Vietnamese chess ace to compete in Beijing

Vietnamese chess ace to compete in Beijing

Last updated: 12/5/2011 11:25

Vietnam's chess ace Le Quang Liem (R) will compete at the 2011 World Mind Sports Games in Beijing from December 8-12. Photo by Kha Hoa.

Vietnam’s No. 1 chess player Le Quang Liem will fly to China on Monday to compete at the 2011 World Mind Sports Games (WMSG) in Beijing from December 8-12.

The 28^th-ranked Liem plans to play in the rapid and blitz events, and is likely to compete in the blindfold contest, too.

The event organizers invited 16 world stars with elo 2,700 and over; the 20-year-old Liem (elo 2717) is in the 10^thplace out of the 16 competitors.

Chess experts say that Liem is not likely to finish among the top spots because he is not very good at rapid and blitz chess, but the South East Asian champion Liem will probably do well in the blindfold event.

In addition to Liem, Ngo Lan Huong and Nguyen Hoang Lam will compete in the Xiangqi (Chinese chess) contest at the WMSG.

Hoang Lam and Lan Huong won two gold medals in the men’s and women’s contests at the 15th Asian Xiangqi Individual Championships in Macau last month.

Vietnam football management company gets license

Vietnam football management company gets license

Last updated: 12/8/2011 16:25

VFF's vice chairman Nguyen Lan Trung is likely to become CEO of the newly established Vietnam Professional Football JS Company

The Vietnam Professional Football JS Company received a license Wednesday from the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment.

It will be in charge of organizing and managing all professional football activities from the 2012 season onwards, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

The VFF and the Hanoi People’s Committee will control it in terms of football activities and finances.

The VFF is the largest shareholder with a 35.4 percent share of its chartered capital, while the 14 clubs in the topflight V-League hold 54.6 percent, and the 10 First Division clubs own the remaining 10 percent.

Its chairman, CEO, and board members will be chosen at the first general meeting to be held December 14.

Vietnamese football turns over a new leaf

Vietnamese football turns over a new leaf

Last updated: 12/15/2011 10:00

VPF chairman Vo Quoc Thang (L) talks to his deputy Nguyen Duc Kien at the first general meeting of the company in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The first meeting of Vietnam Professional Football JS Company (VPF) was held inHanoi on Wednesday to choose its managing staff.

Vo Quoc Thang, owner of the top-tier club Dong Tam Long An, was appointed the chairman of the company, which was created by club owners who were unpleased with the management provided by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Le Hung Dung will be vice chairman in charge of general financial issues; Nguyen Duc Kien will serve as vice chairman responsible for finance, internal issues and referee supervision; whilst Doan Nguyen Duc will be vice chairman responsible for supporting the national teams.

Management members will include Nguyen Cong Khe, chairman of Thanh Nien Media Company; Pham Ngoc Vien, VFF vice chairman; Bui Xuan Hoa, SHB Da Nang club owner; Bui Van Duc, vice chairman of Binh Duong Football Federation; and Ms. Dinh Thu Trang, VFF’s financial chief.

The Board of Directors appointed Pham Ngoc Vien to be CEO. Deputy Directors will be Pham Phu Hoa (no longer managing director of Dong Tam Long An club) in charge of legal, administrative and office issues; and Luu Quang Lam, chairman of Saigon FC responsible for the media issues.

Tran Duy Ly will be held as managing director of V-League 1; with Nguyen Huu Bang will be the managing director of V-League 2.

VPF must make some profit

Though the meeting was formal and serious, the participants were enthusiastic and determined. A detailed action plan did not emerge from this initial meeting.

However, ACB club owner, Nguyen Duc Kien, a major proponent for establishing the company, said, “VPF is a special business. It must make its own living. Its main purpose is not to make profits but it can’t be unprofitable.

VPF EXPECTED TO MAKE A PROFIT OF VND2 BILLION IN 2012

As planned, the total revenue of the 2012 season will be VND39.731 billion while the total expenditure will be VND37.337 billion. This plan does not include contributions (payment of participation fee) from clubs; and the clubs will pay for food and accommodation for referees, supervisors and at most one member of the tournament organizing committee. The difference between revenue and expenditure is expected to be VND2.3 billion.

“We the founders don’t consider this a tasty cake of which we would fight for a share, power or interest for individuals or our clubs. There won’t be a fight for power between VFF and VPF.”

Kien said the company would not operate at a loss, even in the first year of its operation. The amount of profit will depend heavily on the work of the Board of Directors.

