Published:  11:27 Monday - July 11, 2011

Throughout its 200 year existence the house has been renovated many times with the latest in 1998. The house, recognized as a national cultural and historical relic in 1997 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, is not only a familiar place for residents to worships gods but also a place for the younger generation to come and study the nation’s history. It also become one of the famous destinations for tours in Vietnam.

Located near the railway line at 18 Mai Van Ngoc Street in HCMC’s Phu Nhuan District, due to the noise of trains and motorbikes passing by it was a relief to get inside the tranquil house.

Coming here, there are not only Vietnamese people who come here to visit or pray but also many foreigners who travel to Vietnam. The house keeps many values of Vietnam culture and Vietnam history that many people want to visit here to  learm more about  Vietnam culture as well as Vietnam history, especially young people who come here to understand more  about the country's history.

Through the gate of the house, guests can see a rather spacious yard with many kinds of flowers and a giant, ancient tree and some small altars.

Built in 1820-1832, the house was erected to honor Hoang Thanh (a tutelary god), who was named Ma La Can by King Tu Duc. He was a general who came from a minority group. The house also worships other gods such as Chua Xu Lady, Than Nong (God of farmers) and Ngu Hanh Nuong Nuong (god of the five basic elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth).

Vietnam travel - Phu Nhuan Communal House

The house has three main areas which Vietnamese call "vo ca", "vo qui" and "chanh dien". Vo ca is a small theater where local artists perform for the gods. This is also a place to give offerings for gods. Chanh dien, or sanctum, includes many altars. This is also a place to keep old sculptures, parallel sentences carved in wooden pillars in Chinese characters and some statues of gods and some bas-reliefs. The final area, "vo qui", is where the altar of Hoang Thanh and his relatives sits.

Tourists who travel to Vietnam and visit Phu Nhuan Communal House will be very impressed by the it's architecture. The house’s architecture is simple but its design is complex with its carvings, offerings and decorations red-lacquered and gilded.

Ky Yen Festival in Phu Nhuan communal house

Every year, the house hosts many traditional festivals with the Ky Yen Festival the most striking. It is held from the 16th to the 18th day of the first lunar month and the worship ceremony is for Buddha, gods and talented and righteous men. On lunar New Year holidays, the house hosts a festival to pray for the nation’s peace and happiness and prosperity for locals. It also holds Doan Ngo Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. These festivals in Phu Nhuan Communal House are very interesting and it have contributed to promote Vietnam travel by attracting a large number of  many tourists as well as travel tours to Vietnam each year.

Phu Nhuan communal house was recognized as a national cultural and historical relic in 1997 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism

Throughout its 200 year existence the house has been renovated many times with the latest in 1998. The house, recognized as a national cultural and historical relic in 1997 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, is not only a familiar place for residents to worships gods but also a place for the younger generation to come and study the nation’s history.

Vietnam travel - tours in vietnam