Dao Xa Preserves and Promotes Cultural Heritage Values

As a land rich in historical and cultural traditions with an abundant system of monuments imbued with national identity across generations, Dao Xa Commune still preserves unique cultural values. This serves as an important foundation for the locality to turn heritage into resources for tourism development, traditional education, and enhancing spiritual life for the people.

Residents participate in the Fire-Pulling and Rice-Cooking Contest at the Ha Bi Trung Communal House traditional festival.

Dao Xa Commune currently possesses 23 ranked historical monuments alongside a rich system of traditional festivals deeply imbued with national cultural identity, including 3 national-level historical monuments. Most prominent is Dao Xa Communal House, dating back approximately 350 years and ranked as a national monument in 1974. The communal house festival is held annually in the first lunar month, associated with the elephant procession and the fire-pulling and rice-cooking contest — a unique folk activity recreating traditional local life that attracts large numbers of residents and tourists.

Ha Bi Trung Communal House, built during the Later Le Dynasty, is not only a valuable ancient architectural work but also testament to the long-standing history of Dao Xa land. Currently, the monument retains 5 royal decrees from the Nguyen Dynasty, 3 sets of dragon thrones and spirit tablets, 1 eight-bearer palanquin, alongside many historical and culturally valuable worship items and ceremonial weapons. In 2010, Ha Bi Trung Communal House was recognized as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument. The Ha Bi Trung Communal House Festival is organized annually on the 9th and 10th days of the 8th lunar month. This serves as an occasion for local people to remember and express gratitude for the merits of Tan Vien Son Thanh (Saint Tan Vien) alongside the deities Cao Son and Quy Minh — gods worshipped in connection with legends assisting King Hung Due Vuong in fighting Thuc invaders to defend the borders.

Alongside Dao Xa Communal House and Ha Bi Trung Communal House, Tam Cong Temple — worshipping Three Water Deities — was ranked as a monument in 2004. The site still preserves a traditional boat racing festival, a unique cultural feature maintained and organized by local residents annually from the 10th to 15th days of the 7th lunar month.

In addition to national-level monuments, Dao Xa Commune has 20 communal houses and pagodas ranked at the provincial level. Each monument is tied to traditional festivals rich in cultural identity, becoming spiritual anchors for the community, such as Thai Dong Son Pagoda which still preserves 27 precious wooden Buddha statues. La Hao, Vong La, Ha Bi Ha, and Ha Bi Thuong communal houses hold architectural and artistic value with systems of horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, and worship thrones painted in red and gilt with gold. Quoc Te Temple and Ngoc Son Temple are associated with worship rituals and boat racing festivals in the 2nd lunar month, while preserving 11 sets of royal decrees and numerous statues worshipping river and water deities.

Boat racing competition at the Tam Cong Temple Festival, Dao Xa Commune.

From a rich cultural heritage foundation, Dao Xa Commune is step-by-step concretizing Party guidelines on cultural development through practical actions. Implementing Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW dated January 7, 2026, issued by the Politburo on Vietnamese cultural development, the locality issued Plan No. 512/KH-UBND dated April 10, 2026, regarding the management, protection, and promotion of the values of Phu Tho Xoan Singing — a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity — across the commune for the 2026–2030 period; while deploying the campaign “All people unite to build cultural life”... This provides the basis for Dao Xa to continue reviewing and organizing traditional festivals, cultural and artistic activities, and contests, thereby preserving and promoting heritage values directly within community life.

According to Chairman of Dao Xa Commune People’s Committee Nguyen Van Ky, since the beginning of the year, the locality successfully organized the Dao Xa Communal House Festival with various activities such as the elephant procession, fire-pulling, and rice-cooking contest. At Tam Cong Temple, a hat van (ritual singing) program was organized to serve residents and tourists visiting for worship; a communal house doorway singing program was performed in the communal house courtyard, creating a joyful atmosphere rich in cultural identity. The locality also successfully organized the 2026 Quoc Te Temple Traditional Festival with numerous cultural, artistic, and sports activities. Among them, traditional boat racing formed the highlight, creating an exciting atmosphere, attracting widespread public participation, and strengthening community cohesion.

Alongside preserving and promoting traditional cultural festivals, Dao Xa Commune emphasizes the preservation, restoration, and embellishment of monuments. According to commune leaders, faced with signs of degradation at certain monuments, including Dao Xa Communal House, the locality proactively surveyed, assessed current conditions, and proposed restoration and embellishment support options. Dao Xa Communal House was included in a report requesting the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to consider funding support from the National Target Program on Culture in 2026; while also featuring on the list of monuments currently undergoing investment policy proposals for restoration and embellishment across the province.

With the joint efforts of Party committees, local authorities, and residents, Dao Xa is step-by-step preserving and promoting cultural heritage values, contributing to enriching spiritual life and creating momentum for local tourism and socio-economic development.

Quynh Chi