Truong Vien is a poor but talented student who lives with his elderly mother in Dong Quan. He marries Thi Phuong, the daughter of the Prime Minister, but their happiness is short-lived when Vien is called up the army, During his absence, the enemy come to his house and his wife and mother are forced to hide in the forest. For 18 years they undergo many difficulties and have to sing in the street to make money, but eventually, Phuong is reunited with Vien who now has a high government position, and the family is reunited

Thi Kinh is a good and beautiful girl, married to Thien Sy, a student. One night her husband dies in his sleep and, although innocent, she is accused of murdering him. She flees her village, disguises herself as a man named Kinh Tam, and goes to live in a pagoda. Here, a loose woman from the village tries, but fails, to seduce Kinh Tam. The woman then sleeps with a slave and has a baby, but in order to hide her shame she lies and claims Kinh Tam is the father. Kinh Tam is forced to bring up the baby as his own.

Three years later, Kinh Tam dies and his real identity – Thi Kinh – is discovered. Due to her saintly nature, it is said that she becomes a Buddha after her death.