Vietnamese mythology


Vietnamese mythology comprises national myths of the Vietnamese people together with popular aspects of folk religion in Vietnam.

Popular heroes and gods

Figures in Vietnamese mythology include The Four Immortals: the giant boy Thánh Gióng, mountain god Tản Viên Sơn Thánh, Chử Đồng Tử marsh boy, princess Liễu Hạnh. One of the Four Immortals also reemerges in the fighting between Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh "the god of the mountain and the god of the Water." Historical legend occurs in the story of the Thuận Thiên "Heaven's Will" magical sword of King Lê Lợi.
Adaptions of Chinese mythology occur such as the Four Holy Beasts. Chinese Shennong appears in Sino-Vietnamese myths with the same characters pronounced as "Thần Nông."
Folk mythology includes figures such as the mười hai bà mụ "Twelve Midwives", twelve fairies who teach one-month-old babies skills such as sucking and smiling.