Exploring the Beauty of Vietnamese Folklore

Legends and Fairy Tales: The Source of Creativity

Vietnamese folklore is a priceless treasure, preserving stories, songs, proverbs, and customs passed down through generations. Legends and fairy tales, stories about the origins of the country, its people, and natural phenomena, are often highly educational and entertaining. For example, the legend of the Dragon and Fairy explains the origin of our nation, while fairy tales like Tam Cam and Thach Sanh reflect people’s dreams and aspirations for justice and happiness.

Folk Songs and Proverbs: The Wisdom of the People

Folk songs and proverbs are vivid evidence of the intelligence and sophistication of the Vietnamese people. Short and concise folk songs express family affection, love, friendship, and profound philosophies of life. Proverbs, short and succinct, contain valuable life experiences, lessons on morality, lifestyle, and behavior in life.

Examples of folk songs and proverbs:

Folk song:“A father’s love is like Mount Thai Son, A mother’s love is like water from a spring.”

Proverb:“Diligence brings success.”

Customs and Traditions: Distinctive Cultural Identity

Vietnamese customs and traditions are incredibly diverse and rich, clearly reflected in festivals, ceremonies, and daily life. From Tet Nguyen Dan with its traditional rituals to local festivals with the distinct characteristics of each region, all contribute to a vibrant and colorful picture of folk culture.

Folk Literature: The Crystallization of Wisdom and Emotion

Vietnamese folk literature encompasses not only legends, fairy tales, folk songs, and proverbs but also many other genres such as folk poetry, jokes, rhymes, etc. Each genre has its own characteristics, but all reflect the rich spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. Folk literature is an endless source of inspiration for artists, writers, and musicians to create wonderful works of art.

Preservation and Promotion of Folklore

Preserving and promoting folklore is the responsibility of every Vietnamese citizen. We need to actively learn and pass on these precious cultural values to future generations. Organizing cultural and artistic activities, teaching classes, and using information technology to disseminate folklore are effective measures to preserve and promote this intangible cultural heritage.