Vietnamese Literature: Everything You Need to Know

Vietnamese literature is a fundamental pillar of Vietnamese culture and history. It reflects the evolution of a people shaped by traditions, foreign influences, historical upheavals and profound social transformations. From ancestral oral narratives to great classical poetic works, from modern novels born in the twentieth century to contemporary Vietnamese literature recognized internationally, this literary heritage offers a precious insight into Vietnamese identity. Shaped by Confucianism, Buddhism, Chinese heritage and then the French colonial period, Vietnamese literature addresses universal themes such as memory, war, family, spirituality and our relationship with nature. Through its major authors and emblematic works, it allows us to better understand Vietnamese history and the sensibility of its society.

In this article, you will discover everything you need to know about Vietnamese literature: its origins, its evolution, its major currents, its essential writers and the texts that have lastingly shaped Vietnamese culture.

What is Vietnamese Literature?

Vietnamese literature refers to the set of oral and written works produced by the Vietnamese people throughout their history. It encompasses both legends and popular tales transmitted from generation to generation and poetic, philosophical and narrative texts written in different writing systems. A true expression of national identity, Vietnamese literature testifies to the values, beliefs and social transformations that have shaped Vietnam over the centuries.

Occupying a central place in Vietnamese culture, literature has long been a means of transmitting knowledge, morality and collective memory. It accompanies daily life, rituals, education and the major stages of national history. Literary works have served to preserve traditions, to express resistance in the face of trials and to strengthen the sense of belonging to a community.

Oral and written transmission is one of the foundations of Vietnamese literature. Before the generalization of writing, tales, popular songs, proverbs and poems were transmitted orally, particularly in rural villages. Subsequently, the development of writing in Hán, then in Nôm and finally in quốc ngữ, made it possible to set down these narratives and give rise to a more diverse and accessible literary production.

Finally, Vietnamese literature was built under the influence of multiple currents. Chinese heritage profoundly marked thinking and classical literary forms, while Confucianism and Buddhism infused moral and spiritual themes. The French colonial period introduced new genres, such as the modern novel, before contemporary currents opened Vietnamese literature to more personal, critical and universal voices.

Origins and Historical Evolution of Vietnamese Literature

The evolution of Vietnamese literature is part of a long history, marked by oral transmissions, foreign influences, political ruptures and major social transformations. Each period contributed to shaping a rich literary production, reflecting the identity and collective memory of Vietnam.

Before the 10th Century

Vietnamese literature before the 10th century was not necessarily developed, but it was a foundation for literature in the following centuries. It consisted mainly of Buddhist literature and religious texts. Some scholars discovered that the number of authors and works was not large, yet their works contributed to the emergence of a new literary period.

From the 10th to 19th Century

The choice to write in Chinese or in “chữ Nôm” gave authors a wide range of formal and thematic possibilities.

Among them the luc-bat is a method for writing poetry, the technique consists of writing a first line of 6 syllables and the second line with 8 syllables. The poem is continued according to this process (six-eight).

Subsequently, the lüshi (regular poem) became the preferred lyrical expression of writers. With lushi, there are as many syllables in each line.

This latter form reached aesthetic heights in the 19th century, with poets such as the author Ho Xuan Huong, who composed regulated verse poems that were complete double meanings, full of tonal wordplay.

A large part of the literature was produced by Buddhist monks from the Zen school. In the 10th and 11th centuries, a collection of Buddhist biographies and verses entitled “Thien uyen tap anh” (literally “Flowers of the Zen garden”), included works by famous monks such as Van Hanh, Man Giac, Vien Chieu, etc.

At the end of the 13th century, with the Buddhist sect Truc Lam (“bamboo forest”) under the patronage of King Tran Nhan Tong, this brand of Buddhism, as state religion, remained the primary influence on literature. However, as Confucianism became an increasingly reliable tool for governing and defending Vietnam, the locus of literary talent gradually shifted to high court officials and statesmen such as Nguyen Trai in the 15th century or Nguyen Binh Khiem in the 16th.

