Exploring the Beauty of Vietnamese Folklore

Legends and Fairy Tales: The Source of Creativity

Vietnamese folklore is a priceless treasure trove, preserving fairy tales, legends, proverbs, folk songs, and traditional festivals spanning throughout history. Fairy tales such as Tam Cam, Thach Sanh, and the Legend of Hoan Kiem Lake are not just entertaining stories but also carry profound lessons about morality, kindness, and justice. We see the struggle between good and evil, the triumph of righteousness, and messages about diligence and perseverance to achieve success. Legends explain the origins of geographical locations, objects, and natural phenomena, reflecting the rich imagination and keen observation of our ancestors.

Proverbs and Folk Songs: The Philosophy of Life of the Nation

Proverbs and folk songs are invaluable lessons about life experiences and philosophies of life, passed down from generation to generation. Concise and meaningful proverbs contain profound lessons about morality, behavior, and relationships between people and with nature. Folk songs, with their lyrical and smooth verses, express family affection, love, friendship, and the hopes and aspirations of people. These are vivid demonstrations of the rich spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

Traditional Festivals: Unique Cultural Identity

Traditional festivals are an indispensable part of Vietnamese folklore. From large festivals like Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) to smaller, more local festivals, each festival has its own meaning, reflecting the beliefs and customs of each region. The rituals, folk games, and characteristic dishes in the festivals create a diverse and colorful cultural picture. We can mention the buffalo fighting festival in Do Son, the fishing festival in Phu Yen, the Hung Kings Temple festival… Each festival is an opportunity for the community to gather, preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Living Museum of the Nation

Vietnamese folklore is not only preserved in stories and songs but also expressed through other forms of intangible cultural heritage such as folk performing arts (such as water puppetry, Ca Tru…), traditional crafts (pottery villages, weaving villages…), and other folk art forms. Preserving and promoting these heritages is extremely important in preserving the nation’s cultural identity.

Conclusion

Vietnamese folklore is an extremely valuable treasure trove that needs to be preserved and promoted so that future generations can understand and appreciate the traditional cultural values of the nation. Researching, understanding, and promoting folklore not only helps us better understand the history and origins of our nation but also contributes to enriching Vietnamese culture.