Learning Wisdom the Hard Way is a traditional folktale about a foolish man who believes that simply copying others will make him wise. Following his wife’s advice, he goes out into the world to learn, but instead keeps making mistakes and getting into trouble. Through these painful experiences, the story shows that true wisdom comes from understanding and good judgment, not from blindly imitating others.
Long ago, there lived a man named Dull Jack who married a woman known as Sharp Clara. Jack lived up to his name. He could barely read, rarely went outside, and relied on his wife for every decision, from daily chores to major life choices. The more he depended on her, the more helpless he became. Clara, by contrast, was confident, outspoken, and quick minded. Their marriage reflected a familiar pattern: a foolish husband and a clever wife, which led to constant arguments and endless scolding. Clara never missed a chance to mock him, calling him hopelessly stupid and reminding him how far behind everyone else he was.
Thạch Sanh is a classic Vietnamese folktale about a brave and virtuous young hero born to a poor elderly couple. Despite his humble beginnings, Thạch Sanh possesses extraordinary strength and magical abilities. The story follows his adventures as he overcomes dangerous monsters, rescues a princess, and triumphs over deceit, highlighting values such as courage, loyalty, and moral integrity deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture.
Long ago, there lived a poor elderly couple who earned a living by chopping wood. Despite being sixty, they had never had children. Although poor, they were well known for their kindness and generosity, always helping their neighbors without hesitation. Touched by their virtue, the Jade Emperor sent his son to be reborn as their child. After three years and nine months, the wife gave birth to a son just as the father passed away. The baby was named Thạch Sanh. From birth, he was extraordinary, able to stand and sit immediately. His mother survived by struggling day by day on meager meals to raise him.
The Legend of the Kitchen Gods is a traditional Vietnamese folktale that explains the origin of the Kitchen Gods, also known as Táo Quân. The story tells of a poor couple, their struggles, and the events that led them to be transformed into divine figures. Every year, these Kitchen Gods are believed to travel to Heaven to report on the household’s behavior, a tradition that inspired the Vietnamese custom of offering carp at the end of the lunar year. This tale reflects values of loyalty, compassion, and moral responsibility in Vietnamese culture.
Long ago, there lived a poor married couple who had been together for many years but never had children. Life was hard, and one day, during a moment of frustration and sorrow, they argued fiercely. In a burst of anger, the husband struck his wife. Deeply hurt and humiliated, she left home and wandered away. By fate, she later met another man in the highlands, a hunter, and eventually became his wife. Meanwhile, the first husband was overwhelmed by regret. After several days, he set out to search for her. He searched endlessly but failed. Penniless, sick, and exhausted, he became a beggar, drifting from place to place just to survive.
The Forest Rabbit and the Gray Tiger is a traditional folktale that tells the story of a clever rabbit and a fearsome tiger in the heart of the forest. Through a tense encounter between intelligence and brute strength, the tale shows how quick thinking and wisdom can overcome even the most powerful enemy.
That morning, the Forest Rabbit hopped along the woodland path in a cheerful mood, proud of how he had recently outsmarted the Old Wolf, who ended up burned and left with a badly scorched tail after trying to steal food. The Rabbit felt light and carefree, enjoying his clever victory, until a sudden chill ran through his body.
The Turtle Dove is a Vietnamese folktale about greed, cleverness, and the misuse of authority. Through a brief encounter between a corrupt local official and two quick witted boys, the story shows how desire can blind those in power and lead to public shame.
A certain local official was widely known for his greed. One mild and overcast day, he brought several guards with him to inspect a river dike. From a distance, he noticed two young boys arguing fiercely over something in a large grassy field, though he could not clearly see what it was. Curious, he walked closer. All he saw was a single straw hat placed upside down between the two boys. Realizing the man was an official with guards, the boys felt nervous, yet they continued to cling tightly to the hat and argue loudly.
The Magpie and the Crow is a Vietnamese folktale that explores how reputation and perception influence the way people respond to us. Through a simple encounter between two birds, the story shows that the same action can lead to very different outcomes, depending on who performs it and how they are known.
A Guest Bird once landed on the gate of a house and called out a few clear notes. Hearing the sound, the homeowner was delighted and said to his child that when a Guest Bird calls, it means an honored visitor is coming, so the bird deserved a reward. The child obeyed, went inside, and brought out a handful of food to offer the bird.
This humorous Vietnamese folktale tells the story of a man who tries to give his clever cat grand names, only to discover that its true nature never changes. The tale highlights the humor in human pride, the simplicity of logical thinking, and the truth that no matter what label we assign, a thing remains what it truly is.
Once upon a time, there was a man who owned a cat. He believed his cat was the wisest, cleverest, and most extraordinary creature anyone could imagine. Thinking that a simple name like “Cat” would not do justice, he decided to give it a grand name and called it “Sky.”
