The story of Mị Châu and Trọng Thủy is a well-known Vietnamese legend about love, betrayal, and tragedy. Mị Châu, a princess, falls in love with Trọng Thủy, leading to a heartbreaking betrayal. Their tale symbolizes the impact of deceit and the creation of precious pearls in Vietnamese culture.
The Rise of Âu Lạc and the Magic Crossbow
One day, a divine creature known as the Golden Turtle Spirit (Thần Kim Quy) appeared to the king. It revealed that evil spirits were sabotaging the construction and advised him to hold a sacred ritual. After following the spirit’s instructions, the walls finally stood firm.
Impressed by the king's determination, the Golden Turtle Spirit gifted him one of its claws. With this gift, the king ordered his general, Cao Lỗ, to craft a magical crossbow. This crossbow was a powerful weapon with extraordinary strength—it could destroy thousands of enemies with a single shot.
Triệu Đà’s Plot to Steal the Magic Crossbow
At the time, a neighboring ruler, Triệu Đà, sought to conquer Âu Lạc. But his army was repeatedly crushed by the magic crossbow’s overwhelming power. Frustrated, Triệu Đà devised a cunning plan: instead of fighting, he would deceive.
Knowing that King An Dương Vương had a beautiful daughter named Mị Châu, Triệu Đà proposed a peace treaty and sent his son, Trọng Thủy, to marry her. His real mission was to uncover the secret of the crossbow.
Mị Châu, innocent and deeply in love, trusted Trọng Thủy completely. Gaining her trust, Trọng Thủy persuaded her to reveal the secret location of the crossbow. Naively, she allowed him to inspect it. Trọng Thủy secretly sabotaged the weapon by replacing its magical trigger with a fake one, and soon returned home.
Before leaving, Trọng Thủy asked Mị Châu,
"If war breaks out, how will I find you?"
Trusting him, she answered,
"I will scatter goose feathers along my path so you can follow me."
The Fall of Âu Lạc
Soon after, Triệu Đà launched a surprise attack. Confident, King An Dương Vương ordered the magic crossbow to be used—only to find it had been rendered useless.
With no defense left, Âu Lạc fell. The king fled south with Mị Châu, while Triệu Đà’s forces pursued them, easily following the trail of goose feathers Mị Châu left behind.
The Heartbreaking Betrayal
Reaching the coast, King An Dương Vương prayed desperately for help. The Golden Turtle Spirit (Thần Kim Quy) appeared again and sternly said,
"The traitor is right behind you!"
Realizing his daughter’s betrayal—albeit unintentional—the king sorrowfully drew his sword and executed Mị Châu on the spot.
Before dying, Mị Châu wept and prayed:
"If I have knowingly betrayed my father and my country, let my body turn to dust. But if I have been deceived, let me become a pearl to clear my innocence."
Legend says her blood seeped into the sea, and clams that consumed it transformed into beautiful pearls (ngọc minh châu).
As for King An Dương Vương, he disappeared into the ocean with the Golden Turtle Spirit, ending the reign of Âu Lạc.
Trọng Thủy’s Regret and the Legend of the Pearl Well
Trọng Thủy finally caught up—only to find Mị Châu already dead. Overcome with grief and guilt, he took her body back to Cổ Loa Citadel and buried her. Consumed by sorrow, he later threw himself into a well and drowned.
According to legend, the well where Trọng Thủy died held magical water. Pearls washed in its water would shine brighter, symbolizing the tragic love story that forever shaped Vietnamese folklore.