Kien stressed, “VPF will make no less revenue than VFF did (more than VND30 billion (US$1.4 million) per year). VPF will raise enough for its operations without asking top-tier V-League (now called V-League 1) clubs to pay VND500 million to participate in the tournament and second-tier First Division (currently V-League 2) to pay VND300 million.

“The company has four financial measures. In the worst case, each club will be asked to pay half of the previous fee of participation.”

Since VFF doesn’t have any large revenue, VPF will have to give VFF a part of the company’s profits before taxes so that VFF will have no less money for the national football teams than before, Kien said.

VPF will also be controlled

Kien said the Vietnamese football tournaments and VPF must manage well to ensure quality and transparency. A club cannot award more than VND500 million per match to its players and the company will monitor clubs strictly conduct to ensure clubs do not offer secret rewards.

VPF will be under the strict control of an inspection committee. Le Tien Anh, owner of Khanh Hoa Club, will be chief of the committee supported by two members Nguyen Nam Hung, VFF’s standing committee member; and Nguyen Van Thanh, owner of Binh Dinh Club.

Tien Anh said, “In addition to the financial matter, we will monitor the staff. Or in other words, we will supervise all the operations of the company with regular checks rather than inspecting every six months or once a year.”

At the end of the meeting, Kien said, “I appointed Vien to be the company CEO but I must say to Vien that his position is totally different from his previous position [VFF vice chairman], so he must make necessary changes. He will be rewarded if he does a good job; otherwise, he will be removed.”

VPF CHAIRMAN: HAPPY, CONCERNED AND SURPRISED

Speaking during a press conference after the meeting, VPF chairman Vo Quoc Thang said, “I couldn’t go to bed until 3 a.m. I had to think about the offer for the position, and I thought I would be found irresponsible for Vietnamese football if I didn’t accept the invitation. “Being offered the position, I feel happy, concerned and surprised. All I need is support from different people so that I can fulfill my duties. I promise I will do my best to ensure stability and development of the company, bringing the most benefits for the clubs, making Vietnamese football catch up with football development in the continent and the world. “All matters must be decided by the Board of Directors, not by any individual. Though very busy, we will arrange the time and try to make the best use of the strengths of each individual to boost the strength of the company. “Of course, we can’t expect Vietnamese football to improve overnight; but we will make efforts to solve all the problems. We will give specific rights to the Board of Directors and its members. We shouldn’t talk about the past. We should look forward. Those who do a good job will be given more power and those who don’t do a good job will have their power reduced. No one in the Board of Directors will receive a salary. All individual expenses for VPF business will be paid by me.” By Nhat Duy

Barcelona beat Santos to win Club World Cup

Barcelona beat Santos to win Club World Cup

Last updated: 12/19/2011 8:00

FC Barcelona players and staff members toss their head coach Pep Guardiola as they celebrate their victory against Santos FC during the awarding ceremony after the final football match in the Club World Cup in Yokohama. Barcelona defeated Santos 4-0

Lionel Messi grabbed a classy brace as the “artists” of Barcelona out-classed the Brazilians Santos 4-0 to lift the Club World Cup Sunday and confirm their status as the best team on the planet.

The clash between the European and South American champions in Japan had been billed as a showdown between Messi, widely acknowledged as the best player in the world, and 19-year-old Brazilian sensation Neymar.

In the event, it was no contest -- either between the two supreme talents or their teams -- as Barcelona picked up their second world crown after winning the competition in 2009, when Messi was again the difference.

Barca boss Pep Guardiola called his men “artists” and dedicated the 13th title in his three-and-a-half years in charge to striker David Villa, who flew home after fracturing his shin in the semi-final and faces five months out.

“We missed him very much. I talked to him a lot (since the bad injury) and I want to talk to him tonight,” said Guardiola, full of praise for his side who wore t-shirts in honor of their missing team-mate.

“They were like artists,” he said, turning to their spectacular performance that secured the official title as the world’s best side and saw the Catalan club net a cool $5 million.

“What was envisioned in their minds happened on the pitch.”

Messi, set up by Xavi, got the first after 17 minutes, before Xavi put Barcelona 2-0 up just seven minutes later to put them firmly in control, as prodigious forward Neymar struggled to get a sniff of the ball.

Cesc Fabregas, who pulled the strings in midfield, got the third on the stroke of half-time as the Spanish champions, who were at full-strength, threatened to run riot for the packed house of 68,166.

Messi got his second eight minutes from time as he rounded the keeper to roll the ball in after the influential Dani Alves threaded the ball through to him.

