Volume II Folktales
Series Preface
Stories are the soul of Vietnam. They are not only remembered in temples, lakes, and mountains but also in the laughter and wisdom of everyday life.
The Whispers of the Lotus series gathers these voices of the past in two parts:
Myths and Legends, where gods, heroes, and sacred places reveal the nation’s origins.
Folktales, where ordinary people, animals, and spirits teach lessons of wit, kindness, and resilience.
In this second volume, we turn from the grandeur of myths to the intimacy of folktales—stories that echo the joys and struggles of village life, passed down by grandparents to children. Together with the legends of the first book, they complete a portrait of a culture where the extraordinary and the everyday belong to the same world.
The lotus, rising pure from the mud, reminds us that beauty and wisdom can flourish in the simplest of stories. These whispers, whether of heroes or humble peasants, still speak to us today.
Introduction to Volume 2
If legends explain the origins of lakes, kings, and dynasties, then folktales bring us closer to the everyday lives and dreams of ordinary people. They are stories told by firelight in village courtyards, shared between generations not only to amuse but to teach kindness, wit, resiliency, and sometimes caution.
This second volume, Timeless Vietnamese Folktales, invites you into a world where fairness triumphs, where clever peasants outwit the greedy, and where love can cross realms of heaven and earth. You will encounter the familiar and beloved tale of Tấm and Cám, Vietnam’s own Cinderella story, and the magical adventures of Thạch Sanh, the humble hero who defeats giants and demons.
You will wander into enchanted groves, listen to the haunting flute of a boatman, witness the devotion of loyal couples, and discover the playful origins of customs that still shape village life.
Unlike the grand myths of kings and gods, folktales are the voice of the people—woven from laughter, sorrow, hope, and everyday struggles. They show us a Vietnam of rice fields, bamboo groves, and rivers, where wisdom often rests in the hearts of the humble.
Through these tales, the lotus whispers again—this time of the timeless values of generosity, justice, and compassion, reminding us that even in the smallest story lies the heart of a culture.
Author’s Note
These folktales have travelled from villages to cities, from one generation to the next, carried in the words of grandparents and storytellers. By collecting them here, I hope to honour their simplicity, their humour, and their wisdom. May they inspire in you the same sense of wonder and closeness to Vietnam’s everyday spirit that they have given me.