Legend of the water melon (dua hau)
Once upon a time, the sixth son of King Hung Vuong the Fifth named An-Tiem
disobeyed the King's order and was exiled to a deserted island.
The Prince had to build his own shelter, dig a well for water, and fish and
hunt animals for food. One day, he found a green fruit as big and round as a
ball. He split the fruit into halves and found the inside of the fruit red. He
dared not eat it because he was afraid it was poisonous.
Days passed and the dry and sunny season came. It was so hot that all the
plants were dry and the well had no water left. One day An-Tiem was so tired and
thirsty that he tasted the fruit He found out that it tasted delicious and
quenched his thirst. He tried to grow the plant around his house then. Soon the
whole island was covered with the green fruit.
An-Tiem carved the island's name and his own on some of the fruit and threw
them into the sea. Later, seamen found the strange fruit with An-Tiem's name
floating in the sea.
Soon, words about the fruit reached the continent and many merchants tried to
find the way the island. This then turned the deserted island into a busy
island. The island was now crowded. Many boats came and went. An-Tiem helped
anyone who wanted settle on the island. Soon, news about that reach the King.
King Hung Vuong was very proud of having a son who was brave and strong
enough to overcome difficulties without anyone's help. An-Tiem was immediately
summoned back to the court. He brought his fruit with him to offer the King, his
father. The King gave him his crown and An-Tiem became King Hung Vuong VI.
Since then the fruit which was called "dua hau" and has become the
symbol of luck; people often offer it to relatives and friends as a New Year
present.
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