Ngai Son Communal House

Ngai Son Communal House Relic in Kim Son Hamlet, Doai Phuong Commune, Hanoi City. Ngai Son Communal House is a typical architectural work of the ancient Doai region, built on high, open, feng shui-compatible ground, closely associated with the traditional cultural and religious living space of the community of Nghia Son village (formerly Ngai Son village).

Ngai Son Communal House worships the village tutelary deity, the Three Tan Vien Son Thanh Saints, sacred mountain deities belonging to the Four Immortals in Vietnamese folk belief. The communal house has a Dinh-shaped ground plan, consisting of two main architectural components: the Great Worship Hall and the Rear Sanctuary. The Great Worship Hall is large and rectangular, with one main bay and two side bays, built in the style of four curved roofs with upturned corners, with softly curved upturned roof corners strongly bearing the folk art architectural style of the Doai region. The Rear Sanctuary consists of a small bay connected to the central bay of the Great Worship Hall to form a Dinh-shaped layout; inside are placed three dragon thrones and spirit tablets dedicated to the Three Tan Vien Son Thanh Saints, along with other traditional ritual objects. In addition, within the communal house grounds there are auxiliary items such as the Left Hall, Right Hall, front ceremonial hall, ancient well, and ancient banyan tree, creating a harmonious and sacred landscape space.

The traditional festival of Nghia Son village is held annually at the communal house for three days, from the 17th to the 19th day of the first lunar month, an occasion for local people to remember the merits of the village tutelary deity, while maintaining traditional rituals and customs, contributing to strengthening community solidarity and preserving the cultural identity of their homeland.

With outstanding values in history, culture, architecture, and belief, Ngai Son Communal House Relic has been the People's Committee of Ha Tay Province (former) classified Historical – Cultural Relic under Decision No. 233/QD-UB dated March 3, 2003; now belonging to Hanoi City.