Folktale: the Saint Giong

Each country in the world has a distinct culture. They are expressed through various forms such as festivals, cuisine or folktale. However, the most prominent is still the folktales. Cultures of each country are expressed in a subtle way through each of its folktales. In my country, there are many folktales, and “The Saint Giong” is one of folk stories that reflect clearly the cultural identity of the people of Vietnam.
It was said that, under 6th King Hung dynasty, there was an old couple in Giong village. They were kind and worked very hard but they did not have children, and they always wished. Once day the wife came to the field and saw a large footprint, she then tried. Accidentally, she was pregnant and born a child twelve months later. The old couple was very happy, but the baby could not smile or speak. He just lied wherever he was placed even though he was three years old. The country at that time was under the danger of being occupied by invader from the North. The invader was so strong that the king had to ask envoys to search for those who could fight against the enemy. When hearing the envoy's voice, the child began asking his mother to call the envoy. The man came in and was surprise to hear that the child wanted to have a horse, an amour and a rod all made from iron to fight for the country's peace. Immediately he returned to the court and reported what had happened to the king and then all the requirements of the child in Giong Village were fulfilled through days and nights as the king's order. It was more surprising that from the day the child met the envoy, he grew rapidly. The old couple did not have enough food and clothes for their son. However, all the villagers were always available to help them, because no one of them wanted to live under the enemy's rule. The invader was about to reach to the root of Trau mountain, all and sundry panicked. But at that time the envoy came with iron horse, amour and rod. The child stretch his shoulders, rose...