Tho Tang Communal House: Preserving the Soul of the Countryside Amidst Contemporary Life

Located in the heart of Tho Tang commune – a region once famous as the “village market town,” Tho Tang Communal House quietly preserves the vivid marks of 17th-century Northern Vietnam’s architectural and sculptural art.

Tho Tang Communal House was built in the 17th century to honor the renowned general Phung Lan Ho, who made significant contributions to the resistance against the Mongol-Yuan forces during the Tran dynasty. According to legend, he was from Dong Bang village, Tung Thien district (now part of Son Tay, Hanoi).

When the country was in danger, Phung Lan Ho requested to join King Tran Nhan Tong’s army, commanding forces to defend the Gia Ninh region (now Phu Tho). After many glorious victories, he was granted the title “Hầu” but asked to return to his homeland to take care of his elderly mother.

During a subsequent battle, when the enemy returned for revenge, he was injured at Bach Hac and later passed away in Tho Tang. Upon hearing the news, King Tran posthumously bestowed the eight golden words: “Nam thien trang khí, Bắc khấu han tâm” (Southern sky’s majestic spirit, Northern invaders' cold hearts). The people of Tho Tang built a communal house to honor this heroic and loyal figure, making it a sacred place for the region.

Tho Tang Communal House – Special National Historical Site

With its “Đinh” architectural structure, including a five-bay main hall and a two-bay rear sanctuary, Tho Tang Communal House is a prime example of the “beam-and-column” and “upper-tie, lower-bay” architecture typical of the Later Le period.

The communal house currently preserves 21 exquisite wooden carvings, vividly depicting the daily life of ancient agricultural people: scenes of plowing, hunting, wrestling, shuttlecock kicking, playing chess, and couples in love, as well as many images of dragons and phoenixes in intricate patterns.

In 2018, Tho Tang Communal House was recognized as a Special National Historical Site, acknowledging its cultural, historical, and architectural value.

Tho Tang Communal House Restoration and Conservation for Cultural Tourism Development

In recent years, the local authorities and various levels of government have invested tens of billions of VND in the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of Tho Tang Communal House’s value. The commune’s People’s Committee has set up a subcommittee to manage the site, assigning specific tasks to ensure the site’s safety and meet the religious needs of the people and visitors.

In addition to the preservation of tangible heritage, the intangible cultural values associated with the communal house are also cherished through a traditional festival held every five years, from the 10th to the 12th of the first lunar month.

The Tho Tang Communal House Festival, held from the 10th to the 12th of the first lunar month, creates a vibrant atmosphere full of national identity.

With the aim of sustainable preservation and exploiting the heritage value of the site associated with cultural tourism development, the People’s Committee of Vinh Phuc Province (formerly) has approved a plan for the conservation, restoration, and promotion of Tho Tang Communal House’s Special National Historical Site value for the 2025-2030 period.

According to this plan, the 2024-2025 phase will focus on restoring the main communal house, the entrance gate, and the lotus pond; the 2026-2030 phase will continue the construction of the spiritual hall, gold-burning tower, ceremonial grounds, protective walls, guidance stelae, and other protection works for cultural artifacts and ancient trees. Further into the future, by 2050, the locality will research and digitize heritage materials, promote the site, and develop spiritual tourism routes connecting with nearby cultural landmarks.

Funding for this process will be raised from central and local government budgets, as well as from social sources, to encourage community involvement in preserving the heritage. The provincial People’s Committee has also urged departments and sectors to promote awareness and raise the community’s understanding of the importance of conservation while establishing preferential mechanisms to attract investment into tourism and service projects linked to the heritage site.

Le Minh