Viet Yen Communal House

The communal house is also called Ke Vet Communal House. Vet is the ancient vernacular name of Viet Yen. Viet Yen Communal House worships General Nguyen Sieu as the village guardian spirit. Nguyen Sieu, whose taboo name was Trieu, was born in the Giap Than year (late 9th century). He was an extraordinarily heroic man with martial and strategic talent, trusted by King Ngo Quyen and appointed commander-in-chief, holding Dong Phu Liet (Thanh Tri); Viet Yen was where General Nguyen Sieu’s headquarters fort was stationed. After King Ngo Quyen died, the central government weakened, and local chieftains and landowners rose up to fight for separatist control, leading to the situation of the Twelve Warlords. In that situation, Dinh Bo Linh rose most prominently. Nguyen Sieu had his soldiers train, built walls and ramparts, from the Cai River in Viet Yen commune down across the Con River to Phuc Am commune, prepared provisions, and deployed troops to confront Dinh Bo Linh’s army. Fierce fighting took place. The sacred legend records: “On the 15th day of the 7th month, suddenly a great flood came, the wind roared, the dragon boat sank, and weapons and military supplies were all lost. A few months later, a divine horse drifted to Bai Xuyen... The people considered it sacred and built a shrine to worship.” Later Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties had Viet Yen establish a temple and conferred titles on General Nguyen Sieu. The earliest extant edicts date from the second year of Hong Duc (1461), the first year of Canh Thong (1498), the 28th year of Canh Hung (1767), and later Nguyen reigns.

Viet Yen Communal House stands on a high, spacious plot at the head of Viet Yen village. Beside the communal house is Viet Yen Pagoda. Viet Yen Communal House is relatively large and has all components: bronze pillars, the Front Ceremonial Hall, left and right corridors, the square pavilion, the Great Ceremonial Hall, and the Rear Sanctuary. All structures lie within an enclosed compound, with a layout of nội công ngoại quốc (inner công, outer quốc).

Viet Yen Communal House was ranked as a historical and architectural-artistic relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1990.