthy man promised to give him his daughter in marriage immediately.

Finally, the young man chanted:

– Khắc xuất! Khắc xuất!

At once, both the wealthy man and the father-in-law were freed from the bamboo, and the bamboo separated into its original hundred joints.

The young man married the wealthy man’s daughter, and they lived happily ever after.

Because of this story, the following proverb was born:

“You scorn me, yet you take me back, Even though I was a servant, I have shown my worth.”

Once upon a time, there were two sisters, one from the same father but different mothers. The older sister's name was Tấm, and the younger one was Cám. Tấm's mother passed away early, and several years later, her father also died, leaving her to live with her stepmother, who was Cám's mother. This wicked stepmother treated Tấm cruelly, forcing her to do all the heavy work, from house chores to tending cattle and cutting grass. Meanwhile, Cám was spoiled and did nothing at all.

One day, the stepmother gave both sisters a basket and ordered them to go to the field to catch shrimp, promising that whoever filled their basket first would be rewarded with a red scarf.

In the field, Tấm diligently filled her basket, while Cám, distracted and playing, caught nothing.

Seeing that Tấm had filled her basket, Cám called to her sister:

- Tấm! Tấm! Your head's in the mud, be careful not to get scolded when we go back.

Believing her sister's words, Tấm went into the pond to wash, while Cám seized the opportunity to empty all of Tấm's shrimp into her own basket and rushed home. When Tấm returned, her basket was empty, and she sat down crying. Hearing her sobs, a fairy appeared and asked:

- Why are you crying?

Tấm told the fairy what had happened, and the fairy said:

- Don't cry. Look into your basket again, perhaps there's still something in it?

Tấm looked into her basket and said:

- There's just a little goby fish left.

- Take that fish and put it into a well. Every time you eat, leave a portion for the fish. When you feed it, call out like this:

Bống bống bang bang

Come and eat the golden rice, silver rice in our house.

Don’t eat the stale rice or watery soup from others' homes.

If you don’t call it right, the fish won’t appear. Remember that!

After saying that, the fairy disappeared. Tấm followed the fairy’s advice and kept the goby in the well. Every day, she saved some of her meal for the fish, calling it by the magic chant, and each time the fish appeared to eat the food she threw in. Over time, the fish grew larger and more familiar with Tấm.

Noticing that Tấm often brought food to the well, the stepmother grew suspicious and sent Cám to spy. Cám hid behind some bushes near the well and learned the chant, then went home to tell her mother. That night, the stepmother, with a sweet voice, told Tấm:

- Child, the village has started to restrict where we can herd the cows. Tomorrow, take the cows far away, don’t let them graze near the village, or the cows will be seized.

Tấm obeyed and the next morning, took the cows far away. At home, Cám brought food to the well and called for the fish just as Tấm did. Hearing the call, the fish surfaced, and the stepmother quickly caught it and brought it home to cook.

When Tấm returned in the afternoon and went to feed the fish, she called and called, but the fish did not appear. Finally, she saw a bloodstain floating on the water. Realizing something bad had happened, Tấm cried uncontrollably. The fairy appeared again and asked:

- Why are you crying?

Tấm told the fairy what happened, and the fairy replied:

- The fish has been eaten. Don’t cry. Go and find its bones, place them in four jars, and bury them under the four corners of your bed.

Tấm followed the fairy’s instructions, searching for the fish’s bones, and with the help of a chicken that offered to peck through the soil for her, she found them. She then buried the bones under her bed.

Not long after, the king announced a festival that everyone in the villages eagerly attended. The roads were filled with people in bright clothes. Cám and her mother prepared their finest clothes for the event, and when they saw Tấm also wanted to go, the stepmother smirked and set a task for her:

- If you want to go to the festival, separate the rice from the grains and the husks. Only then will you be allowed to go.

Feeling discouraged, Tấm cried, and the fairy appeared once more:

- Why are you crying?

Tấm pointed at the basket and said:

- My stepmother set me a task to separate the rice from the husks, but by the time I finish, the festival will be over.

The fairy reassured her:

- Don’t worry. Place the basket in the yard, and I will send sparrows to help you.

- What if the sparrows eat the grains? Then I’ll still be punished.

- Just tell them this: "Rặt rặt (little sparrow), come and help me" and they will obey without eating anything.

No sooner had the fairy finished speaking than a flock of sparrows appeared and quickly separated the rice from the husks, finishing the task in no time.

But when the sparrows flew off, Tấm began to cry again. The fairy asked:

- Why are you crying now?

- Because I’m too poor to attend the festival, everyone will laugh at me.

- Don’t worry. Dig up the jars with the fish bones you buried, and you’ll find everything you need for the festival.

Tấm followed the fairy’s advice and dug up the jars. From the first jar, she took out a beautiful silk dress, a golden scarf, and a delicate handkerchief. From the second jar, she found embroidered shoes. The third jar contained a tiny horse that magically grew into a real horse when placed on the ground. The final jar revealed a beautiful saddle.

Delighted, Tấm quickly bathed, put on the new clothes, and rode the horse to the capital. However, when crossing a stone bridge, she accidentally dropped one of her shoes into the water. The shoe could not be retrieved.

Later, when the king passed over the bridge, his elephant stopped suddenly, causing the soldiers to investigate. They retrieved the shoe and the king admired its fine craftsmanship. He ordered a search for the owner, declaring that whoever could fit the shoe would become his wife.

The festival became even more exciting as women rushed to try on the shoe. However, none of them fit. When Cám and her stepmother tried on the shoe, it didn’t fit, but when Tấm put it on, it fit perfectly. She then revealed the matching shoe, and the soldiers cheered. The king immediately summoned Tấm to the palace, leaving Cám and her mother astonished.

