Horses have long been a familiar part of Vietnamese culture, accompanying people from daily life and farming to the battlefield, and often appearing alongside images of generals, deities, honour, and scholarly achievement.

Horse in Dong Ho folk painting.

As such, horses embody both intimacy and a sense of the sacred, symbolising nobility as much as closeness.

Hourses are known for their endurance, intelligence, and loyalty, yet they are associated with impatience, arrogance, and unruliness.

It is precisely this complexity that has allowed the image of horses to permeate Vietnamese life in a natural and deeply rooted way, enriching the nation’s spiritual and cultural landscape.

The horse in everyday language

Vietnamese idioms and proverbs frequently draw on the image of horses to describe human character. Notably, the Vietnamese language uses two different words – ‘ngua’ and ‘ma’ - to refer to the same animal, each carrying distinct cultural connotations.

According to Dr Tran Van Sang of the Faculty of Literature and Communication at the University of Education under the University of Da Nang, ‘ngua’ is a purely Vietnamese word, closely associated with southern origins and indigenous Vietnamese culture.

Expressions using ‘ngua’ tend to depict character traits in a direct, earthy manner, such as ‘ngua quen duong cu’ (a horse returns to familiar paths), ‘thang nhu ruot ngua’ (as straightforward as a horse’s gut), ‘ngua non hau da’ (an inexperienced horse eager to kick), or the proverb ‘duong dai moi biet ngua hay’ (only a long road reveals a good horse).

By contrast, ‘ma’ is a Sino-Vietnamese term with northern origins. Sang explains that in northern nomadic and dry-farming civilisations, horses were vital for long-distance travel and transport, and thus highly revered.

This gave rise to refined and auspicious expressions such as ‘tuan ma’ (a fine, strong horse), ‘long ma’ (a mythical creature with a dragon’s head and horse’s body symbolising peace and prosperity), or ‘ma dao thanh cong’ (a wish for success and a smooth beginning).

Many expressions using ‘ma’ entered Vietnamese through cultural exchange with the North, including ‘thien ly ma’ (a steed that can travel a thousand miles), ‘phi ma’ (runaway, as in “runaway inflation”), or ‘don thuong doc ma’ (facing challenges alone).

Another Sino-Vietnamese term referring to the horse is “ngo.” In traditional East Asian folk beliefs, one interpretation holds that the position of Ngo in the 12 zodiac animals - at the midpoint - corresponds to the middle of the day, from 11:00 to 13:00, known as the Ngo hour.

These linguistic layers reflect how core cultural archetypes are selectively adapted and reinterpreted, creating distinctive symbolic meanings within the Vietnamese language and culture.

A companion in ethnic minority life

While for the Kinh majority today the horse largely survives in language and symbolism, in many ethnic minority regions it remains an essential part of daily labour and production.

In mountainous terrain, horses still replace vehicles and machinery, carrying people and goods across rugged paths in the northern mountainous region, the Central Highlands, and parts of southern Vietnam.

In the Central Highlands, horses are prized for their remarkable memory and endurance. Researcher Dang Minh Tam notes that local horses can remember routes after only a few trips and navigate villages independently.

Though small in stature, they excel in mountainous terrain, helping young men build physical resilience by walking alongside them.

Among the Nung Din people in Muong Khuong (Lao Cai), the ritual dance of paper horses is performed during important ceremonies, including funerals, symbolising gratitude toward the deceased and belief in the horse as a guide to the afterlife.

For the Mong and other groups, horses have historically been companions not only in transport but also in communal defence and warfare.

Today, horse racing festivals in places such as Bac Ha (Lao Cai) and Tam Duong (Lai Chau) have become vibrant cultural events, attracting large crowds and international visitors, especially during the Lunar New Year season.

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