According to local documents, the Tri Thuy area was formerly called Bien Thuy. This is a riverside area where fishermen once came to live, forming a residential community over many generations. Later, the place name Bien Thuy was changed to Tri Thuy. The formation and development of the village created a diverse cultural space. Besides religious structures, the locality also preserves traces such as Tri Thuy Communal House and Tri Thuy Van Chi, reflecting the tradition of community activities as well as the ancient people's spirit of valuing education. It is within that cultural space that the pagodas of the Tri Thuy – Dai Xuyen area serve as spiritual anchors, contributing to the distinctive cultural appearance of the Northern Vietnamese countryside. Spiritual space and community life
For Vietnamese people, a pagoda has long been more than just a religious structure. It is also a place where people come on festivals, the first days of the year, the full moon, and the first day of the lunar month; a place to entrust wishes for peace for their family and community.
In a countryside rich in tradition like Tri Thuy, the pagoda space is closely tied to the rhythm of village life. The pagoda bell, tiled roofs, tree-lined courtyard, and tranquil space create a harmony between spiritual life and rural scenery.
In particular, those values are continued through many generations. Older people return to the Buddhist gate to reflect and pray for peace; young people have more opportunities to learn about the traditions of their homeland; and those who are far from home, whenever they return, still have a familiar place to rediscover memories of the village. Buddhist imprints in the Dai Xuyen area. The Tri Thuy area formerly belonged to Phu Xuyen District and now lies within Dai Xuyen Commune. After the administrative unit rearrangement, the new Dai Xuyen Commune area was formed from several former units, including Tri Thuy Commune. The presence of long-standing religious structures shows that spiritual life has become an important part of the history of the formation of the residential community here.
Preserving the cultural values of the homeland. Today, urbanization and changes in social life are taking place strongly. In that context, preserving religious structures, rural landscapes, and local historical stories becomes even more meaningful.
A pagoda is not valuable only for its architecture or landscape. More importantly, it is a place that preserves community memory. Each statue, pagoda roof, row of trees, brick courtyard, or bell sound can be associated with stories passed down by local people through many generations. Therefore, researching, recording, and introducing the pagodas in Tri Thuy in particular and Dai Xuyen in general not only helps introduce a spiritual site but also helps today's generation better understand the history, culture, and people of their homeland. Pagodas and religious spaces always hold a special position in the cultural life of the Vietnamese countryside. For Tri Thuy – a land now belonging to Dai Xuyen Commune, Hanoi City – those values blend with the history of village formation, community traditions, and the spiritual life of the people.
Amid the pace of modern life, a tranquil pagoda space can still become a place where people return to peace, to traditional values, and to memories of their homeland.
Preserving the pagoda is also preserving part of the village's memory. And preserving that memory contributes to protecting the cultural values that make up the identity of the Tri Thuy – Dai Xuyen area today.
