Tradition / Region: Laotian Mythology
Alternate Names: Mekong Mermaid
Category: Mermaid
The Myth
Along the wide waters of the Mekong River, people speak of a being who rises when evening falls and the river turns to silver under the moon.
She is called Haan Phaayaan.
Fishermen say that on quiet nights, when the current slows and the air grows heavy, a figure can sometimes be seen rising from the dark water. She appears as a beautiful woman of the river, her form half human and half aquatic, her hair wet and shining as she sits upon rocks or drifts near the shore.
Those who see her are said to feel a strange pull toward the water. Travelers resting by the banks, and fishermen alone in their boats, have told of hearing a soft voice or song carried over the river’s surface. Some follow the sound, thinking it comes from another person nearby, only to find the river empty.
Others say the Haan Phaayaan watches silently, slipping beneath the water if approached, leaving only ripples behind.
For this reason, many along the Mekong treat the river with caution after sunset. For while the water gives life and food, it is also the home of the unseen — and on certain nights, the Mekong Mermaid is said to rise once more from the depths, watching those who pass along her river.
Gallery
Sources
ling-app.com contributors. (2023). Lao myths and folktales. In ling-app.com, from https://ling-app.com/blog/lao-myths-and-folktales/
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive
Other
- How to Invite The Haan Phaayaan