The Hundred-Knot Bamboo Tree

Long ago, in a peaceful village, there was a hardworking young man named Khoai. He worked tirelessly for a wealthy landowner, hoping to marry the man’s daughter. The landowner noticed Khoai’s dedication and promised:
"Work hard for me, and I will give you my daughter’s hand in marriage."
Trusting the promise, Khoai worked day and night, never complaining.

A Broken Promise

Three years passed. On the day of the wedding, Khoai excitedly arrived at the landowner’s house. To his shock, the landowner had arranged for his daughter to marry a wealthy suitor instead.
Seeing Khoai’s disappointment, the landowner smirked and said:
"If you truly want to marry my daughter, bring me a bamboo tree with one hundred knots. Only then will I allow the wedding."
Khoai knew it was an impossible task. Yet, out of love for the girl, he set off into the forest.

The Impossible Task

Khoai searched the forest all day. He counted the knots on every bamboo tree he found. Seventy, eighty, even ninety. But none had one hundred knots. Exhausted and hopeless, he slumped against a tree, muttering:
"There’s no such thing as a hundred-knot bamboo tree. The landowner tricked me."
At that moment, a Fairy Godfather appeared. With a kind smile, he asked:
"Why are you so sad, young man?"
Khoai explained his situation. The Fairy Godfather nodded and said:
"Chop down one hundred bamboo sections and lay them in a row. I will help you."
Khoai followed the instructions, cutting exactly one hundred bamboo pieces. The Fairy Godfather then whispered a magical chant:
"Join together! Join together!"
Amazingly, the bamboo pieces fused into a single, long bamboo tree with exactly one hundred knots. Overjoyed, Khoai thanked the Fairy Godfather and hurried back to the landowner’s house.

A Lesson in Greed

Back at the landowner’s house, a grand wedding was taking place. Seeing Khoai return, the landowner laughed mockingly:
"Did you really find a hundred-knot bamboo tree?"
Curious, the landowner, his new son-in-law, and the guests all gathered around to inspect the tree. Seizing the moment, Khoai repeated the magic words:
"Join together! Join together!"
Suddenly, everyone touching the bamboo became stuck to it. They screamed and struggled, but no one could move. Panic filled the air as they begged Khoai for mercy.
"Please, let us go! I was wrong! You can marry my daughter!" the landowner pleaded.
Only after hearing the promise did Khoai say:
"Separate! Separate!"
Immediately, everyone was freed.

Happily Ever After

True to his word, the landowner allowed Khoai to marry his daughter. The wedding was grand, and the couple lived happily ever after. As for the landowner, he never broke another promise again.

“The Hundred-Knot Bamboo Tree” is one of Vietnam’s most beloved folktales. It teaches us that hard work, patience, and honesty will always win in the end, while greed and dishonesty lead to downfall.