Vietnamese short horror ghost stories

For the last few days, Mr. Ut hasn't been happy. He has been constantly upset about the theft in the chicken coop, resulting in the loss of the entire flock. Interestingly, the coop is located near his and his bedridden younger brother's room. Yet, the chickens disappeared without a sound, without any cries or barks, not even from the usually alert dog.

The more Mr. Ut thinks about it, the more frustrated he becomes. Is it his fate to struggle in poverty, unable to have chickens for the Lunar New Year feast for years? Since the death of his parents, leaving his disabled younger brother behind, he has not tasted the flavor of meat for a long time. Sometimes, foxes would eat all the chickens, leaving only red-blooded feathers scattered in the coop. Occasionally, thieves would sneak into the house when Mr. Ut went to the fields, stealing the chickens. His younger brother, being mute, couldn't warn anyone. If only he could speak, the cunning foxes might fear the human voice and stay away.

But Mr. Ut realizes he shouldn't blame his brother. If there's anyone to blame, it's fate for creating such an imperfect being. Even doctors from Western schools, those scholars from distant lands, might have something to say about his brother's condition. They might talk about brain degeneration or paralysis, but Mr. Ut doesn't understand. His life revolves around farming, and his ancestors were the same. How could he comprehend the complexities of others' lives, especially those who came before him?

After contemplating for a while, Mr. Ut hurriedly went into the house, grabbed a knife, and went to cut bamboo. Though the landlord had plenty of bamboo, Mr. Ut, being a tenant, could only ask for the inner part to use. He split the bamboo into thin strips and used them to weave a mat. His house was mostly made of bamboo mats - where it was sturdy, he covered it, and where it was weak, he patched it with two or three layers to keep out wind, rain, and provide warmth.

With his skilled hands, Mr. Ut gently split a piece of bamboo into thin strips, then used his knife to flatten them. He started weaving them into the half-finished mat. Once done, he took the woven mat and covered a frame made earlier. Using small clamps and twine, he began tying them together. By the time the sun set, he had completed a rectangular door with a longer vertical piece. He now had a door to install without having to spend money on hinges. He inserted the long post into a deep hole in the ground, tied it at the top with coconut fiber rope, and now had a functional door for his house.

The previous day, since he didn't have a back door, the sneaky fox had entered and eaten half a kilogram of Mr. Ut's precious meat. The poor man's luck was truly bitter and unfortunate when it came to meat. A fellow villager, knowing about the theft, had given him half a kilogram of meat as a gift in sympathy. Yet, the wretched dog devoured it. It was strange since the dog had never behaved that way before. It could catch mice and other animals but had never touched the food left on a shelf. Mr. Ut wondered what kind of guts the dog had to do such a thing.

Since the younger brother, Little, grew up a bit, the desolate house in the deserted field became even more isolated. The neighborhood children avoided coming to his house, witnessing the pitiful sight of a man struggling alone, Certainly! Here is the English translation of the provided text:

"But he has many terrible flaws. And it's true that people are afraid of the Boy! Because its pale green face always twists into a strange smile. Its wild white eyes stare at every child with an inexplicable longing. Those eyes seem to look at everyone, with so much white in them that the little eyes keep running around. Its mouth looks weird too, sometimes twisted or hanging down with a long, red, creepy tongue whenever it opens its mouth to laugh with someone. The kids in the neighborhood tell each other, 'The tongue of Mr. Ut's little brother is too long! Is it longer than a normal person's?' Of course, these things are whispered among the young and old discreetly. They fear Mr. Ut hearing it and getting upset. But in life, the darker it gets, the easier it is to hear. Mr. Ut unintentionally overhears it too because he knows people are right to be afraid of the Boy, whom he cares for a lot... sometimes looking back is also horrifying...

'Man has fate!' Mr. Ut often says that when taking care of a disabled sibling, separate from the village. It has its own misfortune, but he suffers from carrying a drop of blood that he can't bear to throw away...

