Song Temple

The Song Temple relic (commonly called Song Communal House by local people) is located on the Day River bank, bordering three communes: Song Phuong, Dong Thap, and Minh Khai (in Hoai Duc District before the rearrangement). From Hanoi, follow Road 32 westward to the old Phung Town, turn left along the Day River dike to the former Song Phuong Commune area, turn right down to the bank area, and after passing Cong Hamlet you reach the relic (about 24 km from the city center). From past to present, Song Temple has been owned by the people of Dai Than Village, Dong Thap Commune (now Dong Thap Village, Dan Phuong Commune).
Song Temple was originally the place of worship for three fishing communities: Van Thuong (now part of Cluster 1, Dai Than), Van Giua (now part of Cluster 2, Dai Than), and Van Ha (now part of Duong Lieu Commune - Hoai Duc). The main temple is where the water deities of the fishermen were worshipped – the people who made their living by fishing on the former Day River.
According to legend and based on surviving written documents, the temple worships the deities: Moc Lac Long Vuong - Superior Deity, Ha Ba Thuy Quan Dai Vuong - Middle-ranking Deity, and Ngu Phu Tien Su. These are river and water deities humanized in sacred legends, in the river dynasties. They support water sources for people’s lives and green plants, beautiful nature, and prosperous and peaceful livelihoods for fishermen.
Song Temple is located on the left bank of the Day River on a 4,000 m2 plot; the relic grounds have many ancient trees, creating a quiet, airy, cool natural landscape that attracts visitors to sightsee. Due to historical changes and the ravages of time, the temple has undergone many changes and no longer retains its original appearance. The current temple architecture is the result of a restoration in 1954. Over the past more than 50 years, local people have made minor repairs several times; today the temple has a small architectural scale, hidden under the shade of ancient trees.
From the outside in, the temple includes the following architectural structures: the Temple Three-Entrance Gate, the Ong Muong House, the Tien Te House, and the Hau Cung (rear sanctuary).
Song Temple has a small-scale architecture, with simple and rustic decorative carving art. The main architectural structures are connected to form a cross-shaped architectural layout. Currently, Song Temple still preserves and maintains a number of valuable artifacts, such as: 15 royal edicts – these are edicts issued by various dynasties' kings conferring titles on the deities worshipped in the temple.