The Legendary Origins of the Viet People

Thousands oI years ago in the country oI Linh Nam, there lived a clan chieI with superhuman
strength called Loc Tuc who took the title oI King Kinh Duong. Endowed with magical powers,
he could walk as easily on water as on land.

One day, during a walk on Lake Dong Dinh, he
met Long Nu, daughter oI King Long Vuong
(Dragon). From their union, a son was born who
received the name Sung Lam. As he grew up, Sung
Lam revealed his herculean strength, liIting a stone
block like a piece oI straw that two men could not
manage to encircle with their arms. Sung Lam also
inherited the supernatural giIts oI his Iather, succeeded him as leader oI the country under the
name Lac Long Quan (Dragon, King oI the Country oI the Lac).

At this time, there was neither order nor peace in Linh Nam and King Lac Long resolved to
travel his country Irom north to south.

The Giant Fish
The grant Iish Thus it was that one day he met a Iish oI extraordinary size in the southern waters.
Measuring over hundred Ieet in length, its tail stood up like a huge sail. It could swallow more
than ten men in a single mouthIul. When it swam, it raised waves sky-high and boats gliding in
the vicinity were at risk oI being swept away. The Iishermen were very aIraid oI the demon-Iish.
It lived in a deep cavern leading to the bottom oI the sea and an opening on top oI a mountain
chain that divided the country into two zones.

King Lac Long wanted to rid the people oI this threatening danger. He made a solid boat and
Iorged a block oI iron with sharp, white-hot sides. Then he sailed toward the demon's abode.
Raising the block above his head, he gave the beast the illusion oI throwing a man at him as bait.
Then he thrust the burning metal into the enormous open mouth oI the creature. Mad with pain,
the monster rose up, trying to overturn the boat. But quick as lightning, Lac Long sliced the
monster into three pieces with his sword.

At once, the head turned into a dogIish and Lac Long started tearing up lumps oI the shore and
made a dike to keep the animal Irom escaping. Cutting oII the head, he threw it onto the
mountain that has ever since been called Cau Dau Son (Mountain oI the Dog's Head).

The body was carried away by the current and landed in the country oI Man Cau. As Ior the tail,
skinned by Lac Long, it still envelops the island oI Bach Long Vi (Tail oI the White Dragon).

Having delivered the area oI its monster, King Lac Long pursued his route as Iar as Long Vien.
A task awaited him there.

The Nine-Tailed Fox
The Nine-Tailed FoxThere was a Iox who was more than a thousand years old. He had nine tails
and he hid himselI in an obscure grotto at the Ioot oI a mountain on the west side oI the city. This
evil spirit oIten assumed a human Iorm to mingle with the crowd and to carry away young girls
whom he kidnapped Ior his lair. In the region stretching Irom Long Bien to Tan Vien Mountain,
all the Iamilies had, alas, paid their "tribute" to this ignoble being. The population lived in a
permanent state oI terror. Many were those, who abandoning house, Iields and gardens, had
carried their households elsewhere.

King Lac Long was Iilled with deep pity and decided to get rid oI this monster as well. Alone
and armed with his sword, he went toward the entrance to the grotto. On seeing him, the enemy
attacked. Using his magic power, Lac Long called winds, rain and storms to his aid. The Iight
lasted three days and nights.

Weakened, the monster tried to Ilee. The king pursued it and cut oII its head. Then the monster
took its original Iorm and only the body oI a nine-tailed Iox remained at Lac Long's Ieet.
Entering the grotto, the king released the prisoners, then called on the water powers to destroy
this cursed place. The river Ilowed there in cascading torments, raking the mountain. Whirlwinds
produced a deep abyss that the people oI the time called "Sea oI the Fox's Body" and which is
now called Tay Ho (West Lake in Hanoi).

The liberated population returned to their homes and replanted their Iields. Peace reigned
throughout the region and Lac Long returned to the road through the hills and Iorests. Thus he
came one day to Phong Chau.