In the 19th century, Nguyen Du was the most famous poet in this period with his “Truyen Kieu” (The Tale of Kieu). Written in “chữ Nôm” with 3,253 luc-bat phrases from the oral folk tradition, “The Tale of Kieu” is considered the most important Vietnamese literary work which tells of concerns for individual freedom and feelings of fate linked to karma.

In the first half of the 19th century, Vietnamese society and culture were affected by Western civilization through French colonialism.

Some other works: “Great Proclamation of the Pacification of the Chinese” – Nguyễn Trãi, “Edict on the Transfer of the Capital” – Lý Công Uẩn.

From 1900 to 1930

The process of urbanization in the early twentieth century in Vietnam had created the appearance of publishing houses, newspapers and magazines. The role of cultural and spiritual life had shifted from the Confucian scholar to Western intellectuals. This fact led Vietnamese literature to a first stage of modernization during the first three decades of the twentieth century.

During these first three decades, there were certain important changes for literature to have more success. It was from Chinese to the Latin alphabet, from writing to printing,…

This period is considered the period of transition, from the medieval period to the modern literature period.

Some other works: “Tố Tâm” – Hoàng Ngọc Phách, “Who Could Do This?” – Hồ Biểu Chánh

From 1930 to 1945

There was a boom in Vietnamese literature from 1930 to 1945. Vietnamese scholars highly appreciated the great changes of this period.

Vietnamese literature at this time can be divided into three categories:

– The first was the romantic category in which the main content expressed the ego of the writers.

– Then: it is realistic literature that described the facts of life, especially the reality of the working class that were the majority of society.

– The last was called “revolutionary literature” or “literature of resistance.” It was written by Vietnamese prisoners of French colonialism. This category described the process of struggle of fighters for Vietnamese independence.

This is why many novels and short stories written during this period were chosen for educational programs. They were very useful for teaching Vietnamese history and literature with historical and cultural values

Some works: “When the Lamp Goes Out” – Ngô Tất Tố, “The Fabulous Destiny of Xuan the Red-haired” – Vũ Trọng Phụng

From 1945 to 1975

After the “August Revolution” to declare the country’s independence in 1945, Vietnam embarked on a new historical process. During this time, politics seriously affected literature. Under the guidance of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Vietnamese literature had to serve politics. Literature encouraged the fighting spirit of people in the struggle against the French and Americans. During this era, works were composed mainly in the context of wars.

In 1945, more than 90% of the Vietnamese population was illiterate. However, a large group of writers who were formerly illiterate farmers and workers was formed, which is considered an achievement in national literature.

Some works: “The Land” – Nguyễn Đình Thi, “Soldiers” – Chính Hữu

From 1975 to Today:

From 1975 onwards, Vietnamese literature continues to develop. From 1986, with the “Đổi Mới” (Renewal) process, Vietnamese literature changed in nature. It was to better adapt to post-war life. The public is increasingly interested in works about rural life, the lives of young Vietnamese today and Vietnamese culture.

Foreign readers are becoming familiar with contemporary writers such as Bao Ninh, Nguyen Nhat Anh, Nguyen Ngoc Tu, etc. For example, Nguyen Nhat Anh’s “Return to Childhood Ticket” was translated into Thai in 2011 and translated into Korean in 2013. In 2014, the book was translated into English and presented to Americans. Poet Mai Van Phan created a phenomenon with five poems translated and promoted abroad by a British publisher.
In recent years, several Vietnamese authors have received international awards for their literary translations.

Some works : “The Trace of a Soldier” – Nguyễn Minh Châu, “When Spring Arrives” – Hữu Thỉnh

The Components of Vietnamese Literature

Vietnamese Oral Literature (văn học dân gian)

The tradition of Vietnamese oral literature finds its origins in agricultural communities. Oral poetry was particularly widespread in the countryside, where it took the form of prayers, songs and poems intended to wish for good harvests. It was believed then that the more beautiful the prose, the more abundant the harvest would be. It is in this context that the first popular poets appeared.

