Toward An Understanding of Viet Nam Women

When people in the West think about "Viet Nam," they immediately think about the Viet Nam War.  The ideas about Vietnamese women naturally get clouded by the emotions surrounding the American/Vietnamese military event decades ago.  The reality is that Viet Nam has a proud and long history which reaches back in time long before there ever was a "Vietnam War."  The women of this southeast Asian culture are likewise unique and special, just as their heritage is.  To know them, one must understand something of Viet Nam itself.

Viet Nam's history is rich with legend, tradition, determination, and adaptation.  According to the legends of ancient days, Viet Nam was formed when King Lac Long Quan (who was also known as "The Dragon Lord of the Sea") became wedded to Princess An Co (a Chinese Immortal who descended from the High Mountains).  She gave birth to 100 eggs and so came forth 100 sons.  Consequently, they established a great nation that stretched all the way from southern China to northern Indonesia.

However, soon there was trouble in this paradise.  The King and the Princess began to think that their different points of origin would make them unhappy together.  So they separated.  Princess An Co took 50 sons with her back into the mountains.  King Lac Long Quan took 50 sons to rule with him over the lowlands.  After the King died in 2879 BC, his elder son, Hung Vuong, established the Hung Dynasty.  He is today regarded as the true founder of the nation that became "Viet Nam."  This legend symbolizes the importance of uniting the two main geographic and cultural areas of Viet Nam into one country.  This theme is played out repeatedly in Viet Nam's history, society, and culture.

Harlan Urwiler

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