Exploring the Beauty of Vietnamese Folklore

A Precious Heritage

Vietnamese folklore is a priceless treasure, preserving the spiritual, moral, and aesthetic values of the nation through generations. From fairy tales and mysterious legends to folk songs and proverbs imbued with human affection, all reflect a vivid picture of the life, thoughts, and soul of the Vietnamese people.

Legends: Mysterious Origins

Legends are stories recounting the origins of natural phenomena, objects, or people, often intertwined with mythology and history. These stories not only explain the origins of mountains, rivers, and trees, but also reveal the worldview, human perception, and social outlook of ancient Vietnamese people. Examples such as the legend of Son Tinh – Thuy Tinh, the legend of Lang Lieu and Banh Chung Banh Giay… are clear evidence.

Fairy Tales: Life Lessons

Fairy tales are fictional stories, often featuring good and evil characters, with exciting and captivating plots. Through these stories, the ancients taught their descendants lessons about morality, kindness, justice, and the will to overcome life’s challenges. Stories like Tam Cam, Thach Sanh, So Dua… are not only entertaining but also carry profound educational meaning.

Folk Songs and Proverbs: The Voice of the Nation

Folk songs (Ca dao) are short poems, often musical and easy to remember, expressing feelings, thoughts, love for homeland, country, family affection… Proverbs (Tục ngữ) are short, concise sayings, summarizing the life experiences of the people, reflecting philosophies of life, views on life, nature, and humanity. Both folk songs and proverbs are vivid testaments to the intellect and soul of the Vietnamese people.

Customs and Traditions: Cultural Identity

Customs and traditions are habits, rituals, and community activities formed and passed down through generations. These customs reflect the unique cultural identity of each region and ethnic group, creating the diversity and richness of Vietnamese culture. Traditional festivals, Tet Nguyen Dan, wedding and funeral ceremonies… are all beautiful cultural aspects that need to be preserved and promoted.

Preservation and Promotion

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