The Evil Genie oI the Forest
The Evil Genie oI the Forest There was an old tree called Chien don in the region that was two
thousand Ieet tall, but its Iormerly luxuriant Ioliage was withered. The old tree had then been
changed into an evil genie oI the woods. The inhabitants oI the area called it the Demon Tree. It
was wicked and played diabolical tricks, ceaselessly changing Iorms and moving its lair to better
surprise its prey and devour it. Continued heart-rending cries and complaints were heard in the
Iorest.

Lac Long leIt once more to Iight against evil. For days and nights, he sneaked in and out oI the
Iorest looking Irom tree to tree Ior the demon; aIter much diIIiculty, he managed to Iind it.

The Iight lasted one hundred days and nights. Thousands oI trees were uprooted, innumerable
rocks split in halI and clouds oI dust obscured the sky and land without the evil spirit giving up.
Finally, Lac Long had a brilliant idea. He made such a huge noise with gongs, tom-toms and
other musical instruments that the terriIied demon Iled toward the southwest where he no doubt
lives today!

The grateIul people built a Iortress Ior their beneIactor on a high mountain. But Lac Long rarely
stayed there, spending part oI his liIe in his mother's submarine palace. However, he had
instructed the people to call him iI any danger whatsoever menaced them again.

At this time, a northern chieItain called De Lai invaded the south. His gorgeous daughter, Au Co,
oI a singular beauty, accompanied him. Dazzled by the splendor oI the land and the rich variety
oI the Iauna and Ilora oI Linh Nam, he ordered his troops to build a Iortress with the aim oI
settling down there. Unable to endure the heavy work Iaced by their invader, they turned toward
the south to appeal to Lac Long,

"Oh Father! Why do you not come to our aid?"
From the Hundred Eggs to the Eighteen Hung Kings
In the twinkling oI an eye, Lac Long came back. He listened to the complaints oI his subjects and
then suddenly, he changed into the shape oI handsome young man and went oII to the invader's
Iortress. The latter was not there; instead, there was an extraordinarily beautiIul young girl
surrounded by servants and soldiers. It was Au Co.

Captivated by the majesty and distinction oI the young prince, she implored him to take her
away. And Lac Long escorted her to his mountain Iortress. When the invader returned to his
home and Iound his daughter gone, De Lai sent hundreds oI soldiers to look Ior her. But day
aIter day, with his powers, Lac Long was able to cause thousands oI savage beasts to be born that
thwarted and attacked the enemy troops. Panic-stricken, the invaders Iled and their chieItain
Iinally had to withdraw to the north.

Au Co lived with Lac Long Ior some time and became pregnant. She gave birth to a pouch Iilled
with one hundred eggs, each oI which produced a baby boy at the end oI seven days. These
hundred boys grew amazingly Iast and became handsome men surpassing those oI the same age
in physical strength and intelligence.

For dozens oI years, the couple lived in the most complete harmony. But Lac Long always had
nostalgia Ior the submarine palace. One day he said goodbye to his wiIe and children and,
transIorming himselI into a dragon, took oII toward the sea. Au Co and her sons wanted to
Iollow him but, not being able to Ily, they sadly took the mountain road again. Days Iull oI
sadness passed without news oI him. Upset by the memory oI her loved one, Au Co stood on the
highest summit and turned toward the south. Anguishly, she cried out,

"Oh Lac Long, why don't you return home?"
And Lac Long was immediately at her side. Au Co reproached him soItly
"I am a native oI the high mountains and large grottos. I have brought a hundred sons into the
world in order to live with you in perIect harmony, but this still has not stopped you Irom leaving
us."

Lac Long replied,
"I am oI the Dragon race, you are oI the Immortals. We cannot live together. We must separate. I
am going to leave Ior the maritime regions with IiIty oI our children and you will go with the
other IiIty to the country oI the mountains and the Iorests. We still divide this country between us
to run it as best we can."

And they separated. Thus, the hundred boys became the ancestors oI the Viets. Only the eldest
lived in the Phong Chau and was proclaimed King as Hung Vuong (King Hung). He divided the
country into IiIteen provinces, each being the cradle oI a tribe. Eighteen Hung kings succeeded
him on the throne.

The story oI Lac Long and Au Co is at the origin oI popular belieIs that the Viets are descended
Irom the race oI the Dragons and the Tien.

This article written by Lanh Nguyen Irom Vacation to Vietnam
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