“We are extremely happy and our performance, especially in the first-half, was very satisfactory,” said Guardiola, who declined to single out one player for more praise than the rest.

“I’ve tried to get the players to work together as a team and use the strengths they have. Our players have been playing very well, but it’s important to keep that level going.”

His opposite number Muricy Ramalho said there was no disgrace in defeat.

“Barcelona have played various teams around the world and nobody can beat them. Eventually some team may, but I don’t think it’s possible now,” he said.

“This was not embarrassing and it was not a blow to us. We need to be humble -- we were beaten by the best team in the world,” he said, adding Messi was without doubt the best but that Neymar would one day take that title.

Barca had the better of an open first 15 minutes, Messi forcing a save out of Rafael Cabral after skipping a couple of half-hearted Santos challenges.

Shortly after that the Argentine was at it again, taking a dinked pass from Xavi and lifting the ball delicately over Cabral from just a few yards out to put the Catalans into an early lead at the International Stadium in Yokohama.

It was all Barca, so it was no surprise when they went further ahead on 24 minutes, full-back Alves driving down the right wing and cutting inside to set up Xavi, who rifled the ball past an exposed Cabral.

Television cameras quickly focused on a glum-looking Neymar.

Still Barca and Messi kept coming. On 26 minutes he was denied by a terrific last-gasp tackle when through on goal, and three minutes later Fabregas struck Cabral’s post after he was set up by Xavi.

Fabregas and Barca would not be denied, as the former Arsenal man grabbed the third just before half-time after more good link-up play -- including an audacious back-heel -- from the irrepressible Messi.

Belatedly, the Brazilian side were up for it after Ramalho had sent them out onto the frigid pitch well ahead of their opponents.

Neymar should have found the net when clean through on goal just before the hour, but Victor Valdes saved well with his legs. It summed up the teenager’s night.

Messi put the gloss on a polished performance from him and his side as he showed trademark deft footwork to dance around Cabral and walk the ball in for the fourth.

The legend of CHU VAN DICH

The legend of CHU VAN DICH
Adapted by George F. Schultz
This story, which is obviously of Buddhist inspiration, is a lesson in honesty. A poor farmer dies before he can pay off his debts; he returns to life as a water buffalo and works hard in order to take care of his obligations. The creditor also conducts himself honestly in returning the canceled notes to the debtor's sons.

Many years ago, a peasant was driving a water buffalo before the plow in his master's rice field. "Van Dich! Van Dich!" he called exhortingly. "Move along; it is almost noon. A few more furrows and our work will be finished".

Two handsome young men, who were walking along the path that bordered the rice-field, happened to overhear the peasant's words. They stopped in their tracks and looked at each other with astonishment. To whom was the peasant speaking? There was no other person in the field with him. Was it possible that he had called the buffalo by a man's name? It was all very strange.

The last furrow was plowed.

"Van Dich," said the peasant to the buffalo then, "you did a good job. It is time to rest."

The peasant wiped the sweat beats from his brow and then unharnessed the buffalo. The great beast plodded to the edge of the field to graze. The peasant drank some tea from a bowl and munched a few mouthfuls of rice; then, to protect himself from the unbearable heat, he removed his conical hat of palm-straw and began to fan his face with it. Absorbed in his own thoughts, he failed to notice the approach of the two strangers.

"Dear friend," one of. them called to the peasant, "is your buffalo perchance named Van Dich?"

"Yes", replied the peasant, "that is his name. Does it seem odd to you?"

"Very odd," was the reply. "Why did you give him that name?" The farmer considered for a moment.

"Well," he said then, "you are not the first ones who have asked that question. There is an unusual story connected with this buffalo. You see, my master is a wealthy landowner. I have worked for him for a long time and always with this buffalo. I call him Van Dich because he was born with that name as you can plainly see from the two characters inscribed on his hack. He is the cleverest and most industrious buffalo I have ever seen."

The two young men, who were brothers, looked at each other significantly. They thanked the peasant for the information given them and then set off in the direction of the neighboring village.

"Younger brother," said the elder of the two, "how strange all this is. After an absence of many years, we are returning to our native village, which we left as children. I am ashamed to learn that a buffalo has been given our father's name. We must speak to the buffalo's owner about it."

On reaching the village, the two young men inquired about the location of the rich landowner's home. They went there then and knocked at the door. As they were well-dressed and did not look like beggars, they were admitted at once. Tea was served them and water-pipes brought forward. Finally, after a period of polite silence, the elder brother asked the master of the house, an old man with snow-white hair, to tell them about the buffalo called Van Dich.

