Tien Tuc Communal House, Son Tay Ward

Tien Tuc Communal House (formerly in Tien Tuc Street), also known as Cua Tien Communal House (now in Quang Trung Street, Son Tay Ward, Hanoi City).

Tien Tuc Communal House was built in the early Nguyen dynasty and has undergone many restorations and embellishments: the first restoration in 1950 (restoring the Tien Te hall), the second in 1983 (rebuilding the Tao Mac house), the third in 2024, and many other major and minor repairs.

Tien Tuc – Cua Tien Communal House worships the Three Great Kings, Supreme Deities. To commemorate the merits of Tan Vien Son Thanh, people in many places built temples and communal houses for worship, including the communal house in Tien Tuc street area, Quang Trung ward, Son Tay town (now Quang Trung Street, Son Tay Ward, Hanoi City).

The communal house is built in the shape of the Chinese character “Dinh,” consisting of two parts, Tien Te and Hau Cung; in addition, there are other structures such as the communal house gate, yard, and a screen (in the style of a scroll) bearing the inscription “Thuong Dang Than.”

The system of worship objects at the relic includes many types with diverse materials. Wooden worship objects include the dragon throne and tablet worshiping Tan Vien Son Thanh (Son Tinh), the shrine for the Land Deity, two lacquered and gilded incense tables, a set of Eight Treasures, an ancient weapon rack, horizontal lacquered boards, a box of edicts, along with fruit trays and offering trays.

Ceramic objects include incense bowls, a pair of vases, and a ritual jar; bronze objects include a bell, incense burner, lamps, and a bronze gong. In addition, the ritual attire of Saint Tan, paper parasols, and ceremonial gates used in rituals are preserved. Notably, the relic still keeps an edict from the ninth year of the Khai Dinh reign (1924), which has important historical and cultural value.

During the resistance war against the French colonialists, this place was chosen as the headquarters of the Son Tay Citadel Self-Defense Force. During the years of resistance against destructive war by the American imperialists, the weapons depot of Q51 Factory was located here and was kept intact.

The communal house festival takes place on the 19th and 20th days of the second lunar month every year. Main rituals: the announcement ceremony, welcoming the ceremony from the house of the Chief Celebrant to the communal house, and the main festival ceremony. On holidays and festival days, the communal house is regularly open for people of the town and visitors from everywhere to worship the Saint and visit the relic.

The communal house was recognized and ranked as a provincial/municipal-level relic under Decision No. 795/QD-UB dated July 29, 1998, of the Ha Tay Provincial People's Committee. Tien Tuc Communal House is a typical cultural and belief institution of the locality, a place where the historical values, customs, and spiritual life of the community are gathered and passed down through the flow of time.