Son Tinh & Thuy Tình

Emperor Hung Vuong had a beautiful daughter named Princess My Nuong. Her beauty was unsurpassed, and her kindness was praised by all. The monarch was so proud of her that he was determined she should marry someone truly exceptional. However, as time passed, he could not find a suitor worthy of her hand. One day, two powerful beings appeared: Son Tinh, the God of the Tan Vien Mountain, and Thuy Tinh, the God of the Sea. Both were equally handsome, distinguished, and formidable. While Son Tinh was gentle and serene, Thuy Tinh possessed a fiery temper. To help him decide, the King asked the young men to demonstrate their powers.

Thuy Tinh stepped forward. "My name is Thuy Tinh, God of the Seas. I reign over all creatures of the deep and own all the coral, pearls, and treasures beneath the waves. I can raise the sea to the mountain peaks; I can summon rain and command the storms. If the Princess marries me, she will be Queen of the Sea, ruling over a magnificent undersea palace." Son Tinh bowed his head and respectfully addressed the Emperor. "My name is Son Tinh. My kingdom encompasses the mountains and every creature within them. I own the lush forests and the rarest blooms. I can summon lions and birds, and I can make the mountains reach for the heavens. I wish to marry the Princess and promise her a life of eternal happiness."

Both were equally deserving, and the King struggled to choose between them. Even after consulting his advisers, he found no solution. Finally, the King called the two Gods together. “I am pleased with you both, but I have only one daughter. I will grant My Nuong’s hand to the one who first brings me these gifts: one hundred trays of glutinous rice, two hundred bánh chưng, an elephant with nine tusks, a rooster with nine spurs, and a horse with nine red manes."

At dawn the next morning, the God of the Mountains returned with all the requested treasures. King Hung Vuong was pleased and allowed My Nuong to follow the Prince to his mountain home. Shortly after they departed, the God of the Waters arrived. Upon learning he had been beaten, Thuy Tinh flew into a rage. He ordered his legions to pursue Son Tinh and seize the Princess. Thuy Tinh brandished his magic sword, and the creatures of the sea transformed into thousands of soldiers. Heavy rains lashed the earth and gusty winds howled. The water levels rose higher and higher, as massive waves and floods swept away trees and homes. However, Son Tinh had his own magic. He transformed the mountain animals into an army to fight back. As the floodwaters rose, he commanded the mountains to grow even higher. The war between the two Gods raged for days, claiming many lives, until Thuy Tinh finally retreated to the sea.

However, Thuy Tinh could never let go of his desire for the Princess. To this day, he raises the waters and gathers storms against the mountain peaks where Son Tinh and My Nuong dwell. Every year, the God of the Waters renews his onslaught, and every year, he is defeated by the strength of Son Tinh and his people.