Vietnamese Folklore: A Precious Heritage to Preserve

Overview of Vietnamese Folklore

Vietnamese folklore is an incredibly rich and diverse treasure trove, passed down through generations. It encompasses various forms such as legends, fairy tales, proverbs, folk songs, traditional musical instruments, traditional festivals, and folk performing arts… Each form reflects the lives, thoughts, feelings, and philosophies of the Vietnamese people throughout history.

Legends and Fairy Tales: Stories of Origins and History

Legends often tell stories about historical figures, historical events, or natural phenomena, linked to specific geographical locations. For example, the legend of Son Tinh – Thuy Tinh, the legend of An Duong Vuong and Mi Chau – Trong Thuy, explain the origins of natural phenomena and reflect the beliefs of the ancients about nature and society. Fairy tales focus on imaginary stories, with educational and entertainment value, often featuring characters such as fairies, demons, good people, and bad people… Fairy tales teach people about kindness, justice, and life lessons.

Proverbs and Folk Songs: The Subtlety of Language and Philosophy

Proverbs are short, concise sayings that summarize life experiences, lessons about morality, and society. For example, “eating a fruit, remember the one who planted the tree”, “a healthy leaf shelters a withered one”. Folk songs are short songs that express people’s emotions and thoughts, often related to working life, love, and family. Folk songs demonstrate the subtlety of language and imagery, reflecting the beauty of the Vietnamese soul.

Traditional Festivals: Connecting People and Communities

Traditional festivals are an integral part of Vietnamese folklore. Each festival is often associated with a historical event, belief, or local custom. Festivals are not only opportunities for people to play and relax but also opportunities to show respect and reverence for deities, ancestors, and to strengthen community solidarity.

Preservation and Promotion of Folklore

Preserving and promoting folklore is the responsibility of every Vietnamese citizen. We need to actively learn and teach the younger generation the valuable lessons of folklore. Organizing cultural and artistic activities, and communication programs to promote folklore are also very important. Only when we work together to preserve and promote it, can Vietnamese folklore continue to exist and thrive.