The Ever-Changing Sign is a funny Vietnamese folktale about a fish shop owner whose sign keeps changing because of passing customers’ comments, teaching a humorous lesson about people’s criticism.
In a small fish shop, the owner proudly hung a large sign that read, “Fresh Fish for Sale.” No sooner had it gone up than a passerby stopped, chuckled, and said, “Has this place been selling bad fish all this time that now it has to claim the fish are fresh?” Embarrassed by the comment, the owner quickly erased the word fresh from the sign.
The Origin of the Quoc Bird is a traditional Vietnamese folktale that tells the story of two devoted friends, Quac and Nhan. The tale explores themes of loyalty, friendship, and selfless devotion, showing how true bonds endure through hardship. It also explains the mythical origin of the quoc bird, highlighting the cultural significance of loyalty and the consequences of greed and disrespect.
Once there were two inseparable friends, Quac and Nhan. Both were orphans from poor scholarly families. Quac had studied more, so he became a teacher for children. Although his income was modest, Quac often helped Nhan whenever he could. In return, when Quac fell seriously ill one time, it was Nhan’s care and constant attention that saved his life. Despite their strong bond, circumstances forced them apart, each following a different path. Quac continued his life teaching children, while Nhan wandered from place to place, taking odd jobs to survive. Eventually, his honesty and hard work impressed a wealthy merchant, who trusted him completely and even married his daughter to Nhan. Through this marriage, Nhan acquired considerable wealth, yet he never forgot his vow to Quac, a promise to stand by each other through life’s ups and downs.
The Old Man and His Jar of Silver is a classic Vietnamese folktale about an elderly man who works tirelessly in his rice fields and the forest to earn a living. Despite saving a jar of silver over the years, he worries about his lazy son, who has never learned the value of hard work. This story explores the importance of effort, responsibility, and understanding the true value of money through the son’s journey from idleness to labor and self-reliance.
Once upon a time, there was an elderly man known for his hard work and diligence. His rice fields were fertile and abundant. After tending to his crops, he would venture into the forest to chop wood and make charcoal to sell. Every time he sold the charcoal, he would set aside a small portion of his earnings, and by the time he grew old, he had saved a jar full of silver coins.
The Lotus in the Jade Well is a Vietnamese folktale about Mac Dinh Chi, a poor and unattractive boy whose intelligence, perseverance, and hard work help him overcome hardship and become the kingdom’s top scholar. The story highlights resilience, talent, and moral integrity.
Mac Dinh Chi was born into a poor family in Vietnam long ago. He was small, dark-skinned, and considered unattractive by the standards of his time, but despite these challenges, he worked every day cutting firewood in the forest to help his parents survive. From a very young age, his life was marked by hardship and responsibility, yet he showed a strong spirit and determination to learn.
Tam and Cam is a classic Vietnamese folktale that explores kindness, jealousy, injustice, and ultimate justice. The story follows Tam, a gentle and hardworking girl who suffers under a cruel stepmother and a jealous stepsister, Cam. Through a series of magical events rooted in traditional Vietnamese beliefs, Tam’s patience and goodness are eventually rewarded, while wrongdoing faces its consequences. This tale has been passed down for generations as a moral story about resilience, compassion, and the triumph of virtue over cruelty.
Tam and Cam were half sisters born to the same father but different mothers. Tam was the daughter of the first wife, while Cam was the child of the second wife. After their father died, Tam was forced to live with her stepmother, Cam’s biological mother, who treated her with cruelty and favoritism. From a young age, Tam lived a life of quiet hardship, obedience, and endurance, while Cam was spoiled and protected.
Stingy to the Very End is a Vietnamese folktale that tells the story of a wealthy man whose extreme stinginess governs his entire life. Despite his riches, he lives in constant fear of spending money, even when it comes to basic needs. Through a simple trip to the city and a tragic outcome, the tale conveys a timeless moral about the danger of placing money above human life, dignity, and common sense.
Long ago, there lived a wealthy man who was extremely stingy. He never allowed himself to eat well or dress properly. His only concern in life was hoarding money and growing richer, even if it meant living worse than the poor. One day, a friend invited him to visit the city, but he hesitated and refused. He was afraid that if he went, he would be expected to treat his friend, and the thought of spending money terrified him.
The Wise Magistrate is a traditional folktale about a highly skilled judge known for his fairness and cleverness. Faced with tricky cases and disputes, he uses keen observation, logical thinking, and a deep understanding of human behavior to uncover the truth. Through his clever judgments, the story highlights the importance of wisdom, justice, and insight in solving even the most challenging problems.
Once upon a time, there was a highly skilled judge known throughout the land for his wisdom and fairness. Whenever a difficult or tricky case appeared, he could always uncover the truth and deliver a just verdict, earning the respect of everyone in the village.
