In this rich conversation from the “Đọc lại Truyện Kiều” series, Dr. Bùi Trân Phượng and host Phan Đăng delve into two often-overlooked figures in Truyện Kiều: Đạm Tiên and Giác Duyên. Dr. Phượng analyzes Đạm Tiên as more than a ghostly symbol; she embodies both the fate of women and a psychological projection of Kiều’s inner anxieties. From a modern psychological lens, Kiều displays traits of an "anxious nervous system"—highly emotional and susceptible to anxiety disorders. Her early interaction with Đạm Tiên foreshadows her turbulent life and becomes a recurring symbol of inner turmoil and feminine vulnerability.

Dr. Phượng also sees Đạm Tiên as a metaphysical figure, connecting Kiều to the world of the dead, a common thread in Vietnamese cultural beliefs about the permeability between realms. Yet, Phượng stresses this is not fatalistic: Kiều remains self-driven despite these influences.

Giác Duyên, in contrast, represents compassion and practical salvation. She is a “tế độ” (a rescuer), not a grand spiritual figure, but a humble nun embodying Buddhist kindness, who helps Kiều in tangible ways. Phượng emphasizes her warmth, calling her a “woman of weak social status but great heart.” The interplay of Đạm Tiên and Giác Duyên, Phượng argues, reflects not only Kiều’s psychological landscape but also the broader Vietnamese spiritual ethos—where sorrow, fate, and compassion co-exist. Through these characters, Nguyễn Du reveals the complexities of womanhood, resilience, and spiritual healing in a deeply human, culturally specific way.