Vân Sa Communal House and Pagoda
Introduction
Vân Sa Communal House and Hoa Nghiêm Pagoda: A culturally rich destination beside the Red River
About 62 km northwest of central Hanoi, the relic complex Vân Sa Communal House and Hoa Nghiêm Pagoda located in Vân Sa Village, Cổ Đô Commune, Hanoi City, is a destination rich in historical, cultural, and artistic architectural value.
Vân Sa Communal House was built in a spacious, airy space facing the Red River dike. It is a place of worship for Trần Quốc Chẩn, a renowned general of the Trần dynasty who made great contributions to assisting the king, serving the country, and repelling foreign invaders. Visiting the communal house, tourists can learn about heroic historical stories and admire the great horizontal lacquered boards, couplets, royal edicts, and ancient worship objects. In particular, the woodcarving art at the communal house is very exquisite, featuring dragon, phoenix, carp, flower, leaf, cloud, and water motifs, demonstrating the talent of ancient artisans.
Adjacent to the communal house is Hoa Nghiêm Pagoda, also called “Hoa Nghiêm Tự,” was formed during the Lê dynasty and bears strong traditional Buddhist architectural features. The pagoda currently preserves many statues of artistic value from the Lê and Nguyễn dynasties, including the Quan Âm statue, the Tam Thế set, the Jade Emperor, and Arhats, along with many incense tables and ancient worship objects. The bronze bell cast in the 14th year of Gia Long, i.e., 1815, is also a distinctive artifact of the relic site.
Not only a place for sightseeing and worship, Vân Sa Communal House and Hoa Nghiêm Pagoda are also a community activity space, preserving festivals, patriotic traditions, and the moral principle of “remembering the source when drinking water.” In particular, on the 5th day of the first lunar month every year, a distinctive “Trò Chiềng” festival takes place here, featuring the procession and snatching of cocoons and performances of trades called “Tứ Dân Lạc Nghiệp.” This is an ideal destination for tourists who love exploring the history, architecture, culture, and festivals of Northern Delta villages.
