The Origin of Watermelons – A Vietnamese Legend of Perseverance and Fortune

Long ago, in the heart of an ancient Vietnamese kingdom, there lived a wise and industrious young man named Mai An Tiem. He was not only admired for his intelligence and hard work but had also won the rare favor of the King himself. In a gesture of great honor, the King allowed An Tiem to marry his beloved daughter, the royal princess. With a beautiful wife, wealth, and status, An Tiem seemed to have everything a man could dream of—luck, riches, and happiness.

But such blessings often stir envy. Many courtiers at the royal palace grew resentful of An Tiem’s success. Whispered rumors began to circulate, claiming that An Tiem had arrogantly boasted that all his fortune was earned through his own abilities, not the King’s benevolence. When these words reached the King’s ears, he was deeply offended. In a swift decision, the King exiled An Tiem and his family to a remote, desolate island far to the south—an island so barren that no one had ever lived there before.

Life in Exile

The island was a harsh place: the land was dry, sandy, and infertile. There was no rice to plant, no fresh water nearby, and each day was a struggle for survival. But An Tiem was not a man who surrendered to despair. Every morning, he searched the land for any signs of life or sustenance, refusing to give up hope for himself, his wife, and their children.

One fateful day, while wandering near his hut, An Tiem noticed a flock of birds feasting on peculiar green fruits with dark stripes on their rinds. Their flesh was a brilliant, juicy red, dotted with glossy black seeds. The birds relished the fruit and then flew away, leaving behind scattered seeds.

An Tiem watched with curiosity and thought, “If birds can eat these fruits and thrive, surely we humans can too.” Inspired by this thought, he gathered the seeds and decided to cultivate them on the barren island, despite the poor soil.

The Discovery of the Sweet Fruit

An Tiem and his wife worked tirelessly to plant and tend the seeds. Weeks passed, and their hope began to sprout—literally. Eventually, vines spread across the sandy soil, and the strange green fruits began to grow. When the time for harvest arrived, An Tiem was both excited and anxious. He sliced open the fruit, revealing its luscious red interior. Taking a cautious bite, he was overjoyed—the flesh was sweet like sugar and refreshingly cool, as though it carried the crispness of morning dew.

His wife exclaimed, “This is a blessing! A gift from nature to sustain us!”

An Tiem named the fruit “Western Melon”, because the birds had flown from the west to bring the seeds. To ensure his family’s survival, An Tiem devised a clever plan. He inscribed his name and the island’s name onto the rinds of the melons and set them adrift on the waves. When passing sailors found the strange floating fruits, they were enchanted by the taste and traced the fruits back to the island. In exchange for the sweet melons, the sailors brought rice, meat, and vegetables, ensuring that An Tiem and his family could survive—and even thrive—on the remote island.

The King’s Realization

As time passed, the fame of the Western Melons spread across the kingdom. Eventually, news of this extraordinary fruit reached the ears of the King himself. Curious, the King commanded that the melons be brought to his court. When he saw the fruit and tasted its sweet, refreshing flavor, he was immediately captivated. On examining the rind, he noticed the markings—An Tiem’s name, unmistakably carved into the skin of the melon.

The King thought deeply for days, weeks, and months. He reflected on the injustice of his decision and the resilience of An Tiem. Here was a man, cast away with nothing, who had built life anew through ingenuity, courage, and hard work.

At last, the King made a noble decision—he forgave An Tiem and invited him and his family back to the kingdom with great honor. An Tiem returned, not just with his family, but with the seeds of the Western Melon, sharing them with the entire nation.

The Birth of ‘Dua Hau’ – The Watermelon

From that time onwards, the fruit was known in Vietnam as “Dưa Hấu”, which translates to “Watermelon” in English. It became a beloved fruit, celebrated for its sweetness and its symbolic story of perseverance, gratitude, and redemption.

Moral of the Story

Hard work, wisdom, and perseverance can turn even the harshest circumstances into a source of abundance. Gratitude and humility ensure that our fortunes remain blessings, not burdens.