How monkeys reddened their rears

In ancient times, a young orphan girl lived in a small village. Her parents had died years before, saddling her with a huge debt to the village lord which she couldn't pay.

So, in lieu of cold cash, the lord forced the girl to become his maid servant. Time passed and the girl grew up to be a healthy but not particularly stunning woman. When she was 18, she found herself acquiring a strange black complexion. She was embarrassed by this and as such preferred staying in her thatched hut to going out and talking to people.

The story of Nam Xuong woman

Once upon a time, in the region of Nam Xuong, lived a woman whose husband had been sent with the army to a border post on the northern frontier. At that time, means of communication were difficult, so news came rarely from her husband or his command.

The woman resigned herself to her fate and stayed at home to do housework, tend the fields and look after their one-year-old son. She would cast her eyes upon the horizon every evening, yearning for the return of her cherished husband. Time went by.

Legend of Vong Phu

(The wife waiting for the husband's return)

Once upon a time there lived in the highland of northern Vietnam a boy orphaned of both his mother and father. He lived with his little sister in a small cottage on the slopes of a hill.

Every day at early dawn he went to the forest not far from his house to chop wood. He took the wood to the market to sell for food and provisions. The rest of the day he devoted to his little sister, whom he cherished and cared for lovingly.

The tree angel

The tree angel had 36 sons, each of whom helped in the family business, designing trees. Every three years the old man organized a meeting in which he judged the new tree designs thought up by his many sons.

The tree angel's youngest son, Tieu Ly, had recently married and had his own son. Tieu Ly was so thrilled with his infant son that he could spend the whole day just watching him. One day, while playing with his baby, Tieu Ly was inspired to design a new tree.

The legend of Truong Chi

Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful girl named My Nuong, the only daughter of a powerful mandarin. Like all the maidens of her station in life, she met no-one and was kept secluded in a high tower in the palace.

She spent most of her time reading, knitting or standing by the little window in order to cast her eyes upon the Tieu Tuong River, which passed directly beneath her.

Gliding along, from time to time, was the small boat of Truong Chi, a poor angler. The man sang while he fished.

Coconut

From their childhood a peasant couple worked for a rich landlord. They had no children. The woman, who was over fifty, was very sad.

One day, when she was collecting firewood in the forest, she wanted to have a drink. But there was no spring in the neighbourhood. Neither pond nor stream. Suddenly, at the foot of a tree she found a human skull still containing some rain water. As she couldn't resist the temptation she put it to her lips. She felt at once a strong feeling of well being.

Banh Chung (Square rice cake) in Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet)

Banh Chung (Square rice cake) is a traditional Vietnamese rice cake which is made from glutinous rice, green beans, pork and other ingredients.

Its origin is told by the legend of Lang Liêu- the son of 6th Hung King. Hung King wanted to find the one to inherit his position and sit on the throne to lead the country when he was too old. Therefore, he held a cooking contest for his 21 sons, and who could fully satisfy his taste would be the next King. Most princes go everywhere to find special, exotic and far-fetched food, except for Lang Lieu – the 18th son of Hung King, also the poorest and loneliest since he lost his mother at a young age. Not having enough money to buy delicacies, Lieu just stayed around his house.