Prince Mai An Tiem grew up to be very good at many things. He was smart and thoughtful and the King loved him as much as, if not more than, his other sons. 

But you know, Mai An Tiem was not perfect. He always wanted to do things for himself. He never wanted to work with anyone else or ask anyone for help. He said, “If I didn’t make it myself, it means nothing. Everything the King gives me is just a debt.” Sometimes this made the King mad.

When the Prince was 20 years old, he married Princess Ko Ba, one of the King’s daughters. The two young people had known each other since they were children and they were very much in love. The King threw an enormous party to celebrate the marriage.

One of the King’s other sons, Prince Hau, started to get jealous of Prince Mai An Tiem. Prince Hau thought that the King loved Mai An Tiem the most, and that he would give all of the kingdom to Mai An Tiem when he died.

So Prince Hau started to spread terrible lies about Mai An Tiem. He told everyone that Mai An Tiem was too proud, too greedy, and was planning to steal the kingdom for himself.

The lies grew and grew until even the King believed them. He sent Mai An Tiem and Ko Ba away from the kingdom and told them to never come back.

They were taken out to sea on a boat and left alone on a deserted island. Although their situation was difficult, they did not give up because they still had each other.

They found a stream with fresh water. 

They built a hut for themselves out of leaves and branches.

They made nets for fishing. They learned how to climb trees to pick bananas and shake down coconuts.

Although everything they ate was fresh and good, they never got to eat anything special, anything you would call a treat. 

One day, after they had been on the island for several years, Mai An Tiem was walking along the beach when he saw a group of birds. They were fighting excitedly amongst themselves. 

As he drew closer, he saw what they were fighting over. It was some black seeds. He picked up a handful of the seeds, and when he got home, he threw them on the ground in their garden.

Many months later, during one of the hottest times of the year, he noticed that some unusual plants had begun to grow, right where he had spread the black seeds. The plants got bigger and bigger, and then some fruits started to grow under the leaves. Soon, the fruit was enormous and green. Mai An Tiem and Ko Ba had never seen fruit like it before. 

When the fruit had grown, they cut one open. They were amazed to find the inside was soft and bright red. Ko Ba tasted the fruit and she said it was delicious! It was her first treat in seven years.

The couple decided to call the fruit the red melon. They were careful to spread the seeds and grow a second crop. The red melons – which we know as watermelons – were one of the greatest joys of their life on the island.

One day, Mai An Tiem was sitting on the beach and thinking about his life. Without thinking, he carved his name on a watermelon, and threw it into the waves, wondering where it would wash up. 

Perhaps someone in a far away land would be lucky enough to find the delicious fruit. They would always thank the name of Mai An Tiem that was cut into its skin.

The ocean had been a friend to Mai An Tiem when he was a baby, and now it was again. The water carried the watermelon back to the Kingdom of Vietnam. A fisherman’s wife found the amazing fruit on the beach, and she took it to the palace to show the King. When the King saw the name that was carved on the fruit, he was surprised at the reminder of the son that he sent away. 

He tasted the fruit and it was so delicious that he thought it was the greatest present that could be given to a king, even though a king normally has everything he could want. 

He thought of Mai An Tiem; his heart filled with love and he forgave him. So the King decided to send a ship to the deserted island to bring Mai An Tiem and Ko Ba back to the palace. When they got home, there was a huge celebration to welcome their return. 

Eventually, Mai An Tiem became king of Vietnam and he ruled well for many, many years.