The Story of Mai An Tiem

During the golden age of the Hung Vuong dynasty, when Vietnam was known as the kingdom of Van Lang, there lived a prince whose story would become one of the most beloved tales in Vietnamese folklore. Prince Mai An Tiem was the eighteenth son of King Hung Vuong XVIII, and among all the royal children, he was particularly cherished by his father for his intelligence, virtue, and loyal heart.

Unlike many of his brothers who were content with the pleasures of court life, Mai An Tiem devoted himself to learning and to understanding the needs of his people. He studied literature, philosophy, mathematics, and the arts of governance with equal passion. His tutors praised him for his quick mind and his genuine desire to use his knowledge for the benefit of the kingdom.

The young prince’s character was as admirable as his intellect. He was known throughout the palace for his kindness to servants, his respect for elders, and his protective care for his younger siblings. When he spoke in the royal council, his words carried weight because they came from a heart that truly cared for justice and the welfare of the people.

However, Prince Mai An Tiem’s exceptional qualities and his father’s obvious affection for him stirred jealousy in the hearts of some courtiers and even a few of his own brothers. They watched with growing resentment as the king sought Mai An Tiem’s advice on important matters and spoke proudly of his achievements.

These jealous individuals began to plot against the prince, seeking ways to diminish him in the king’s eyes. They whispered that Mai An Tiem was too proud, that his success had come too easily, and that he had never truly been tested by real hardship. They suggested that the prince’s virtues were merely the result of his privileged position and might not survive genuine adversity.

The opportunity for their scheming came during a grand festival celebrating the kingdom’s prosperity. The court was filled with officials, nobles, and visitors from neighboring lands, all gathered to honor the king and partake in the elaborate celebrations.

During the festivities, a philosophical discussion arose about the nature of success and the role of fate versus personal effort in determining one’s fortune. The conversation grew animated as various courtiers shared their views on whether a person’s achievements were due to their own merits or to the circumstances of their birth and the support they received from others.

When asked for his opinion, Prince Mai An Tiem spoke with characteristic honesty and humility: “I believe that everything I have accomplished, every opportunity I have received, and every blessing I enjoy comes from the benevolence of my father the king, from the wisdom of our ancestors, and from the favor of heaven. Without these gifts, I would be nothing more than an ordinary man struggling to survive.”

The prince’s words, intended to show gratitude and humility, were immediately seized upon by his enemies. They twisted his meaning, suggesting to anyone who would listen that Mai An Tiem was being falsely modest, that he truly believed his success was entirely due to his own superior abilities, and that he was subtly boasting of his capabilities.

Some of the jealous courtiers even approached King Hung Vuong privately, claiming that they had heard the prince express confidence that he could succeed anywhere, under any circumstances, even without his father’s support. They painted a picture of an arrogant young man who took his father’s love and support for granted.

King Hung Vuong was troubled by these reports. As a wise ruler, he knew the importance of humility and genuine character in those who might one day lead the kingdom. He also recognized that his son had indeed lived a life of privilege and had never faced true hardship. Perhaps, the king thought, it was time to test Mai An Tiem’s character and teach him the value of self-reliance.

After much contemplation, the king made a decision that would change his son’s life forever. During a formal court session, he announced his decree: “Prince Mai An Tiem has expressed great confidence in his own abilities and seems to believe that success comes easily to him. Therefore, I shall provide him with the opportunity to prove his worth through his own efforts alone. He will be exiled to a remote island, accompanied only by his wife and children, with minimal supplies. There he must create a new life using only his own skills and determination.”

The announcement shocked the entire court. Princess Thi, Mai An Tiem’s beloved wife, turned pale with fear, while the prince himself stood stunned by his father’s harsh judgment. However, true to his noble character, Mai An Tiem accepted the decree with dignity, bowing deeply to his father and expressing his willingness to prove himself worthy of the king’s eventual forgiveness.

The preparations for exile were swift and somber. Mai An Tiem was allowed to take his wife, their two young children, basic tools, a small amount of rice, and simple clothing. As the royal ship prepared to depart for the distant island, the prince said goodbye to his siblings and friends, maintaining his composure despite the uncertainty that lay ahead.

The island chosen for their exile was small and isolated, located far from the mainland in the South China Sea. It was covered with wild vegetation and surrounded by coral reefs that made landing difficult. When the ship’s crew deposited the family on the rocky shore and sailed away, Mai An Tiem felt truly alone for the first time in his life.

The first weeks on the island were a harsh education in survival. The prince, who had never performed manual labor, had to learn to build shelter from bamboo and palm fronds, to make tools from stones and shells, and to find sources of fresh water. His soft hands became calloused from work, and his body grew lean and strong from the constant physical challenges.

