Ba Nha Communal House

The communal house of Ba Nha Hamlet was built around the late 17th century; it is located on high, open, beautiful land amid a densely populated residential area. Through many historical changes, the communal house formerly belonged to Cu Son, Tong Hoang Xa Ward, Yen Son District, Son Tay Garrison; by the early 20th century it belonged to Quoc Oai Prefecture, Son Tay Province; today it is Ba Nha Hamlet Communal House, Quoc Oai Commune, Hanoi City.

According to legends preserved in Han-Nom documents and deity records, the communal house is a place to worship the two tutelary deities: Ha Ba Thuy Quan Dai Vuong and Holy Lady Ngoc Thuy Tinh Princess. These are deities strongly imbued with the indigenous beliefs of the Vietnamese people.

Legend has it that Ha Ba Thuy Quan Dai Vuong was descended from the Dragon Lord at Dongting Lake; he was intelligent, more ambitious than others, and exceptionally virtuous and talented. After his transformation, he had the ability to change in wondrous ways; he often traveled on rivers and seas, met and helped people, and saved all beings. With his great merits, he was conferred by feudal dynasties the title 'Ruc Bao Trung Hung Thuong Dang Than Ha Ba Thuy Quan Dai Vuong'; at the same time, his wife was posthumously conferred the title Holy Lady Ngoc Thuy Tinh Princess.

Since then, local people have built the communal house to worship the Saint; they regard it as a spiritual support and a place to place their faith and aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous life. Every year, when spring comes, on the 13th day of the second lunar month, villagers and visitors from all over enthusiastically come to the festival, offer incense, and pay homage, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and every household to be warm and happy.

Not only does it carry profound cultural and religious value, Ba Nha Communal House is also a landmark associated with important historical milestones. On August 19, 1945, the inauguration of the first provisional revolutionary government of Yen Son took place here. During the resistance war against the French colonialists, the communal house was a place to hide secret documents and a safe shelter for guerrilla forces.

In particular, during the resistance war against the American imperialists, from August 1965 to September 1981, the External Intelligence Department – Ministry of Public Security evacuated here to study and work for 16 years. At Ba Nha Communal House, the unit organized 14 training courses and dozens of refresher classes and trained thousands of officers and soldiers in external intelligence reconnaissance to support the southern battlefield. Many comrades who matured here became important leaders and generals of the People's Public Security force.

In recognition of those great contributions, on October 10, 2016, the External Intelligence Department – Ministry of Public Security erected a memorial stele at the communal house to preserve memories and express gratitude to a land rich in revolutionary tradition. To this day, generations of officers and soldiers have always maintained a close, affectionate relationship with the government and people of Ba Nha Hamlet, contributing to further brightening the tradition of lasting solidarity.

The communal house is built in the 'tien nhat hau cong' style, with a front single hall and a rear gong-shaped section; its components include: ceremonial gate, communal courtyard, front worship hall, main worship hall, tubular corridor, and rear sanctuary.

The traditional festival of Ba Nha Hamlet Communal House is held on the 13th day of the second lunar month every year. This is not only an occasion to remember the merits of predecessors but also a meaningful cultural activity in preserving and promoting heritage values and educating the tradition of 'when drinking water, remember its source' for present and future generations.