Thụy Ứng Communal House, Thụy Ứng Village, Thường Tín Commune, Hanoi City

According to legends and records in the deity’s biography, Thụy Ứng Village worships King Lý Công Uẩn (Lý Thái Tổ) – the enlightened ruler who founded the Lý dynasty, issued the Edict on the Relocation of the Capital, moved the capital from Hoa Lư to Thăng Long, and opened a long period of prosperity for the Đại Việt state. Through the feudal dynasties, his great merits were always recognized by the royal court through many conferrals of titles. To this day, Thụy Ứng Village Communal House still carefully preserves 23 royal edicts – sacred treasures affirming the historical depth and important position of the worship of the village tutelary god here.

Every year, the Thụy Ứng Village festival is held from the 12th to the 15th day of the 11th lunar month, in accordance with village customs passed down through generations. Before the main festival takes place, villagers have proactively cleaned village roads, sanitized the relic site, prepared ceremonial objects, decorated the communal house and shrine, and carefully arranged traditional rituals. The preparatory atmosphere is bustling, demonstrating the villagers’ sense of responsibility and pride in their homeland’s cultural heritage.

During the festival days, Thụy Ứng Communal House is always crowded with villagers and numerous visitors from far and near coming to attend. The village festival atmosphere is both exciting and joyful while maintaining solemnity and reverence – a characteristic feature of traditional Vietnamese festivals. Festival organization is clearly assigned, showing the community’s spirit of unity and cohesion. The ritual part is undertaken by the village’s elderly. With deep understanding of customs and long experience, they directly preside over important rituals such as the main offering ceremony and incense offering. Each ritual is performed properly and strictly to show reverence for the Tutelary God and preserve the village’s traditional beauty intact.

Security and order during the festival are assigned to the Veterans Association. With a spirit of discipline, high responsibility, and coordination experience, the veterans’ force ensured order, guided residents and visitors, regulated the flow of people, protected public property, and promptly handled arising situations, contributing to a safe and complete festival.

Besides the main rituals and activities, the Thụy Ứng festival also strictly observes taboo regulations according to traditional customs. In folk belief, families in mourning do not directly participate in preparation work or the performance of festival rituals. This is to maintain purity, avoid misfortune, and show respect for the deities and ancestors.

The rituals are conducted sequentially and clearly day by day, bearing a strong sacred character. Specifically, on the morning of the 12th day of the 11th lunar month, the village solemnly organizes the procession of the Saint from the Shrine to the Communal House, then continues the procession from the Ancestor of the Craft’s house to the communal house. The house of the Ancestor of the Horn Comb Craft is where the village’s traditional craft ancestor is honored. The procession takes place solemnly but also vibrantly with flags and parasols, the ritual team, the eight-tone music band, and the broad participation of the people.

On the morning of the 13th day of the 11th lunar month, the village holds the entry offering ceremony and incense offering to report to the Tutelary God and ancestors about the opening of the festival, and to pray for favorable weather, good health for villagers, a warm and prosperous life, and abundant harvests. On the 14th day of the 11th lunar month, the main offering ceremony, one of the most important rituals of the village festival, is conducted, carrying the meaning of commemoration, gratitude, and conveying the community’s good wishes to the deities.

On the morning of the 15th day of the 11th lunar month, the closing offering ceremony is held, marking the last day of the main ritual part. This is the ritual to ask permission to conclude the ceremonial activities and to express gratitude to the Saint and deities who witnessed the sincerity of the villagers. In the afternoon of the same day, the festival officially ends, ceremonial objects are put away, and the communal house–shrine space returns to its everyday solemn appearance, concluding a complete festival season.

Thanks to the community’s spirit of unity, the dedication of elders in preserving traditions, and the enthusiastic response of all residents, the Thụy Ứng Village festival is not only an important cultural and religious activity but also an occasion for every child of the homeland to look back to their roots, continue tradition, and contribute to preserving and spreading the distinctive cultural identity of the locality through the years.