Traveling Exhibit - Dragons & Fairies

Enter a magical place where five centuries-old folktales bring to life the culture and traditions of Viet Nam. Aspects of modern day life in Viet Nam are interwoven with the presentation of centuries-old folktale in interactive “theaters” where visitors view presentations of such popular Vietnamese folktales as:

• One Hundred Eggs (Lac Long Quan and Au Co)
• The Story of Chu Cuoi and the Banyan Tree
• The Story of Betel and Areca Nut (Cao sons)
• The Story of An Tiem and the Watermelons (King Hung and An Tiem)
• The Legend of the Rice Cakes (Emperor Hung Vuong and sons)

The facades of the folktale theatres represent three distinct geographic regions.  In one, visitors explore what life is like in rural areas of Vietnam.  In another, visitors experience the “streets” of a city and take part in preparations for Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival).  In a third, visitors enter a houseboat and house like those found in Viet Nam’s urban and riverside regions and take part in preparations for Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year).  Traditions explored include wedding ceremonies, ancestral worship practices, cultural dances and the Vietnamese bonds to their land and water.   The exhibit demonstrates the connection between folktales and the enduring values and traditions they represent.

All ages. Free with museum admission.

Dragons & Fairies: Exploring Viet Nam Through Folktales is presented by the Freeman Foundation Asian Exhibit Initiative, administered by the Association of Children’s Museums and created by The Children’s Museum of Houston.  Local exhibit support provided by Astoria Federal Savings.