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| Folk legends consist of stories rich in historical detail. |
Sharing with Dong Nai Weekend, Thuy Tien said: “I love Vietnamese culture and history not only through books but also through historical relics, tombs, temples, and spiritual heritage sites that preserve the profound values and lessons of our ancestors.”
Thuy Tien - Drawing and Storytelling
Despite having a talent and passion for drawing, Thuy Tien lacked the opportunity to study art from a young age, and her parents did not support her pursuing art. However, her love for painting remained strong, and Thuy Tien seized every opportunity to draw, anytime, anywhere, to satisfy her passion. Sometimes she would hide in the attic, other times under the bed, using her old set of colored pencils to depict her dreams and childhood memories, especially images from fairy tales and folk stories she had heard.
Growing up, Thuy Tien studied literature, but she occasionally drew for friends or spent her free time contemplating life through shades of light and dark. “Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and I wanted to do something to connect people, and through drawing, I told stories about history and anecdotes about the plight of women. Surprisingly, the clips on TikTok attracted a lot of views and went viral. From there, I gained more motivation to build and develop the 'Drawing Stories' channel,” Thuy Tien shared.
From characters like the dancer Cam Nhung, Miss Ba Tra, Miss Tu Nhi, etc., Thuy Tien's clips attract an increasing number of viewers and comments about historical figures and events. Following that, clips about figures such as Empress Nam Phuong, Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Chu Dong Tu, etc., meticulously produced and engaging, demonstrate the growing and spreading love for national culture and history on the internet. Many familiar and new historical facts and anecdotes are recalled and evoked, encouraging viewers to actively learn and further appreciate national history. Thuy Tien also pays close attention to topics about revolutionary wars, the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh, heroes, veterans, historical and cultural relics of various regions… These historical and cultural snapshots in the short clips provide viewers not only with knowledge but also cultivate patriotism and national pride.
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| Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Tien signs autographs for young readers at the book launch event for "Folk Legends" at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street. Photo: Provided by the author. |
To create short clips of only 2-3 minutes, Thuy Tien spends several days, from searching for historical sources and conceptualizing the drawings to filming, recording audio, and editing. In particular, she dedicates a significant amount of time to researching historical documents, consulting experts, books, and newspapers, and collecting folk tales and anecdotes to refine and recreate them in a unique, engaging, and concise manner. Viewers not only receive information but also experience creativity through color, gaining a deeper understanding of national culture through the characters' costumes, landscapes, historical sites, and artifacts…
“When I first started the channel, I inevitably made some mistakes. History, if conveyed skillfully, can be very engaging, but it's also a difficult topic, especially for young people. I realized that whatever I convey to viewers, no matter how small, has a certain impact. Therefore, I learned valuable lessons. When I start creating any video, I invest seriously in it, conduct thorough research, and am open to receiving feedback and suggestions from everyone,” said Thuy Tien.
Pham Thi Thuy Tien (35 years old), born and raised in Dong Nai, currently works in Ho Chi Minh City. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Literature and Linguistics from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City). Thuy Tien has been nominated in the Inspirational Content Creator category of the Vietnam iContent Awards 2025, organized jointly by the Department of Broadcasting, Television and Electronic Information, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and VnExpress.
Inspiring exploration of national history and culture.
On October 5th, Thuy Tien's book, "Folk Legends," was launched to the public in a unique format, combining narrative text with coloring pages. This event also marks Thuy Tien's step out of the digital space to connect more closely with the public through a work imbued with her passion and love for the nation's culture and history.
"Through these stories, I hope that the cultural, historical, and human values of Vietnam will be spread in a more accessible and vibrant way in today's life, thereby arousing love and pride in our national heritage in each of us." TikToker PHAM THI THUY TIEN. |
Recounting the process of creating this work, Thuy Tien said she had been nurturing the project for two years. “I noticed that legends and folk tales about historical figures and cultural beliefs are of great interest to many people. Especially in the context of the development of social media, folk tales – once a part of our childhood memories – have become unfamiliar to today's children. Therefore, I decided to create a book series that conveys stories that spark interest in learning about history for young readers,” the author of Folk Tales shared.
Through this book, children will become familiar with legends such as Lac Long Quan - Au Co, Son Tinh - Thuy Tinh, Hon Vong Phu, the Four Immortals, etc., or discover the hidden meanings behind familiar folk games like "Dragon and Snake Climbing to the Clouds" or "Dung Dang Dung De". Each story has illustrated pages with meticulously drawn, beautiful details, reflecting rich folk culture. Thuy Tien revealed that most of the illustrations in the book were hand-drawn by her. After reading the stories, readers can draw their own characters in their imagination using the accompanying illustrations.
According to Dr. Ha Thanh Van, a cultural scholar, when discussing history, people usually distinguish between official history, unofficial history, and legend. Folk legends can be classified as a work of legend. The book chooses to view historical and cultural figures from the perspective of myths and legends. This perspective makes historical figures more relatable and appealing to the public, especially young readers. The fantastical, captivating, and thrilling elements from myths and legends not only reflect the folk perspective but also contribute to enhancing the fictional and imaginative abilities of young readers, while still providing specific and clear historical knowledge. And even when viewed from the perspective of "legends," the veneration of national heroes who have contributed to the country, cultural and historical figures, etc., remains the main inspiration and spirit of this book.
Nhat Ha
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202510/ke-chuyen-su-qua-net-ve-tai-hoa-1862907/
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