The Gibbon and the Gecko is a traditional folk tale set in a mythical world where animals can speak. The story explains why the gibbon’s song is clear and far reaching and highlights the contrast between true talent and empty boasting, delivering a simple lesson about honesty, humility, and practice.
Long ago, on a clear and sunny morning in May, Pọ Pha, the Sky Lord, heard a beautiful singing voice drifting up from the human world below. The song was gentle and smooth, then playful and lively, as if the singer were joyfully moving through the air. The sound crossed mountain peaks, filled deep valleys, and echoed along stone cliffs, surprising Pọ Pha and making him curious. He wondered which creature could sing with such beauty and ordered all animals on earth to come before him so he could discover the truth.
The Mountain of Gold and the Price of Greed is a traditional folktale about two couples whose choices lead them to very different fates. Set near a forest and a cornfield, the story shows how honesty and contentment bring unexpected rewards, while greed turns opportunity into disaster. Through a simple but powerful narrative, this tale reminds readers that true wealth is shaped by character, not desire for more.
Long ago, there lived a poor farming couple who cleared a small field at the edge of the forest to grow corn. When the corn began to form young ears, monkeys came every day to eat it, forcing the couple to guard the field tirelessly from morning to night.
The King’s Precious Cat is a story about Quynh, a clever courtier who teaches a lesson about wisdom and patience. When the king’s beloved cat goes missing, Quynh shows how clever thinking can reveal the truth and solve problems.
The king had a very precious cat, chained with a golden collar and fed only the finest food. Everyone in the palace knew this cat was treated like royalty, enjoying delicacies that no ordinary cat could dream of. Quynh, a clever and mischievous courtier, noticed this and decided to teach the cat a lesson while also demonstrating his own ingenuity. One day, while attending court, he secretly took the king’s cat, replaced its golden chain with a simple iron one, and prepared its meals in a very unusual way. He set out two bowls of food: one filled with meat and fish, as the cat was used to, and the other with plain rice, vegetable scraps, and shrimp heads. When the cat, expecting its usual luxury, ran straight to the fancy bowl, Quynh stood beside it with a rod and whipped the cat every time it tried to eat. Starving and frustrated, the cat had no choice but to eat the plain vegetable bowl. Over time, it learned to ignore the luxury food, and Quynh finally released it, satisfied with the lesson he had taught.
The Legend of Damb'ri, the Fireborn Hero is a powerful folktale from Vietnam’s Central Highlands that tells of a young man who rose from tragedy to protect his people. The story centers on Damb'ri, a humble villager who gains extraordinary strength after discovering a sacred lake, allowing him to stand against the cruelty of King Prum. Through courage, sacrifice, and unbreakable spirit, Damb'ri becomes a symbol of resilience and the fierce love of the M’nông people for their homeland.
Long ago in the Central Highlands, the Buk So waterfall roared day and night. Its sound brought life to the forest, but King Prum, who lived nearby, despised it. He claimed the waterfall’s constant thunder made him restless, ruined his appetite, and kept him awake. Angered by something as natural as the sound of falling water, the king ordered his soldiers to destroy the rocks and silence the waterfall so he could sleep peacefully. His command unleashed disaster across the land.
The Legend of the Red Earth Highlands is a traditional tale from Vietnam’s Central Highlands that explains why the soil in this region carries its deep, distinctive red color. Passed down through generations, the story blends nature, emotion, and cultural belief to portray how love, sacrifice, and tragedy shaped the land. Though simple, this legend reflects the spirit of the highland people and their connection to the earth they call home.
Long ago, there lived a young man with strength so extraordinary that people believed he was born from the mountains themselves. He could lift a massive boulder with one hand as easily as someone lifts a small pebble. Because of his incredible power, everyone simply called him Strong. Despite his strength, he lived a quiet, hardworking life. He spent his days tending the fields, growing crops, and caring for his elderly mother. People respected him not just for his strength but for his gentle heart and devotion to his family.
The Path to Heaven is a Vietnamese folktale about a kind and hardworking young man who seeks answers from the heavens about why life is unfair. Along his journey, he helps others, receives magical gifts, and learns the rewards of courage, generosity, and selflessness.
Long ago, there was a kind and strong young man who worked tirelessly in the fields and collected firewood in the forest faster than anyone else, yet he remained poor and hungry. Despite his strength and hard work, life seemed unfair, and he could not understand why he suffered so much while others prospered. Determined to find answers, he decided to journey to the heavens to ask why hardworking people like him had to endure hardship. He traveled from sunrise to sunset, crossing forests and hills, before stopping to rest at a house at the foot of a mountain. The kind hostess asked him why he was on such a long journey, and he spoke honestly. He explained that he wanted to understand why strong and diligent people like himself still lived in poverty and struggle.