There is no meat to eat. The main food at home is fish from the pond. This sometimes reassures Mr. Ut. After all, there is an abundance of fish in the pond. Just a few dozen hurriedly caught with a fishing rod, and there is something to eat. But the Boy at home is difficult to feed! It was born in a poor family but lived as if it were with a rich family. Three handfuls of rice to eat. The rudimentary fish sauce does not satisfy it. One busy day, as he was hurrying to cook the fish, he left after scooping out a few pieces for the younger brother. When he returned after finishing his work, he found that the pot of fish was still uncooked, with a lingering smell. Yet, the Boy had eaten the entire bowl of fish raw. Looking into its eyes, Mr. Ut was astonished. It seemed that his brother liked to eat bizarre things. Usually, Mr. Ut's fish stew was delicious but could not satisfy the Boy's taste. It ate very little but still grew quickly. The only thing was that it refused to stand like others. The older it got, the more it emitted a smell resembling the faint scent of chicken or duck somewhere. But it had the smell of chicken or duck while the house did not have either for a long time due to the disaster of the foxes and thieves every day. Neighbors also complained of losing chickens and ducks continuously without understanding the reason. Mr. Ut also noticed this. Before, the neighbors' chickens and ducks also came here, but they disappeared every year. After that, they were completely gone... So is it because the foxes are too rampant or the thieves, becoming more and more mysterious and eerie? Disaster is a common calamity! But the words become harder to hear as they whisper more and more. The old and the young say that Mr. Ut's garden has ghosts... This ghost specializes in eating raw meat, so no chicken or duck can survive in that garden...

Mr. Ut paid no attention to the vague words. He went to the field from morning till dark and only returned home at night. In the morning, he quickly cooked rice, then divided it into two portions: one to take with him and one for the younger brother with a disability. This way, he only had a relatively leisurely evening when sitting by the tea cup, sometimes having a small drink together. Then he lay down to sleep, waiting for the morning...

The farmer's sleep was heavy, but the mice in the house became more troublesome, rampant, and noisy. Sometimes, in the dreamy sleep, Mr. Ut heard them scratching the pots and pans uncomfortably. In the morning, the sun shone on the dried snakehead fish, and they disappeared without a trace. What kind of mice are like demons, like ghosts? They specialized in eating live fish, not even touching the sun-dried ones...

Long days of loss make one feel regret. Many nights, Mr. Ut tried to stay awake, investigating the faces of the mice. As if understanding his intentions, they became silent, as if they had never been there before. However, when too tired, just closing his eyes for a moment, they would make a fuss in the pots and pans. Sometimes, on bright moonlit nights, shining into the crack in the bamboo wall at the head of the veranda, the room looked blurry and bright. In the dreamy sleep, Mr. Ut seemed to see a strip of red silk fluttering in the empty house. That faint, ghostly strip of silk, sometimes appearing, sometimes disappearing when he opened his eyes. Many times like that, but Mr. Ut still thought he was dreaming, just looking at the rooster becoming a hoe..."

One day, in the neighboring house, there was a death anniversary ceremony, and Mr. Ut was invited to share a meal on the taboo day. On that day, he drank a bit too much and became heavily intoxicated. As soon as he returned home, he collapsed on the bed and fell asleep right away. The bed was one meter six wide, always enough for both brothers. In the middle of the night, Mr. Ut suddenly woke up feeling a dampness on one side of his face. Something soft, like wet silk, was gently stroking his face. In his drunken stupor, Mr. Ut thought it was a stray deer jumping onto the bed and licking his face. But upon opening his eyes and looking closely, he realized that it was the red strip that haunted him every night, dancing and winding around. The red strip, about three fingers wide, fluttered and danced like playing, teasing with the face of the intoxicated person.

Mr. Ut wanted to reach out and grab the strip, but his hand wouldn't obey. The hands of a drunk person never follow the owner's will, especially when just waking up from a nap. The noise made the strip suddenly disappear as if someone had pulled it into a dark place, very close... It seemed to be right next to where he was lying... Where the Boy was silently watching him. Mr. Ut looked at him as if he didn't understand. Why is this kid still awake at this hour, staring at him like that! And why are his eyes so green... No! Not green. In them, there was also the flickering light of two glowing red beads.

Looking at him, Mr. Ut suddenly shouted in horror:

- What are you doing there, Bé!?

In the dark night, Mr. Ut's loud shout must have echoed. It made the Boy jump with a sudden change in his face. His eyes no longer sparkled with the strange light as before. His lips drooped down like the usual deformity. But the strange thing was that his face showed a sense of regret, as if he had just lost a child's joy...

"Not okay! This younger brother is different. It's as if he comes from a dark place that humans can't know..." Mr. Ut thought so, so he stayed awake until the rooster crowed at dawn.

... Today, after weeding the fields, Mr. Ut went straight to his older brother's house in the neighboring village. The two brothers, being relatives, have known each other since childhood and don't hide anything from each other.

- Brother Tám! I'm really worried. The Boy at home is changing more and more, I don't know what's going on. I don't know if I can handle it in the future...