Princess Thi, despite her own fears and the difficulty of their situation, proved to be a pillar of strength. She learned to prepare the wild plants they gathered, to mend their clothing with fibers from island plants, and to care for their children while helping with the endless tasks of survival.

The children, though young, adapted to their new life with the resilience of youth. They helped gather shellfish, collected firewood, and learned to identify edible plants and fruits. The family’s shared struggles brought them closer together than they had ever been in the comfort of the palace.

As months passed, Mai An Tiem discovered capabilities within himself that he had never known existed. His education, which had seemed purely theoretical in the palace, proved invaluable as he applied principles of engineering to build better shelters, used his knowledge of astronomy to navigate and predict weather, and drew upon his understanding of agriculture to improve their food gathering.

The turning point in their exile came when Mai An Tiem discovered a remarkable plant growing wild in a remote part of the island. The vine produced large, round fruits with green striped skins unlike anything he had seen before. Observing that birds and small animals ate the fruits without harm, he cautiously tasted one and found it to be incredibly sweet and refreshing, filled with juice that was more satisfying than water alone.

Recognizing the potential value of this discovery, Mai An Tiem carefully collected seeds from the fruits and began cultivating them near their shelter. Using techniques he had learned from agricultural texts, he created an irrigation system and protected the plants from salt spray and harsh winds.

The watermelons, as they came to be known, thrived in the island’s tropical climate. Soon the family had an abundant supply of the delicious and nutritious fruits. But Mai An Tiem’s vision extended beyond their immediate needs. When trading vessels occasionally passed near their island, he signaled to them and began exchanging watermelons for other necessities.

The traders were amazed by the fruits’ exceptional taste and refreshing qualities. Word of the “miracle fruits from the exile’s island” spread rapidly through the trading networks. Before long, merchants were making special trips to the island to trade for watermelons, bringing rice, cloth, tools, and news from the mainland.

Through fair dealing and the quality of his produce, Mai An Tiem built a thriving business. The island that had once seemed like a prison became the center of a prosperous trade network. The prince had not only survived his exile but had created something valuable and new.

Meanwhile, on the mainland, reports of the exiled prince’s remarkable success reached King Hung Vuong’s ears. The king learned how his son had not only survived but prospered through his own efforts, how he had discovered and cultivated a new crop that was benefiting traders throughout the region, and how he had maintained his dignity and character throughout his trials.

The king also began to understand how the jealous courtiers had manipulated him. He realized that Mai An Tiem’s original words had been expressions of gratitude and humility, not arrogance, and that his son had indeed proven his worth through genuine hardship and achievement.

After three years of separation, King Hung Vuong could no longer bear to be apart from his worthy son. He sent a royal delegation to the island with a formal invitation for Mai An Tiem to return to court and a public acknowledgment that the prince had more than proven his character and capabilities.

When the delegation arrived, they found a transformed Prince Mai An Tiem. He was strong and confident from his labors, wise from his experiences, and surrounded by the evidence of his success. The watermelon fields stretched across much of the island, and a small community of traders and workers had grown up around his operations.

Mai An Tiem received his father’s invitation with joy but also with the maturity he had gained through his trials. He understood now that true worth comes not from birth or privilege but from one’s own character, efforts, and perseverance. He had learned the value of self-reliance while still treasuring family bonds and loyalty.

The prince’s return to the mainland was celebrated throughout the kingdom. King Hung Vuong publicly acknowledged the injustice of the exile and praised his son’s remarkable achievements. The watermelon seeds that Mai An Tiem brought back were distributed to farmers throughout Vietnam, introducing a crop that would become beloved for generations.

Mai An Tiem resumed his place at court but was now an even more effective advisor and leader. His experience of hardship had given him deep empathy for the struggles of common people and practical knowledge of agriculture and trade that enhanced his ability to govern wisely.

The story of Prince Mai An Tiem became a treasured Vietnamese legend, teaching important lessons about the value of perseverance, the importance of maintaining character in adversity, and the strength that comes from self-reliance. It reminds us that true nobility comes not from birth but from one’s actions and character when tested by life’s challenges.

Today, when Vietnamese families enjoy sweet watermelon during hot summer days, many remember the story of Prince Mai An Tiem and the lesson that even in exile and hardship, wisdom, persistence, and good character can transform adversity into abundance and create lasting value for others.

The tale continues to inspire Vietnamese people to face their own challenges with courage and determination, knowing that like Prince Mai An Tiem, they too can discover hidden strengths and create something meaningful from the most difficult circumstances.