Once upon a time, very long long time ago during the Hong Bang Dynasty, lived a very strong and tall man named Quang Lang. Because he was big and tall, the Emperor gave him a last name "Cao" (meaning tall). He had two identical twin boys. The older named Tan, the younger named Lang. They both lived and studied with the same teacher named Luu who also had a very beautiful young girl. The two bothers looked so much alike that people often mistook one for another, even their parents couldn't tell one from another. They loved and respected each other very dearly.
As they grew up, the bond between them also grew stronger. At the same time, their teacher's daughter also had grew up to be very beautiful and virtuous. They both fell in love with her, but never revealed it. It was so happened that it was time for the young girl to find a perfect husband. She decided to marry one of the twins. It was our custom that the elder was to marry first. However, she could not tell one from another. So one day, she brought a bowl of soup and a pair of chopsticks for both of them to see who was the elder. She noticed Lang (the younger) offered the bowl of soup to his brother, ( It is Vietnamese custom that the younger must pay his/her respect to the elder at all time. This was why the younger offered the bowl of soup to his brother to eat first.) and told her parents. As the results, she and Tan (the elder) were married. They became very intimately in loved with each other.
Meanwhile the younger twin (Lang) was very sad and disappointed, but felt glad that his brother had found true happiness. As time passed, the younger became very sad and lonely. He felt that his brother had distant himself from him. He no longer had the same attention, love and care that his brother used to provide. He wasn't mad nor angry at his elder brother for he knew that his brother had a wife and a family to take care.
One day, Lang (the younger) came to see his brother in his study room. However, his brother wasn't there, but instead his sister-in-law. Since the two look so much alike, she mistook him for her husband, but wasn't aware of her mistake. Thinking that he was her husband, she showed her affection. However, Lang felt deeply ashamed afterwards for what had happened that he ran away from home. He wandered aimlessly through the woods and villages. He came upon the edge of a small river. There wasn't anything for him to use to cross the river. He sat down and started to cry. So tired and exhausted, he passed away. At the spot of his death, sprang up a slender tree with a tuft of forlorn leave at the top. This tree was later known to be an areca nut tree. Its nuts are about the size of an adult's big toe and in the shape of a heart.
When the elder twin learned of his brother disappearance, he was deeply concerned. He decided to leave his wife in search of his brother. He too, went through woods and villages inquiring about his brother's whereabouts, but no luck. Finally, as though guided by fate, he also came to the edge of the same river, and learnt of his brother's death. So tired and exhausted, he leaned against the areca nut tree and cried. Before long, he went into a deep sleep and never wake up again. His body transformed into a block of limestone.
The wife, without knowing her mistake, waited for her husband at home. However, days had passed and no sign of him in sight. She decided to go out and look for her husband. She too also came upon the same river and discovered her husband's death. She held the block of limestone and started to cry to her last breath. She became a betel tree creeping and twining around the limestone and up the areca nut tree. The girl's parents later went out in search of their children and came upon the river. After discovering their daughter's death, they set up shrine at that spot to venerate. People from generation to generation praised the brothers for their devotion and unity - chastity and virtue for the husband and wife.
During the Summer, the Emperor often went out and usually stopped at this shrine to rest. He used to sit on the block of the limestone under the shade of the areca tree which had been covered by the betel leaves. One day while resting, The Emperor realized the beauty and serenity of the place. He asked how it came about. They told the story. So moved after hearing the story, he took the heart of the areca nut and a betel leaf to chew. He felt a comforting sensation like drinking the best wine in his kingdom. He spat on the limestone and his great astonishment, the liquid was as red as blood itself. After that, the Emperor declared that every festival, or party should serve these at the beginning. From that time on, betel chewing has been the beginning of every conversation. Especially, it has been the emblem of love and marriage. Until this day, betel leaves and areca nut are still the main offerings during any marriage engagement.
