Exploring the Beauty of Vietnamese Folklore

Legends and Fairy Tales: The Source of Creativity

Vietnamese folklore is an incredibly rich and diverse treasure trove, passed down through generations. Legends and fairy tales, with their magical and captivating stories, reflect the worldview, dreams, and aspirations of the people. From the epic story of Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh to the dramatic tale of Tấm and Cám, each story carries a profound message about good and evil, justice, and the meaning of life.

Proverbs and Folk Songs: The Wisdom of the People

Proverbs and folk songs are invaluable lessons about life experiences, human emotions, and philosophies of life. The sweet and profound folk songs express love for one’s homeland, family affection, and romantic love. Proverbs, with their conciseness and succinctness, contain profound lessons about morality, production experiences, and behavior in life.

Some exemplary folk songs:

“My body is like a thorny rambutan/White inside, black outside.”

“Father’s love is like Mount Thái Sơn/Mother’s love is like water from a spring.”

Traditional Festivals: Community Connections

Traditional festivals are an indispensable part of Vietnamese folklore. From major festivals like Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year), Gióng Festival, to smaller local festivals, each festival has its own meaning, reflecting the beliefs, customs, and traditions of each region. Festivals are opportunities for people to come together, celebrate, commemorate heroes, and pray for bountiful harvests and national peace.

Intangible Cultural Heritage: Global Value

Many intangible cultural heritages of Vietnam have been recognized by UNESCO, such as: Hue royal court music, Ca Tru (a genre of Vietnamese chamber music), water puppetry… These are clear evidence of the richness and uniqueness of Vietnamese folklore, which needs to be preserved and promoted.

Preservation and Promotion of Folklore

Preserving and promoting folklore is the responsibility of every Vietnamese citizen. We need to actively participate in preservation activities, teach the younger generation, so that folklore will endure through time.

This article is just a small introduction to the beauty of Vietnamese folklore. Let’s explore more interesting things!