Van Phuc Communal House Relic

The communal house is one of the typical relics in the area Thap Tam Trai, associated with the history of the formation and development of Van Bao camp, later renamed Van Phuc camp. The Van Phuc relic complex includes Van Phuc Communal House, Mieu Trang, and Bat Thap Pagoda, forming a valuable cultural and religious space of the area.

Van Phuc Communal House originates from the Ly dynasty and is associated with the construction of the Thang Long capital. According to legend and documents handed down at the relic, the communal house is a place of worship for Linh Lang Dai Vuong – Thuong Dang Phuc Than, believed to be Hoang Chan, the fourth prince of King Ly Thanh Tong (1054–1072). He was revered by the people for his merits in the cause of resisting the invading Song army and protecting the Thang Long capital and the country. The ancient Van Phuc area is also handed down as a place where Linh Lang Dai Vuong once stationed troops.

According to legend, in 1075, faced with the threat of Song invasion, Linh Lang Dai Vuong and Prince Chieu Van commanded the navy to attack Song army camps, coordinating with the forces of General Ton Dan, contributing to the victory of the Dai Viet army. By late 1076, the Song army continued to advance to invade our country. Linh Lang Dai Vuong and Prince Chieu Van commanded the navy to attack the Song army's defense line on the north bank of the Nhu Nguyet River. In the battle, he bravely sacrificed himself on the 10th day of the 2nd lunar month in the Dinh Ty year (1077).

Recognizing his merits, the king bestowed an honorific title and conferred the title Linh Lang Dai Vuong Thuong Dang Phuc Than and allowed many villages and camps throughout the country to establish temples and shrines for worship. The worship of Linh Lang Dai Vuong thus became a distinctive cultural feature, maintained through many generations in localities, including Van Phuc Communal House.

Besides worshipping Linh Lang Dai Vuong, Van Phuc Communal House is also a place of worship for Mau Thien Tien Ly Hue Tong, contributing to enriching the folk religious life of the local community.

Every year, the communal house organizes ceremonies associated with commemorating and honoring the merits of the Saint. The main festival is held on the 9th day of the 2nd lunar month, commemorating the death anniversary of Linh Lang Dai Vuong. In addition, the communal house also has the day 12th day of the 9th lunar month which is the day of the great feast to reward the troops and the day 13th day of the 12th lunar month which is the birthday of the Saint. Traditional rituals are maintained by the community, contributing to preserving customs, beliefs, and the cohesion of the residential community.

Van Phuc Communal House is also known for a large drum of special size, according to tradition, each drumhead was stretched with a large buffalo hide. The sound of the drum during festivals is said to carry far, demonstrating the scale and role of the Tong Communal House in the cultural life of the community Thap Tam Trai in the past.

With its historical, cultural, religious, and architectural values, Van Phuc Communal House is a meaningful site in the area's system of relics. The relic was ranked by the State National-level historical-cultural relic, as a place preserving traditional cultural values and also a space for religious activities and traditional education of the local residential community.

By 1986, Van Phuc Communal House had been ranked by the State as a national historical-cultural relic and became a historical-cultural relic in 1992.