Today, oral literature continues to exert an important influence on contemporary Vietnamese poetry. The themes addressed and the choice of words express a deep attachment to the homeland and to rural life. In the oral tradition, lyric poetry sung in the first person is called ca dao (“folk ballads”). Narrative songs sung in the third person take the form of ca trù (“ceremony songs”) in the North and vọng cổ (“echoes of the past”) in the South.

Ơn trời mưa nắng phải thì

Nơi thì bừa cạn, nơi thì cày sâu

Công lênh chẳng quản ai đâu

Ngày nay nước bạc, ngày sau cơm vàng.

Translation:

“May the heavens grant us favorable rain and sunshine,

May tilling and labor bear their fruits,

May our efforts not be in vain,

Today the water is clear, tomorrow the rice will be golden.”

Written Vietnamese Literature (văn học viết)

Written Vietnamese literature groups individual works created by identifiable authors and recorded in writing. It allows more personal expression and more structured aesthetic elaboration than the oral tradition.

Throughout its history, written Vietnamese literature has developed through several writing systems:

• chữ Hán (classical Chinese characters), used in scholarly and official literature
• chữ Nôm (Vietnamese vernacular writing), allowing the transcription of spoken language
• quốc ngữ (Romanized Vietnamese alphabet), widely disseminated from the twentieth century onwards

These systems shaped the evolution of literary forms and contents.

Written Vietnamese literature covers a wide range of genres, including:

• poetry
• narrative prose (chronicles, short stories, novels)
• essays
• theater

These genres reflect the historical, social and cultural transformations of Vietnam.

Oral literature and written literature have coexisted throughout Vietnamese history. The oral tradition has long nourished the inspiration of writers and influenced poetic and narrative forms. Many written works, particularly in chữ Nôm, draw directly from the themes, motifs and rhythms of oral literature. This constant interaction contributes to the continuity and richness of Vietnamese literature.

Some Popular Works in Vietnamese Literature

“Lão Hạc” (Mr. Hac, The Poor Old Man) (1943 – author Nam Cao)

Mr. Hac was a poor farmer. His wife had passed away and he only had a garden and a son. For lack of money to marry his wife, the son was disappointed and left home. From then on, Mr. Hac lived with the dog. But later, he even had to sell his dog to get some money for his son. He sent this money to the neighbor who was a teacher, then asked Binh Tu, another neighbor, for some poison for the dog. Then suddenly, Mr. Hac died. No one knew the reason, except the teacher and Binh Tu…

“Vợ chồng A Phủ” (Mr. and Mrs. A Phu) (1952 – author Tô Hoài)

My – a beautiful poor young girl was kidnapped and arrested to become the daughter-in-law of Pa Tra – the village chief. She had to work very hard for Pa Tra. A Phu was a poor young man but brave who had to pay a fine to Pa Tra’s family. Without money, A Phu became Pa Tra’s servant. Once A Phu made a mistake, so he was tied in front of the house. At night, My could not sleep because she was cold and she saw that A Phu was about to die. She freed herself for him and both of them escaped from Pa Tra’s family.

Conclusion

Vietnamese literature constitutes a major cultural heritage, a faithful reflection of the history, values and sensibility of the Vietnamese people. Born from an ancient oral tradition, it has gradually been enriched through the evolution of writing systems, while maintaining a deep connection with the social, rural and spiritual life of Vietnam. Over the centuries, Vietnamese literature has accompanied the major stages of national history: affirmation of cultural identity, resistance to foreign dominations, struggles for independence, wars, then renewal and international openness. Poetry, the novel, theater and narratives in turn testify to human suffering, patriotism, humanism and collective resilience.

Today, contemporary Vietnamese literature is fully part of the global literary landscape. Thanks to translations, many works are now accessible to foreign readers, offering a more intimate understanding of Vietnam, beyond historical or tourist clichés. Discovering Vietnamese literature is to explore a living and plural culture, where orality and writing, past and present, collective and individual dialogue constantly. It remains therefore an essential vector of memory, identity and creation, indispensable for understanding the cultural depth of Vietnam.