Vietnamese Folklores

Since ancient times, the Vietnamese have enjoyed a rich moral life, which is well-documented through an abundance of folklore that showcases a variety of forms. A significant component of this body of work is folk stories.

Often reflecting daily activities, these tales are simple and relatable to everyone. The characters may be based on real people or may be crafted with attributes and life situations that highlight the morals and lessons present in the narratives. Folk stories can be categorized into three primary types.

The first type comprises humorous stories. Historically, the Vietnamese have recognized the importance of laughter in life. As a result, funny stories were created to bring joy after long days of hard work. This category includes two subtypes: chain-stories, which consist of multiple anecdotes centered around a main character criticized for poor behavior (such as Trạng Lợn) or praised for cleverness and brevity (like Trạng Quỳnh).

The second kind of folk story is fairy tales, which can be further divided into three subcategories based on content. Firstly, some tales involve animals, such as Cóc kiện trời, Quạ và Công, and Cọp xay lửa. The second subcategory features miraculous fairy tales, including Tấm Cám, Cây khế, Sọ dừa, and Cây tre trăm đốt.

The third type consists of secular stories, which narrate ordinary events imbued with slight legendary elements. Examples include Trương Chi, Nói dối như Cuội, and Sự tích chim quốc. Finally, there are allegorical stories that employ metaphor to convey moral, philosophical, and ethical messages. Key characteristics of this genre include critiques of the ruling class of the past, as seen in tales like Mèo ăn chay and Khi chúa sơn lâm ngọa bệnh; criticism of human vices, illustrated in stories like Ếch ngồi đáy giếng and Thả mồi bắt bóng; and imparting practical wisdom through stories like Chuyện bó đũa and Đẽo cây giữa đường.