Mr. Ut sadly spoke to his older brother.

Older brother Tám looked at his younger brother sympathetically, mixed with worry. He had heard many things about the younger nephew, but didn't know how to start the conversation smoothly.

- I know you're suffering because of him... But what can you do! Anyway, he is our flesh and blood...

Saying that, he hesitated and fell silent.

Mr. Ut told his older brother about the strange things happening lately. Brother Tám listened for a while and then gave his younger brother some advice:

- You have to know the root cause of everything you want to do. I've heard many terrifying things about that Boy, but still, it's just hearsay. Sometimes I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you'd be upset... With only two of us, you keep working in the fields all the time, so how can you know about the household... To understand the activities of the Boy, you have to secretly observe to truly understand.

After that statement, the old man hurriedly went into the house to retrieve a chicken that had been bound, and handed it to Mr. Ut.

"Your face looks pale! Take this chicken home, cook it with green beans and eat. This is all I can do to help you..."

On the way back, Mr. Ut was halfway when it started raining heavily. It was a big rain! Thunder and lightning filled the entire sky. The path became slippery under the dazzling light of the lightning. When he reached home, Mr. Ut quickly put the chicken in the coop and rushed back to the field. "Careful not to lose the rice seedlings!" He thought so, hence he ran faster each time. About fifty steps away from the field, Mr. Ut suddenly stopped. It wasn't because he was out of breath; he just didn't want to continue when he remembered his older brother's words. "I have to observe, see what the Boy does every time I go to the field."

... The back door of the house faintly appeared in the rain and lightning. The deer didn't run out to greet him as usual. It must have followed some neighbor's dog! The door he had made to prevent the foxes from getting to the chicken coop was only about fifty steps away. Mr. Ut heard the sound of the chicken screaming loudly. "Damn foxes." Mr. Ut took a stick and pushed the door to rush in. The door, with its rusty hinges, swung open with a creaking sound. In front of him, under the flash of lightning, the strange red strip from a previous night appeared. However, this time it was much longer and glowed a bloody red in the flickering lightning. As soon as he heard the noise, the strip quickly retreated towards the house. In a moment, it disappeared without a trace. Mr. Ut looked into the chicken coop and only saw a clump of red feathers and blood. Quickly walking to the bed, he saw the Boy's face as if sleeping, but the corner of his mouth was stained with a bit of blood...

"It's not foxes eating the chicken!" The chicken died because of that red strip alone. But what is that red strip? Why is the Boy's mouth stained with blood in his sleep!?...

After that night, Mr. Ut began to notice many strange things happening in the house. It's normal for farmers in the fields to get bitten by bugs and bleed while weeding and planting rice. Others who were bitten by bugs would dry up and heal after a day, but the bites on Mr. Ut's legs were always wet, oozing yellow fluids and pus. Sometimes it lasted for a week or even a month without healing. Finally, there was no choice but to use medicine to make it better. "Could it be because of that red strip!" Mr. Ut quickly dismissed the thought, considering it too bizarre... But... what else could it be? So, he carefully planned to make everything transparent...

... In January, the fields were dry, and the grass was on fire. During this season, when the rice fields had been harvested, people flocked to the fields to catch mice and birds. Mr. Ut caught many birds and brought them home to roast. However, the Boy refused to eat. Lately, he had become thinner. Looking at him, Mr. Ut felt sorry for him because of the bleeding and soft intestines...

In the afternoon, the neighbor slaughtered a pig and offered Mr. Ut some meat. He threw a piece of meat into the bamboo basket hanging by the kitchen, then hurriedly went to set the fishing net to be ready for the evening. After walking three or four miles into the garden, Mr. Ut suddenly remembered the red strip and turned back...

The door with the millstone hinge always made a creaking sound, so Mr. Ut put some mud on it. Thanks to this, when he pushed the door, it didn't make any noise. In the dark battlefield of night and light, Mr. Ut saw the strip dancing in the kitchen. It looked like an object joyfully playing, unaware of the appearance of a stranger...

Cautiously... Gently... Step by step... Mr. Ut approached the strange object... The night sky in January was bright. The converging light of the stars penetrating through the holes in the roof illuminated the silent kitchen like a piece of paper... Mr. Ut's eyes widened to take in the sight of that strange object. The thing that had haunted him every night in his sleep. The cause of the death of the chicken and duck. Also, for five years, he hadn't been able to taste meat because of it!... Resentment... Hatred... Rage... All because of that evil red strip...

