Culture

The legend of Vietnam’s Tet Cakes

This traditional tale was adapted from the “Treasury of Vietnamese Fairy Tales”Illustrator: Vu Dinh Tuan Long ago, the sixth Hung King ruled the country. As the king was growing old he decided to choose an heir from amongst his 22 adult sons. The king decided to hold a contest. He ordered his sons to line up and said: “The time […]

08/02/2021 - Folktale

Heralds of spring

Phan Thanh Hai Raising the nêu tree (Thướng tiêu) was a key ritual held in the Former Royal Citadel of Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty. This ceremony signalled the end of the year and the start of preparations to welcome Spring and Tet. When the first nêu tree was erected in the royal palace, commoners knew that Spring was on […]

05/02/2021 - Local Culture

The Tale of the Yellow Mai Flowers

This story was adapted from a tale in the Compilation of Vietnamese FolktalesIllustrations by: Thanh Chuong Once upon a time, there lived a couple and their two daughters. The younger daughter was compassionate and kind to everyone, including the three stone Kitchen Gods in their household. Among them, she loved the elderly Kitchen God best. He often appeared and spoke […]

04/02/2021 - Folktale