Di Trach Communal House, Di Trach Temple

1. Location
Di Trach Temple (also known as Di Trach Communal House, Di Ai Temple, or Ai Temple) is located in Ai Hamlet, Hoai Duc Commune, Hanoi City. This is one of the typical historical and cultural relics of the locality, associated with the ancient land of Di Ai (Ke Ai) – an ancient Vietnamese village with thousands of years of history.
From the center of Hanoi, visitors can travel along National Highway 32 or roads connecting the western part of the capital to Hoai Duc Commune. With a convenient location about 15 km from the center of Hanoi, Di Trach Temple is an attractive destination for tourists who love learning about national history, ancient architecture, and traditional cultural values of the Doai region.
2. Architecture and Landscape
Di Trach Temple was built on a large, elevated plot of land with harmonious scenery and an ancient atmosphere. In front of the temple is a semicircular lake that creates a good feng shui position, helping to enhance the solemnity of the structure. The temple faces southwest; in front is a ceremonial gate with two tall pillar monuments, strongly imbued with traditional architectural style.
The structure has a “Cong” character layout, including the Front Hall, the Tube Corridor, and the Rear Palace. The wooden frame system, roof trusses, roof ridges, corner eaves, and decorative details were elaborately crafted, demonstrating the architectural and artistic level of earlier generations of artisans. Through many restorations and renovations, the temple still retains many distinctive architectural and artistic values and is one of the typical religious structures of the Hoai Duc area.
3. Historical figure
Di Trach Temple is dedicated to King Ly Nam De (Ly Bi) – the first emperor of the Van Xuan state. In the 6th century, he led an uprising against the domination of the Liang dynasty, regained independence for the nation, and founded the Van Xuan state in 544, beginning a period of autonomy for the Vietnamese people after centuries of Northern domination.
With his great contributions to the cause of building and defending the country, Ly Nam De is revered and worshipped by the people of Di Trach through many generations. The temple is not only a place for religious activities but also an address for educating today's generations about patriotic traditions and national pride.
4. Festival
The traditional Di Trach Festival is held annually on the 10th day of the second lunar month to commemorate King Ly Nam De. The highlight of the festival is the solemnly organized traditional rituals of deity procession, incense offering, and worship ceremonies.
Alongside the ceremonial part are many distinctive folk cultural activities that attract a large number of local people and visitors. The festival not only expresses gratitude to the national hero but also contributes to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, creating the unique beauty of the land of Di Trach.
5. Relic Values
With its outstanding historical and architectural-artistic values, Di Trach Temple was classified as a National-level Architectural and Artistic Relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information under Decision No. 177/VH/QD dated March 5, 1990.