Khánh Tân Communal House

According to the stories told by the village elders, the communal house has existed for about 1,500 years.

According to the surviving divine records and legends, Đức Trương Đại Vương—the tutelary deity of Khánh Tân Village—is Hoàng Lang Công, originally a Dragon deity residing on Hương Sơn Mountain, where Hương Sơn Tự Pagoda in Khánh Tân Hamlet is located. The Dragon deity reincarnated into the queen and was born as a prince in the reign of the 16th Hùng King. He was born on the 6th day of the first lunar month in the Canh Thìn year; he grew up intelligent, widely learned, and of heroic character. Recognizing Hoàng Công's talent, the king his father appointed him to govern Phong Châu, and chose Khánh Tân Hamlet—an area on the bank of a small river—as the place for him to station troops and establish his career.

During his rule, he taught the people to farm, built a prosperous life, taught rites and righteousness, and upheld fine customs and traditions, and was deeply respected by the people. When the country faced foreign invaders, the king his father assigned Hoàng Công as General to defeat the enemy. He used benevolence and righteousness to persuade the enemy troops to surrender, then advanced to Quế Lâm, eliminating stubborn forces: he beheaded General Đình Dũng, captured General Lý Đà alive, and destroyed 500 enemy soldiers, helping to bring peace to the nation.

With the country at peace, the king held a feast to reward the troops. Just then, a long drought occurred, and the king assigned Hoàng Công to set up an altar to pray for rain. As a descendant of the water realm, he called forth wind and summoned rain, bringing heavy rains that made crops flourish and trees bear fruit. Having fulfilled his important duty, he asked to return to his old place. When his dragon boat followed the Cái River to Nhị Sở Lake, suddenly heaven and earth shook, a great wind arose, and Hoàng Công transformed in the water. The day of his transformation is the 10th day of the 10th lunar month.

Upon hearing the news, the king his father was infinitely grieved, ordered the establishment of a shrine at Nhị Sở Lake, and bestowed the title Đức Trương Đại Vương. Through the Đinh, Lý, Trần, and Lê dynasties, he manifested many times to support righteous causes and helped the country and saved the people in times of national peril. All the dynasties issued edicts honoring him; at present, Khánh Tân Communal House still preserves 16 precious royal edicts. The earliest edict is from King Cảnh Trị in 1670, and the latest is from the reign of King Khải Định in 1924.

Khánh Tân Communal House has the architectural style of a Northern Vietnamese village communal house, including: the ceremonial gate, communal courtyard, left and right side halls, main hall, rear sanctuary, and auxiliary structures.