Long ago in the land of Laos, there lived a prince named Phonnavong. He was handsome, intelligent, and morally upright, so the king and queen loved him deeply. When he came of age, many officials hoped to marry their daughters to him, but none of them truly won his heart. Even the prime minister’s beautiful daughter failed to impress him because of her clever but dishonest nature.
One day, while hunting in the forest, Phonnavong chased his prey too far and became separated from his attendants as night fell. Only his loyal hunting dog and a talking myna bird remained with him. He rested beneath an ancient tree beside a vast lake. At sunrise, he witnessed a breathtaking sight. A flock of peacocks descended onto the lake, removed their feathers, and transformed into seven heavenly maidens. As they bathed and played in the water, Phonnavong was captivated by the youngest, the most beautiful of them all, and knew at once she was the woman he wished to marry.
Following his plan, the prince ordered his dog to hide the maiden’s peacock robe. When the other maidens fled back to the heavens, the youngest was left behind. Guided by the myna bird, she encountered Phonnavong, who covered her with his cloak and spoke gently to her. She revealed that her name was Duongnali, the youngest daughter of the king of Champa. Believing their meeting was destined, Phonnavong asked her to become his wife, and she shyly agreed. They exchanged a golden ring and a jade bracelet as tokens of trust and returned together to the Lao palace.
The king and queen of Laos welcomed Duongnali with joy, but jealousy consumed the prime minister and his daughter. Plotting in secret, the prime minister sent Phonnavong to suppress border rebels, hoping he would die in battle. Although the prince won every fight, false reports were spread to frighten the king. Soon after, a fake holy man was brought to court, claiming that Duongnali was an evil spirit bringing disaster. Deceived by lies, the king ordered her execution.
Before her death, Duongnali asked to follow a Champa custom by wearing her peacock robe and performing one final dance. As she danced and sang of her innocence, she suddenly spread her wings and flew back to Champa, leaving everyone in shock. When Phonnavong returned and learned what had happened, his grief was unbearable. Determined to find his wife, he returned to the lake where they first met.
There, the King of the Water Realm appeared and offered help, warning of many dangers along the way. Phonnavong was given a guiding monkey, a magical gem, and a powerful bow. He crossed a boiling river in silence, survived deadly threats, and eventually reached Champa by hiding among the feathers of a giant eagle. At a great celebration honoring Duongnali, the eagle attacked, and Phonnavong revealed himself and defeated it.
Reunited at last, the couple was filled with joy. The king of Champa agreed to their marriage on one condition. Phonnavong had to save the land from seven raging volcanoes that were burning villages and killing people. Using the magical bow given to him by the King of the Water Realm, the prince shot seven arrows. Each arrow carried the power of water and earth, and as they struck, the flames died out and the volcanoes fell silent, turning into cold hills of ash. True to his word, the king blessed their marriage and sent the couple back to Laos. During the celebration, Duongnali once again danced in her peacock feathers, and from this legend was born the peacock dance, a tradition cherished by the Lao people to this day.