Ngoc Tao Communal House, Hat Mon Commune

NGOC TAO COMMUNAL HOUSE - NATIONAL-LEVEL RELIC

Ngoc Tao Communal House is located in Hat Mon Commune, Hanoi City, and is a folk belief structure of outstanding historical, cultural, and artistic architectural value. The communal house worships Vi Ngoc Quang, a tutelary deity who helped King Hung defeat the Thuc invaders and was conferred the title of Do Ho Pho Tuong Quan (Deputy General of the Protectorate) and later Do Thong Dai Tuong Quan (Grand General of the Capital Command). Through successive dynasties, he was granted edicts by many kings and was revered by the people as the village guardian deity.

Based on architectural traces and decorative patterns, the communal house was built around the 1670s. Initially it consisted of the Dai Bai (main worship hall); later Tien Te (front ceremonial hall), Hau Cung (rear sanctuary), and Ta, Huu Mac (left and right side corridors) were added, forming an architectural complex in the “tien Nhat hau Dinh” style. In 2020, the State and the people invested in restoring and embellishing the main items, contributing to preserving the appearance and values of the relic.

Every year, the traditional festival takes place from the 6th to the 8th day of the second lunar month with ritual ceremonies, singing, chess playing, and traditional rites. On the 14th day of the second lunar month, people carry the palanquin of the village guardian deity from the shrine to the communal house; on the 15th day, a ceremony is held to celebrate the anniversary of the shrine’s founding.

With its outstanding values, Ngoc Tao Communal House was ranked as a National-Level Relic in 1990. It is a cultural address that contributes to preserving the historical, belief, and identity traditions of the homeland.