Sen Ho Communal House

Coming to Kim Sen village, Thuan An commune, Hanoi city, visitors have the opportunity to learn about a unique complex of relics, where two typical belief streams in the traditional cultural life of Vietnamese people converge: the belief in worshipping the village tutelary god and Buddhism. That is Sen Ho Communal House.

Previously, the relic belonged to Lien Duong village, Lien Duong commune, Gia Lam district, Thuan An prefecture, Kinh Bac region; now it belongs to Kim Sen village, Thuan An commune, Hanoi city.

With typical values in architecture, art, and cultural history, Sen Ho Communal House was ranked as an architectural and artistic relic by the Ministry of Culture, Information and Sports, now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, under Decision No. 490/QD dated April 22, 1992.

Sen Ho Communal House is a place of worship for the deity Hung Hien, a deity revered and worshipped by the people for a long time, with legends associated with the Hung Vuong era.

According to legends passed down in the community, while alive, Hung Hien Cong made many contributions to the people and the country. The deity's most notable achievement remembered by the people is that he participated in the war against the invading An enemy, under the command of Phu Dong Thien Vuong – Saint Giong.

In that war, Hung Hien Cong was celebrated as the commander of the naval force of the Van Lang army, contributing to defeating the invaders. The image of Hung Hien Cong was therefore honored by the people as a deity who rendered service to the country, contributing to creating the nation's tradition of patriotism and resistance against foreign invasion from the very early days of nation-building.

Through many generations, the story of the deity has been passed down and has become an important part of the cultural memory of the local community.

Not only valuable in history and belief, Sen Ho Communal House also impresses with traditional architectural and carving art.

The carved panels on the architecture are vividly expressed, reflecting the skill and creative ability of ancient artisans. The decorative images not only create beauty for the structure but also convey people's concepts and aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous, and happy life.

In particular, the communal house still preserves a rich system of historical and cultural relics, with many types and materials, dating across the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

These artifacts are valuable sources of material helping today's generations learn about the history of formation, religious life, and traditional art of the community in this land.