Thuong Nghia Lap Communal House

Thuong Nghia Lap Communal House is located in the central position of Nghia Lap Village, Chuyen My Commune. This is a typical traditional cultural space of the Northern Delta countryside, associated with the worship of the Village Tutelary God and the community life of local people.

Historically, Thuong Communal House worships Thien Xung Emperor, also known as Thien Xung King. According to the legend preserved at the relic, He was a figure from the Hung Kings era who helped the Hung King fight invaders and defend the country. After completing his task, He chose the land of Nghia Lap as a place to stop, taught the people how to farm, maintain rituals and propriety, and build a peaceful life. Remembering his merits, the people honored him as the Village Tutelary God and built a temple and communal house to worship him.

The communal house also preserves a number of valuable documents such as genealogies, royal decrees, a throne and a statue of Thien Xung. These documents contribute to reflecting the historical tradition, beliefs and gratitude of generations of residents toward those who rendered service to the country.

In terms of architecture, Thuong Communal House bears the traditional Vietnamese village communal house architectural style. The relic complex consists of three main structures: the Dai Bai great hall, Trung Cung middle chamber and Hau Cung rear chamber, arranged in the shape of the character 'Tam'. In addition, there are auxiliary structures such as the Ta Mac and Huu Mac houses.

Dai Bai is the main architectural structure, dating from the Le dynasty and extensively restored under the Nguyen dynasty. The building is about 15.7 meters long and 6.4 meters wide, comprising three bays and two wings. The communal house roof has four curved sides and is covered with traditional fish-scale tiles. On the ridge prominently features the image of 'two dragons adoring the sun', expressing the aspiration for harmony between humans, nature and the universe. The roof corners, ridge and trusses are decorated with dragons, nghe, phoenixes and many folk patterns.

Inside the communal house there is a system of wooden columns, trusses and carved panels characteristic of Nguyen dynasty art. Notable are themes of dragons adoring, dragons rolling in water, flowers and leaves, clouds transforming into dragons, along with parallel sentences and horizontal plaques in Chinese characters praising the merits of the Village Tutelary God. The central bay houses the altar of Thien Xung Emperor, creating a solemn and sacred space.

Thuong Communal House is not only a place of worship but also a center for community cultural activities. On festivals and village holidays, people organize traditional rituals, commemorate the Village Tutelary God, and pray for favorable rain and wind, good harvests and a peaceful life.

In particular, the Nghia Lap communal house area is also associated with the local revolutionary historical tradition. During the resistance period, this place was once used as a site for hiding weapons, gathering and meetings of resistance forces. Therefore, the relic carries many layers of value: history, culture, architectural art and patriotic tradition. The communal house was ranked at the provincial level in 2008.

Today, Thuong Nghia Lap Communal House is a suitable destination for those who want to learn about Northern Delta village communal houses, the worship of the Village Tutelary God, and the history of the formation of villages in the Red River Delta. When visiting, tourists can admire the ancient architecture, learn about artifacts, parallel sentences and royal decrees, and feel the peaceful countryside space where traditions have been preserved through many generations.