AustLit

This dual (English & Vietnamese) language text recounts the story of the Moon Festival. Cuoi, a Vietnamese boy, lives with his aunt and uncle until they tire of his tricks and attempt to throw him in the river. He escapes and lives in the bush where he learns to survive for many years. He is guided by a spirit to return to his village and use the healing powers of the Banyan tree to cure people. The spirit warns that if ever the tree should fly away Cuoi should take hold of the roots and go with it as he will have the opportunity to meet a beautiful woman. He becomes rich and famous as a healer and marries and has children. Eventually his wife becomes jealous of the time he spends caring for the tree so she throws dirty water on it. As the tree flies away Cuoi takes hold of it and flies away to the moon with the tree. He is lonely and homesick and every year at that time his wife and child light lanterns and parade around the village So Cuoi can see them. Cuoi falls in love with a beautiful woman, Hang-Nga who also lives on the moon but she will not speak to him because he is already married. This tale explains the origins of the Moon Festival.