"The ancient story behind Ana Mandara, or "beautiful refuge," is one of love and loss, courage and honor, romantic rage and sacrifice. Look around you at the intricate carvings, ancient pottery, and delicate bamboo, and be transported to a special time in Vietnam. A time when life was as fragile as the lotus flower, but also powerfully rich with passion and culture.
The story tells of lovely Princess Huyen-Tran, who lived with her father, King Tran-Nhan-Ton, in North Vietnam 700 years ago. Her captivating beauty and endless grace caught the attention of a visiting king from the neighboring Cham kingdom. The king, Che-Man, asked for her hand in marriage, and the princess' father agreed that she would marry in exchange for land. But the princess was already in love with a general named Tran-Khac-Chung, a remarkable man of strength and courage. She reluctantly married the king, but was not welcome in her new home. The king's other wife, Tapari, bitterly jealous of the princess tried to poison her. Tapari eventually ordered her husband killed - a selfish, gruesome request, for tradition required her own death, along with all his wives.
The princess' family, fearing her fate, sent the courageous general to rescue her, and the princess and her lover joyfully reunited. The two traveled among the lush islands of South Vietnam and thrived in pure delight, enjoying the ocean's splendor and feasting on delectable island foods- seafood, bamboo, and sweet mangoes. But this happiness was short lived for they both knew they had broken the law by not returning. After a romantic year, they chose the honorable road home and left their tropical sanctuary.
The story ends tragically, with the execution of the general, eternally dousing the passionate flame of the two lovers. The heartbroken princess lived the rest of her life in sadness at a Buddhist convent, comforted only by the vibrant and sensual dream of their "Ana Mandara."
Sweet deal
