This story was adapted from a story in “The Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales”
Illustrator: Pham Ha Hai

The third Hung King had a daughter so lovely she was named Tien Dung, which means “as pretty as a fairy”. When she grew up, rather than marry, Tien Dung wished to explore the kingdom. Every spring, she set sail.

A poor old man named Chu Cu Van lived with his beloved son Chu Dong Tu in Chu Xa Village. Father and son were so poor they only had one loincloth between them. They took turns wearing the loincloth to go fishing, while the other rested at home.

After the father became ill and died, the devastated son used the loincloth as a shroud. Thereafter, he only ventured outdoors at night to fish under cover of darkness.

One day, Princess Tien Dung’s dragon boat stopped at Chu Xa Village. Horrified by the sight of the boat’s well-dressed passengers, Chu Dong Tu hid in some reeds and lay down, covering his body with sand.

The princess went onshore to explore. Charmed by the pretty scenery, she asked her attendants to erect a screen in the shallows of the river so she might bathe. She didn’t know that Chu Dong Tu was hiding at that very spot. As the princess bathed, the current swept away the sand hiding the young man’s body. While startled, the princess did not scream. Instead, she asked the young man about his life.

After hearing his story, Princess Tien Dung said: “I did not plan to marry. But fate placed you in my path. Our union is sealed by God. We are meant for each other.”

Chu Dong Tu was given clothes and taken aboard the royal boat. Their wedding was held that very night.

When news of the union reached the king’s ears he was enraged. “My daughter refused to marry a dozen fine noblemen only to wed this poor commoner!” he roared. “I do not wish to see her again!”

To make ends meet, the princess and her husband set up a market. Over time, the pair prospered. On a trip to a distant island to buy trading goods, Chu Dong Tu met a Taoist monk named Phat Quang. This monk taught Chu Dong Tu about Taoism and gave him a magic stick and hat.

Back home, Chu Dong Tu taught his wife about Taoism. The couple decided to stop trading and find a new Taoist master. They traveled far and wide in search of enlightenment. One night, finding nowhere to sleep, they lay on the ground and buried their faces under Phat Quang’s magic hat. At midnight, a Jade Fortress rose out of the earth. Full of treasures, it surrounded them. There were even soldiers, mandarins, and servants ready to serve the surprised couple.

Upon hearing of this rival kingdom, King Hung dispatched an army to attack. As the royal army drew close, Tien Dung’s troops prepared to fight. She refused. “Everything was decided by God, not me,” she said. “I do not dare resist my father. If he decides to kill me, I won’t blame him.”

As darkness fell, King Hung’s troops camped on Tu Nhien Field, across the river from the Jade Fortress. At midnight, a huge storm broke out. High winds toppled trees and blew away the king’s camp. The Jade Fortress and everyone in it was borne up into the heavens.

The next day, to the locals’ horror, Tu Nhien Field became a great marsh. People built a temple in which to offer annual sacrifices. They renamed the marsh Nhat Da, or One Night Marsh. This huge marsh is located in Khoai Chau town in Hung Yen province.