The old man seemed surprised at their question but not unwilling to tell the story.

"I come from this village," he said. "I started as an ordinary farmer. Heaven was kind to me and my wealth increased from year to year. I acquired large holdings of land. I became richer and richer and many peasants came to work for me. My young neighbor, however, a farmer named Chu Van Dich, had no luck at all although he was an honest and righteous man. One misfortune after another happened to him, and in the end he had no more than a few crumbs of rice for his wife and two sons. He came to me to borrow some money. I gave him what he needed since I was certain that the money would bear good interest. For some time his luck seemed to change; but then his wife fell ill and his two buffaloes died in the same night. A farmer cannot live without a buffalo. I lent him some more money, with which he purchased a new buffalo. But after he had brought in a good harvest and seemed to have saved himself., a fire destroyed his house and all his grain. Chu Van Dich died then from sheer despair. His wife and children left the village and it appeared that I had lost a considerable sum of money."

The two brothers hardly dared breathe. They had just heard the story of their father's ruin.

"Several years ago," continued the landowner, "Chu Van Dich appeared to me in a dream. He was in a pitiable condition. He said that as he had not been able to pay his debts to me during his earthly existence, his soul had been unable to find peace in the Kingdom of the Bead. He said further that he would come to work for me in order to pay off his debt."

The old man stopped to sip his tea. The brothers held their faces in their hands.

"The next morning," he continued, "before I had risen, a servant came running and informed me that a buffalo cow had given birth to a calf that had the characters "Van Dich" imprinted on his back. Was I not to assume then that Chu Van Dich's soul had passed into the calf's body?"

After a long silence, the two brothers raised their heads.

"Chu Van Dich was our father," they said. "After his death, our mother left the village, taking us with her. In a distant province, Lord Buddha had compassion on us and we became well-to-do. we have come here to pay our father's debts. And then you will of course give us the buffalo."

"You owe me nothing," replied the landowner. "I will gladly give you all your father's notes for he has amply repaid me through the work of the buffalo. Ever since the time that he began working for me, we have had a large measure of good fortune. We took good care of him, which was as it should have been, and I am sorry to see him go."

The landowner then gave the brothers their father's notes and ordered the buffalo released to them. After thanking the man for his generosity, they returned to the village, leading the buffalo. There they burned the notes; at that moment the buffalo was seen to fall to the ground dead!

Chu Van Dich's soul thus returned to the Kingdom of the Dead, where it would live eternally in peace.

CHU DONG-TU and princess TIEN DUNG

CHU DONG-TU and princess TIEN DUNG
Adapted by George F. Schultz
The legend that follows is one of the oldest of Vietnam, reputedly going back to the early years of the semi-legendary Hong Bang dynasty. It is probably of Taoist inspiration and affirms a belief in genie and immortals.
The third King Hung Vuong had a beautiful daughter named Tien-Dung (Divine Beauty), who, although of fairy-like loveliness, was endowed with a whimsical nature. Despite her father's entreaties, she rejected every offer of marriage, preferring, as she said, to remain single in order to satisfy her passion for visiting the many beautiful sites of her father's kingdom, known as Van Lang. As the king loved his daughter tenderly, he tried to please her in every way possible, even placing at her disposal a number of vessels including the royal barge, so that she could navigate the rivers of the realm.

At that time, in the village of Chu Xa (Hung Yen province), lived Chu Cu-Van and his son Chu Dong-Tu (Marsh Boy). They were poor fishermen whose home had been ruined by fire. They had lost all their clothing except a single loincloth, which they took turns wearing. When Chu Cu-Van fell seriously ill and felt death approaching, he called his son to the side of his mat.

"After my death," he said, "keep this loincloth for thyself."

But Chu Dong-Tu was a pious son and could not let his old father be buried without shroud. He attended the funeral in borrowed clothes and then found himself without a garment of any kind. The poor young fisherman was obliged to do his fishing at night. During the day he would attempt to sell his catch to the people in the boats passing along the river, remaining immersed in the water up to his waist. One day, Princess Tien Dung, then in her twentieth year, accompanied by a brilliant suite, happened to approach the very place where Chu Dong-Tu was standing in the water. When the young fisherman heard the sound of gongs and bells and perceived the wonderful array of parasols and banners, he became frightened and took cover behind some bulrushes. Then he quickly dug a hole in the sand and covered himself so completely that only his nose was exposed.

