Ngoai Communal House - Communal House dedicated to Do Ho Pham Tu

Ngoai Communal House worships Great King Do Ho Pham Tu (476 – 545), a person who left a special mark in the cause of regaining the nation's autonomy during the reign of King Ly Nam De, who established the Van Xuan State in 544.

The communal house was built in the Canh Ngo year (1690), and it is said that Master Ta Ao - a famous feng shui master at that time - set its orientation. The communal house has unique architecture, built on dragon-head-shaped land on the bank of Ngoc Thanh pond (Round Pond), a precious and beautiful plot. The gate of the communal house looks out onto a semicircular pond with a surrounding wall and a screen.

Around 1879, three bays of bai duong (ceremonial hall) were added. This was followed by a major restoration in 1923. The communal house grounds are quite spacious.

The overall architecture includes a Tam quan (three-entrance gate) built in pillar style with two side gates. On both sides of the courtyard are the Ta vu and Huu vu houses, each with 5 bays. The Huu vu house on the right side of the Dai dinh is the shrine to Uncle Ho. The Ta vu house on the left side of the Dai dinh is the guest house. Next to it are two small square pavilions for hanging khanh and placing steles.

The main part is the Dai dinh connected to the hau cung (rear sanctuary) in the shape of the character 'Cong'. The Dai dinh has 5 large bays. The hau cung has 3 smaller bays, housing wooden altar niches lacquered in red and gilded, including a long-standing painting of Pham Tu. In 1923, the painting was repainted during the communal house's restoration, including his assistants. On July 20, 1998, villagers carved a wooden statue of Great King Pham Tu for worship.

To the right of the Dai dinh is the altar to King Than Nong, where villagers hold ceremonies on the Thuong Nguyen festival to pray for favorable rain and wind, good crops, and a bountiful harvest.

To the left of the Dai dinh is the Tho house (built in 1871, majorly renovated in 1997). The purpose of this architecture is recorded in the 'Tho dan bi ky': a place to worship the elders among the people to show respect for the elderly, so that the lineage of longevity may continue and protect later generations. This is also where the Saint worship ceremony takes place on the longevity celebration days of elderly people (from 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100...) on the 7th day of the first lunar month every year.

Ngoai Communal House was recognized as a National Historical-Cultural Relic under Decision No. 100/VHQĐ dated January 21, 1989, by the Ministry of Culture, Information and Sports.

Currently, the communal house still preserves many valuable artifacts such as worship objects, bat buu (eight treasures), horizontal lacquered boards, couplets, voong doors, y mon... and royal edicts from many dynasties from the Le, Tay Son, and Nguyen dynasties./.