Folk Lore / Wise Tales

Folk Lore

For countless centuries, folklore has been used by cultures around the world to create common stories that bind a community, a people, a land together as one. Vietnam is no exception. Folktales have held an important place in Vietnam culture and, from early in its history, have made an incredible contribution to the people by giving them a sense of local and national identity

There were and are many genres of folktales in Vietnam. The types of folktales can be organized into a variety of categories, including mythologies, epics, legends, humorous stories, riddles, proverbs, and folk-songs. Each local region has its own variation on the classic national folktales and epic stories, such as creation, hero, and trickster stories. Common to many of the tales in Vietnamese folklore is an emphasis on the value of familial relationship-the stories stress the importance of good, honorable, and respectful relations between fathers and sons, between brothers and sisters, and between husbands and wives.

To help you learn more about the myths, folklore, fables, and legends of Vietnam, we encourage you to visit the Vietnamese Legends & Folklores Web site where you can read actual folklore as well as learn the historical basis behind the many of the most popular stories.