Taking a liking to the picturesque surroundings, the princess expressed a desire to bathe there. A tent was set up on the shore. The princess entered, disrobed, and began to pour water over her head and shoulders. As the water trickled to the ground, it washed away some of the sand, exposing Chu Dong-Tu in all his nakedness.

"Who are you?" asked the princess. "What are you doing here?"

"Your Royal Highness," replied the frightened youth, not daring to raise his eyes, "I am only a poor fisherman. Having no garment with which to clothe myself, I was forced to hide in the sand at the approach of the royal barge. Will you not pardon my error?"

Princess Tien Dung dressed in haste and threw a remnant of cloth to the young man so that he could cover himself. Then she questioned him in great detail about his past life. Hardship had not marred Chu Dong-Tu's handsome features, and the princess was not displeased with his demeanor. After some deliberation, she reached a decision.

"I had not expected to marry," she said with a sigh, "but Heaven has ordained this meeting. I cannot oppose Heaven's Will." She immediately ordered all her officers and ladies to come forward. When they had assembled, she told them of the extraordinary adventure that had just befallen her. Then she announced that it was her intention to marry the young man.
"But Your Royal Highness," cried Chu Dong-Tu on hearing these words, "how can I, a penniless fisherman, be the husband of a royal princess?"
"It has been predestined," replied the young woman; "therefore, there can be no reservations about the matter."
"Long live Their Royal Highnesses." cried the officers and ladies in chorus.

Chu Dong-Tu was properly clothed and groomed and the royal wedding took place that same evening with great pomp. But when King Hung-Vuong learned of it, he became furious and shouted angrily at his courtiers.

"In marrying a vagabond," he said, "Tien Dung has dishonored her rank of royal princess. She is to be disinherited and forever banned from my court." The princess had no desire to face her father's wrath. In order to provide for her husband and herself, she decided to go into business. She sold her junks and her jewels, bought some land at a crossroads near the village of Chu Xa, and established a trading post. Visited by merchant vessels from the entire kingdom of Van Lang and from countries overseas as well, the village prospered and in time became a great emporium.

One day, a foreign merchant advised the princess to send an agent across the sea to purchase some rare merchandise that could then be sold at a tenfold profit. Chu Dong-Tu was charged with this mission and together with the foreign merchant left by sea. On reaching the island of Quynh Vien, they met a Taoist priest who immediately recognized the sign of immortality on Chu Dong-Tu's forehead. The former fisherman then entrusted his gold to the foreign merchant and remained on the island for one year in order to be initiated into the secrets of the Way (Dao).

On the day of Chu Dong-Tu's departure, the priest gave his disciple a pilgrim's staff and a conical hat made of palm leaves. He advised him never to be without them.

"This staff will give you support," he said, "but it is worth much more. The hat will protect you from the rain and also from harm. Both have supernatural power."

On returning to Chu Xa, Chu Dong-Tu converted his wife to Taoism. They repented their earthly sins, abandoned their possessions, and left in search of a deserted place, where they would be able to devote themselves entirely to a study of the True Doctrine.

All day they stumbled on through the wilds and at last fell to the earth exhausted. But before lying down to sleep, Chu Dong-Tu planted his staff in the ground and on it hung the conical hat.

The couple had been asleep only a few moments before being awakened by a crash of thunder. They sat up between flashes of lightning and saw a magic citadel suddenly rise from the earth. It was complete with jade-and-emerald palaces, public buildings, and houses for the inhabitants. Mandarins, both civil and military, courtiers, soldiers, and servants came forward to welcome them to the city, begging them to rule over the new kingdom. Chu Dong-Tu and his wife entered their palace and began a reign of peace and prosperity.

When King Hung-Vuong learned of the existence of the magic citadel, he thought that his daughter had rebelled against his authority and was desirous of founding a new dynasty. He assembled an army and ordered his generals to destroy the rival kingdom. The people of the citadel urged the princess to give them weapons so that they might defend her territory.

"No," she said, "I do not intend to defend this citadel by force of arms. Heaven created it and Heaven has sent my father's army against it. In any case, how can a daughter oppose her father's will? I must submit to the inevitable."

That evening King Hung-Vuong's army camped on the bank of the river opposite the magic citadel. His generals planned to attack the following morning. But at midnight a terrible storm arose and the entire citadel with all its inhabitants was seen to rise into the air and disappear. The next morning the royal army found only a marshy pond and a sandy beach at its former sight. The pond received the name of Dam Nhat Da, which means "Pond Formed in One Night", the beach was called "Spontaneous Beach", or Bai Tu-Nhien.