One day, during a neighbor's death anniversary, Mr. Ut was invited to share a meal as part of the customary rituals. That evening, he had a bit too much to drink and ended up quite intoxicated. Upon returning home, he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep. The bed, wide enough for both brothers, was typically spacious.

In the middle of the night, Mr. Ut woke up feeling a strange sensation on his face. It was soft and moist, like wet silk, gently caressing his face. In his groggy state, Mr. Ut initially thought it was the mischievous cat that often jumped onto the bed and licked his face. However, upon opening his eyes, he realized it was the same red silk strip that haunted him every night, dancing and weaving around. The three-finger-width red strip swayed playfully, teasing and mocking with a face resembling that of a drunk person.

Mr. Ut attempted to grab the strip, but his hand seemed to have a will of its own. The hand, unresponsive to his commands, reached out, trying to grasp the elusive red fabric. The moment Mr. Ut made a move, the strip vanished, disappearing into the darkness, perhaps right next to him, where his younger brother, Be, silently watched.

Startled, Mr. Ut exclaimed, "What are you doing, Be!?" His loud cry echoed through the night, startling Be, who, in a sudden change of expression, looked at Mr. Ut with unusual green eyes. No, not just green; there was a flicker of red light in them, resembling the glow of two red beads...

Mr. Ut, perplexed, shouted, "Something is wrong with this kid! It's as if he comes from a dark place unknown to humans." Troubled by these thoughts, Mr. Ut couldn't sleep until the rooster crowed at dawn.

Later, after clearing the fields, Mr. Ut went straight to his elder brother's house in the neighboring village. Being close-knit relatives, they never kept secrets from each other.

"Brother Tam! I'm so worried. Be is undergoing some strange changes, and I don't know if I can handle it," Mr. Ut expressed his concerns.

Brother Tam, looking at his younger sibling with compassion, hesitated before advising, "I know you're troubled by him, but he's still our flesh and blood."

Mr. Ut shared the peculiar incidents that had been occurring, and Brother Tam listened attentively. After hearing the unsettling tales, Brother Tam offered some advice, "You need to investigate the root cause. I've heard unsettling things about Be, but I never said anything to avoid upsetting you. Sometimes, I thought of telling you, but I was afraid it would sadden you. We are only two brothers, and you have always been in the fields, unaware of what happens at home. To understand Be's activities, you need to observe discreetly."

After that conversation, Mr. Ut's nights were filled with vigilance. He paid close attention to Be's actions whenever he went to the fields.

One day, after a day of weeding, Mr. Ut went straight to his elder brother's house. He appeared disheartened as he recounted the mysterious happenings at home.

Brother Tam, observing the sorrowful demeanor of his younger brother, took immediate action. He hurriedly fetched a bound chicken, handing it to Mr. Ut.

"Your face looks pale! Take this chicken home and cook a green bean porridge. This is all I can do to help," Brother Tam said, offering what little assistance he could.

On his way home, Mr. Ut was caught in a sudden downpour. The rain was intense, and thunder echoed across the sky. The path became slippery in the dazzling light of the lightning. About fifty steps away from home, Mr. Ut stopped abruptly. It wasn't that he was exhausted, but he didn't want to proceed further, recalling his brother's advice to secretly observe Be's actions when he was away.

At nightfall, with the rain still pouring, Mr. Ut witnessed something unusual. The back door, usually left ajar to prevent foxes from entering the chicken coop, was making noise. Mr. Ut rushed towards it, pushing the door quietly. The door, with its worn-out hinges, opened without a creak, revealing a sight that sent shivers down Mr. Ut's spine.

A strip of red fabric, similar to the one that haunted his nights, was playfully dancing in the kitchen. This time, it was longer, and its crimson hue glowed like blood in the intermittent flashes of lightning. Mr. Ut, cautiously approaching, watched the eerie dance of the red strip. It fluttered away swiftly at the slightest noise, disappearing mysteriously. Mr. Ut then noticed a lump of red feathers in the chicken coop. Hurrying to the bedroom, he saw Be seemingly asleep, but there was a slight trace of blood on the corner of his mouth.

"It's not a fox that took the chicken! The chicken died because of that red strip. But what is it? Why is Be's mouth stained with blood while he sleeps!?" Mr. Ut wondered, overwhelmed by the mysterious events.