Although Tấm lived in luxury in the palace, she never forgot the anniversary of her father’s death. She asked the king for permission to visit her old home to prepare offerings for her father. Cám and her mother, consumed by jealousy, plotted to take her place. The stepmother told Tấm:

- You used to climb the betel nut tree. Go up and get a bunch of betel nuts to offer to your father.

Tấm climbed the tree, but when she reached the top, the stepmother chopped down the tree, causing it to fall and Tấm to die. The stepmother then dressed Cám in Tấm’s clothes and tricked the king, telling him Tấm had fallen into the pond and died.

After Tấm died, she transformed into a golden bird that flew to the palace. She perched on a tree branch, singing a melody that reminded the king of his lost wife. One day, when the king was walking in the garden, he heard the bird sing:

- Dry the clothes of my husband, dry them by the bamboo fence, but not by the road, for the clothes of my husband are torn.

The king called out, asking the bird where its owner was. The bird led the king to Tấm, and he was overjoyed to see her again, recognizing her as his wife. He asked the old woman who cared for her to explain what had happened, and then they lived happily together in the palace.

When Cám saw Tấm again, filled with jealousy, she asked:

- Tấm, how did you become so beautiful?

Tấm did not answer, only replied:

- Would you like to be beautiful too? I can help!

Cám eagerly agreed. Tấm ordered her servants to dig a deep pit and boil a pot of hot water. She instructed Cám to jump into the pit, and when she did, the servants poured the hot water on her, killing her. Tấm then sent the body to her stepmother, disguised as a gift. The stepmother, believing it was a real gift, ate it and praised it every day. A crow, however, appeared and cawed:

- Delicious! You eat your own daughter, and still ask for more!

The stepmother, angry and scared, chased the crow away. But when the stepmother looked into the jar and saw Cám’s skull, she was horrified and died from the shock.

The story of the greedy rich man and the old cowherd illustrates that those who are kind-hearted will always receive help from others, while the greedy will face appropriate punishment.

Once upon a time, long ago, in a small village by a dense forest in Hoa Binh province, there lived an elderly man named Cố Căng. He was the oldest and poorest person in the village, so poor that he only had a simple indigo loincloth to wear. Despite his poverty, Cố Căng was known for his kindness, always willing to help those in need.

In his youth, Cố Căng worked for a wealthy but cruel and cunning landowner. The old man was forced to work tirelessly in the fields all day and, at night, grind two mortars of rice before he could eat and sleep. As the years passed, Cố Căng grew weaker and older, and one day, the landowner, realizing the old man could no longer work the fields, called him over and said:

– Now that you're old and weak, you can't plow anymore. From now on, take care of my cattle. If you lose one, you'll have to replace it, or I will kill you.

From then on, Cố Căng's life became even more difficult. Every day, he had to wake up early to herd the cattle and return late in the evening. One day, he lost one of the cattle and searched for hours but couldn’t find it. At midnight, he returned to confess to the landowner, who, in a fit of rage, beat him up.

– If you don’t bring back that cow, you won’t live to see tomorrow!

It was storming heavily, with fierce winds and torrential rain, yet the old man set off… but strangely, as he entered the forest, the rain and clouds parted. Before him appeared a beautiful scene, with tall pine trees glowing in the light, and birds singing all around. While still in awe, an elegant peacock perched on a tree in front of him spoke kindly:

– Old man, the cow you’re looking for is on the left side of the forest. Follow this path, and when you reach a large house, kneel at the gate and pray: “Buddha, please help this humble old man…” Buddha will appear and return your cow to you.

Cố Căng thanked the peacock joyfully and hurried to the left as directed. After a while, he reached the gate of a magnificent house, knelt down, and prayed as instructed. Sure enough, Buddha appeared and said:

– You, an old man, have suffered greatly, living with a greedy and wicked landowner. Now, I will give you this house...

With that, Buddha vanished. Cố Căng, half-dazed, saw a beautiful house before him. Behind it was a lush garden, and by the garden was a clear pond. On the grassy meadow, the lost cow was grazing peacefully.

From then on, Cố Căng lived a prosperous life. However, being fond of his village and land, he wanted to return. Buddha, unable to persuade him to stay, finally agreed and gave Cố Căng a golden axe. This axe possessed great power: when the old man threw it into the bushes, the trees would fall, allowing him to gather as much firewood as he wanted.

When he returned to the village, he gave the cow back to the greedy landowner and took up woodcutting to make a living. The villagers were happy to see him back, healthy and prosperous, but the landowner, filled with jealousy and malice, secretly inquired about the golden axe. Cố Căng, being honest and straightforward, told him the whole story.

The greedy landowner was thrilled and schemed in his mind.

One stormy day, he covered his face with soot, wore ragged clothes, and pretended to be destitute as he trudged into the forest.

Upon entering the forest, the weather cleared up, and the peacock appeared again. Before the bird could speak, the landowner cried out:

– Oh peacock! I’ve lost a cow!

– Is that so? Just follow the left path, and you will find it.

Overjoyed, the landowner ran off, thinking of how he would become rich.

– Aha! This time I’ll be rich!

But, strangely, the further he went, the darker and denser the forest became, with winding paths that were difficult to navigate. He eventually reached a deep river, crossed a makeshift wooden bridge, but as he was halfway across, a thunderous storm struck. A bolt of lightning shattered the bridge, and the greedy landowner fell into the rushing water.

At that moment, Buddha appeared, smiling and saying:

– You, a rich man, have lived a life of greed, tormenting both the elderly and children. When you saw the poor man happy, you were filled with jealousy. Now, I punish you for your wickedness...

With that, Buddha disappeared, and the greedy landowner was swept away by the floodwaters, his evil deeds lost to the abyss.