Vietnamese Mythology
Vietnamese Mythology is the cornerstone of the belief system of the people of modern day Vietnam. The Vietnamese mythology, similar to other Asian mythologies have an enormous collection of myths, legends and epic poetry. The initial drawing were replaced with written accounts of these stories as the language developed in the region. The extensive wildlife available in the region inspired the numerous hybrid and anthropomorphic characters and symbols in the mythology.
People in Vietnam also follow the values emphasized by Đạo Mẫu and Cao Đài forms of Vietnamese folk religion. In Cao Đài, people worship local spirits or Thần by adhering to Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and blending aspects of Theosophy, Catholicism, and Spiritiscism. Đạo Mẫu followers believe in worshipping the mother goddesses. People of Vietnam often visit Vietnamese temples, called as miếu in the Vietnamese language, to worship their respective deities.
Where legends don’t exist, the Vietnamese feel an urge to invent them. In the caves of Ha Long Bay, for example, local guides narrate many ‘legends’ related to stalagmites and stalactites that vaguely resemble animals or people. Charming and imaginative they may be, but nearly all have been composed in the last decade.
This dominant ethnic religion in Vietnam is associated with worshipping Thần, denoting spirits, gods, or generative powers. Adhering to Vietnamese mythology, people believe these gods to be natural deities (such as water deity, fire deity, the solar deity, etc.), ancestral gods (sometimes of a particular family), and kinship tutelary deities (holding guardianship concept).
Despite years of American influence and the rapid modernisation of Vietnamese society, the people still hold these traditions and stories close to their hearts and pass it down to every upcoming generation.