The secret housewife

The secret housewife
Adapted by George F. Schultz
There was once a young man who had lost both his parents and was left entirely alone in the world. There was no one to keep house for him. When he returned home in the evening, tired and hungry, he had to prepare his own meal and wash his own dishes.

It was distasteful to continue living in this manner, and the young man often thought how pleasant it would be to have a helpmate. He earned so little, however, that no father would ever have considered him seriously as a prospective son-in-law.

One evening, the young man returned home to find a five meal on the table and his house in perfect order. He sat down at the table, ate the food, and went to bed wholly satisfied; still he was unable to imagine who might be taking such good care of him. In the morning, when he arose, breakfast had been prepared and was already on the table. It was all very unusual because the house had been locked during the night and he had not heard the slightest noise.

The matter continued in the same way for several days. It was evident that some unknown person was looking out for his welfare. Although grateful for the service he was receiving the young man was plagued by curiosity and greatly desired to make acquaintance of his unknown benefactor.

One morning, he pretended to depart as usual but slipped back into the house through an open window. Then he saw a wonderfully beautiful young woman step out of a picture that was hanging on the wall. She immediately set about cleaning and polishing the furniture. With a leap he locked the door and ran to the center of the room, where he grasped the young woman by the arms and held her firmly.

"Are you the one who has been preparing my meals and doing my housework?" he asked.

"I was sorry for you," she replied. "That's why I did it."

"I want you to take care of me for the rest of my life," said the young man then. "Will you marry me?"

"That would not be possible," replied the young woman. "You are a real man and I am only a portrait on the wall. We are not of the same mold."

Thereupon, the young man removed the picture from the wall and locked it in a trunk.

"You can no longer go back to the picture," he said triumphantly. "Now, will you be my wife?"

The young woman had to give her consent. They were married, lived happily together, and became the parents of three handsome sons. The man grew older with time, but his wife did not age. She always appeared just as young as the day on which she had stepped forth from the portrait.

People then began to wonder about the woman's perennial youthfulness and even her three sons showed their concern. One day, the eldest asked his father about it. At first, the father refused to answer his son's questions; but the latter persisted until told that his mother was a living picture and would never change. He refused to believe it, however, and the father became angry at his son's lack of respect.

"If you will not believe me," he said, "take a look at the frame from which your mother stepped forth."

Then he gave his son the key to the trunk in which the picture frame was kept.

Even when he had seen the frame for himself, the son refused to believe that his mother had once been a part of it. But as he did not wish to anger his father further, he waited until he had left the house before questioning his mother.

"Mother," he asked then, "Is it true that you originated from a picture?"

"Who ever told you that?" she asked in turn.

"I have seen the frame," replied the son, "but I do not believe that you were ever in it."

"Where is the frame?" asked the mother excitedly.

The son produced the key, opened the trunk, took out the frame, and handed it to his mother. She accepted it without a word and then hung it on the wall in its old place.

"Call your brothers!" she ordered.

When the mother's three sons were there with her, she spoke to them in heartrending words.

"I can no longer remain with you, my sons," she said. "I no longer belong to the world of mankind. Say farewell for me to your father, thank him for the good life he has given me, and love each other."

Having said these words, she dried her tears and stepped into the frame.

"Mother," cried the three sons, "come back!"

But the mother looked at them emotionlessly from the portrait and paid no attention to their pleas.

That evening, when the husband returned home and learned of the misfortune that had befallen his family, he wanted to hang himself from grief. But then, thinking of his sons, he reconsidered. He placed a cloth over the picture, removed it from the wall, carried it from the house, and sold it to an art dealer.

Several years later, the man married again. His second wife was of this world and cared for his children as if they were her own. She grew old naturally and finally died.

=== Note: The theme of "the secret housewife" is a recurrent one in Oriental folklore. In the story presented here, the young woman is obviously a "fairy" or immortal (tien) and comes to earth through the medium of a picture. Sometimes, she is a shape-changing fox (a fallen deity) or a celestial maiden who loses her special garment and is bound to earth until it is returned to her.

There is a long poem in Vietnamese, written by an anonymous author, entitled "Bich-Cau Ky-Ngo (The Strange Meeting at Bich-Cau)" that also makes use of this theme. The young man's name is Tu Uyen and the tien who steps out of the picture to do his housework and then to become his wife is named Giang Kieu. The poem is much elaborate than the rather simple version given here.