Hoanh Communal House

Hoanh Communal House is located in the center of Hoanh Village, Dong Tam Commune, My Duc District, and is a historical-cultural relic dedicated to the two Great Kings Cao Son and Quy Minh. According to the handed-down deity genealogy, the two were born on the 12th day of the 2nd month of the Nham Dan year in Thanh Hoa circuit; from childhood they were intelligent and skilled in both literature and martial arts. In the time of King Hung Due Vuong, when foreign invaders threatened the borders of Van Lang, the two were appointed Left and Right Generals and fought side by side with Duc Thanh Tan Vien to lead troops against the enemy. On their campaign route, they stopped at Thuong Lam Trang (present-day Hoanh Village), established a military defensive line against the enemy, and were wholeheartedly helped by local people in building ramparts and fortifications. When the two passed away, to remember their merits in protecting the country and bringing peace to the people, the villagers built a communal house to worship them and honored them as village tutelary deities. In addition, on the ancient stele "Vinh Tin Stele" (1689) kept at the communal house also records that the local tutelary deity of Hoanh Village is Le Quy Cong (religious name Huyen Tinh, courtesy name Phap Tho) – a person who contributed together with the people to reclaiming and building Hoanh Village in the past. Not only carrying spiritual significance, the land of Hoanh Village is also a cultural site of the Dong Son civilization, where the priceless Mieu Mon I and II bronze drums were once discovered. Over time, the communal house has retained its rustic, ancient beauty with a "Dinh"-character architectural layout built of traditional laterite walls. It currently preserves the ancient stone stele "Vinh Tin Stele" created in 1689 during the reign of King Le Hy Tong, along with many precious artifacts such as a worship throne, royal edicts, and memorial tablets. Hoanh Communal House is not only a place for the community's cultural and religious activities but also a spiritual symbol of pride in the patriotic tradition and the moral principle of "when drinking water, remember its source" of the people of this culturally rich land.