After that night, Mr. Ut began to notice strange occurrences in the house. Other farmers working in the fields would get mosquito bites, resulting in minor bleeding, which was not uncommon. However, those who got bitten by mosquitoes would recover within a day or two, while Mr. Ut's bites festered, oozing yellowish fluid. Sometimes, the wounds persisted for a week or even a month, requiring medicinal treatment. Mr. Ut, attributing these incidents to the red strip, initially tried to dismiss such supernatural thoughts. However, he couldn't shake off the idea that it might be related to that eerie strip.

Eventually, Mr. Ut decided to make things transparent. One dry evening, he caught several birds, grilled them until they emitted a tempting aroma, and left the grilled meat on a bamboo basket hanging in the kitchen. He then hastily went to set up a fishing net, leaving just enough time for the strip to appear.

Returning home, Mr. Ut approached cautiously. The door opened without a sound, and he witnessed the red strip dancing again. In the dim light of the stars and the flickering glow of fireflies, Mr. Ut saw the strip as a tongue, with small sensory tufts protruding from its body. These small tendrils quivered, twisted, and scratched into the grilled meat left on the bamboo basket. Afterward, the strip retracted towards the front of the house, only to reappear right after. The repetitive motion continued, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of enjoyment, as if a child was relishing a meal. Mr. Ut suddenly froze in realization.

His initial thought was, "A human tongue? Impossible! A human tongue cannot be that long! If I estimate it only by standing in the kitchen, it would be over three meters, not counting its source..." Nevertheless, it was undoubtedly a tongue, not a strip of fabric. The tongue was licking and consuming the piece of meat, and with each motion, the meat diminished before Mr. Ut's eyes.

Panicking, Mr. Ut grasped for something in the darkness, anything that could instill courage in a person consumed by fear. The hand trembled as it sought an object. In the pitch-black kitchen, his hand found warmth. It was the hear

th for roasting afternoon birds. The warmth did not alleviate Mr. Ut's trembling, instead intensifying his sense of despair. Running away was not an option because of Be inside the house. Thus, Mr. Ut thrust himself into seizing the sinister red fabric.

The demon's tongue writhed menacingly with an incredible force. Its slimy and slippery surface made it even harder to grip. Mr. Ut was pushed and stumbled into the fire pit full of hot ashes. Regardless, he refused to let go. A sudden idea struck him. He swiftly grabbed handfuls of ash and squeezed it tightly onto the red strip, exerting more pressure each time. In the silent kitchen, Be's groans mingled with the eerie sound of a frightened dog.

The demon's tongue thrashed wildly with immense power. Its sleek and lubricated surface made it challenging to hold. Mr. Ut was thrust backward into the bedchamber. Be, half-conscious, twitched and convulsed on the bed. The light from thousands of stars penetrated the tattered curtain, illuminating his face. Mr. Ut, witnessing the transformation, screamed in horror. Oh God! It was no longer his younger brother. It was a demonic figure with a long, ghastly tongue, attempting to entwine itself around Mr. Ut. The tongue, initially retracting, now extended forward, coiling several loops around Mr. Ut's neck. The tongue, filled with viscous secretions, swept over his face, inching closer to his eyes. Overwhelmed by the horrifying events, Mr. Ut instinctively grabbed a hoe near the bed and swung it upwards...

The sound of a hoe striking flesh and the echoes of screams resonated through the night. The muffled cries of Be and the terrified howls of the dog filled the air. Unfazed by everything, Mr. Ut persisted. He could feel the tongue's relentless strength as it attempted to drag him into the bedroom. The twisted tongue, now wrapping tightly around Mr. Ut's neck, continued its assault. Mr. Ut, desperate and resolute, swung the hoe repeatedly...

***

The sound of a hoe hitting flesh and cries of agony reverberated eerily in the silent night. People in the neighboring houses, alerted by the commotion, rushed to extinguish the flames. The fierce fire, fueled by the dry season, illuminated the entire village. When the villagers arrived, Mr. Ut's house was already reduced to ashes in a matter of moments. The young men used coconut husks to put out the remaining embers, searching for the evildoer amidst the destruction. But there was nothing but the ashes and some shattered fragments of porcelain bowls.

Discussions and speculations circulated among the villagers, but one person remained silent throughout. That was the old man, Mr. Tam, from the neighboring village. He maintained his silence, not out of ignorance but out of a desire to avoid unnecessary trouble. Being a man close to the earth and sky, he knew the tale behind the mysterious incidents. And he refrained from disclosing it, knowing that sometimes, maintaining silence was the best course of action.

Thank you for sharing this captivating and haunting story. It is a remarkable piece of folklore with distinctive elements of Vietnamese culture, blending horror with traditional storytelling.