1 A Few Highlights of Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai
1.1 Locating Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai
Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai is located in the southeast of Tra Co Ward, approximately 50 meters from the coast. The area is densely populated, and the main livelihoods here are fishing and aquaculture. To the south of the communal house lies the open sea, while to the north is the Vietnam–China border, approximately 8 km away as the crow flies. To the west and south are the Nam Tho, Dong Thinh, Trang Lo, and Trang Vi areas, which are approximately 8 km from Mong Cai City by provincial road.
See also: Tra Co Beach – One of the most beautiful beaches in Ha Long
An ancient beauty envelops Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai, with old-fashioned architectural features that have endured through time
1.2 Revealing the Legendary Story Associated with This Place
Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai is a village communal house symbolizing the community life and self-governance of the village. It serves as the village’s cultural center, where many typical community activities are gathered and organized, especially festivals.
In Mong Cai, whenever the land of Tra Co is mentioned, local people and visitors alike remember the history of Tra Co Communal House, which is associated with the legend “The people of Tra Co, descendants of Do Son.”
Legend has it that during the Later Le dynasty (in 1461), fishing families from the land of Do Son (now part of Hai Phong) often traveled with their families to distant coastal areas and estuaries to make a living by fishing (now the waters of Tra Co – Mong Cai). During a major storm, twelve families were swept onto a desolate, windswept peninsula covered only with reeds and mangroves. However, unable to accept the hardships, six families found a way to leave and return to their old hometown. The remaining six families were determined to develop and settle in this land, and thus worked hard to build a new homeland there.
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Although hundreds of years and many generations have passed, Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai has retained its original, rudimentary structure
They then worked together to develop the new land, clearing it for cultivation while also fishing. At first, there were only six simple houses, but over time they formed a prosperous village hamlet. Like other villages throughout Vietnam, Tra Co Communal House was also built with contributions from the people. After construction was completed, local residents returned to their hometown to request incense ashes from the village guardian deities to worship at the communal house (Quang Trach, Huyen Quoc, Nhan Minh, Giac Hai, and Khong Lo). In addition, this is also a place of worship for the six founding pioneers who reclaimed and established the land of Tra Co.
Today, the communal house is considered a public house—a place where the village elders resolve community affairs—and it hosts a distinctive annual village festival on the 30th day of the fifth lunar month.
A particularly striking watercolor sketch depicting the communal house
2Discover the Unique Architectural Features of Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai
Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai is one of the largest communal houses in Quang Nam Province, built during the Later Le dynasty in 1461. It can be said to be a distinctive architectural work on the northern border of our country, and it was recognized as a cultural heritage site in 1974.
The front of the communal house faces south and was built in the “đinh” layout, consisting of five bays: two front halls and three rear sanctuary bays. Overall, the communal house appears imposing and grand; however, upon closer inspection, visitors can feel the softness and graceful movement in its design, as well as the painstaking and meticulous carvings both inside and outside. The house is mainly supported by 32 ironwood columns, including 18 secondary columns and 14 principal columns, which form the essential framework of the entire structure. In particular, all the columns are connected by horizontal beams, and each end is accentuated with a carved dragon head.
On ordinary days, the communal house has a sacred and tranquil beauty, making it ideal for those who wish to cleanse their souls
With the talented and meticulous hands of the artisans, lively carved panels and scenes were created, with lines reaching the pinnacle of artistry and leaving viewers unable to contain their admiration whenever they gaze upon the skillful carvings. The beams and column bodies also feature horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences bearing historical significance, helping visitors gain a better understanding of the history, lifestyle, and people of Tra Co.
Over more than 500 years, with major and minor changes made during restoration, each dynasty added its own honorific sắc phong to the beauty of the communal house, bringing great significance to the land as well as enhancing the structure’s value. Nevertheless, on its original foundation, Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai has retained its initial structure and form, along with the primitive, timeworn beauty it possessed during the Le period, especially the dragon and phoenix motifs carved on the columns.
With its ancient beauty, Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai seems to be an ideal destination for visitors to showcase the beauty of traditional Vietnamese clothing
In particular, Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai is the only communal house in Quang Ninh Province that still retains its system of floorboards, reflecting the communal-house architecture popular at that time. The elevated floorboards are approximately 0.4 m above the ground and are enclosed with elaborately carved panels. At the center of the communal house is the rear bay, which most clearly demonstrates the preservation, awareness, and restoration of the structure. In addition, the carved panels and suspended screens feature swirling floral patterns carved during the communal house’s early period. Although they have been restored and repainted, they still express the traditional cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people.
See also: Pride in Ha Long Bay – Where the dragon descended upon Vietnamese land
The communal house also preserves many valuable artifacts from ancient times, dating back to the Later Le dynasty when it was built
In addition to the preserved carved architectural features, Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai also houses other valuable artifacts, such as two ceremonial flags, a set of eight ceremonial weapons, a set of eight tribute objects, a bronze set of ritual furnishings, parallel sentences, suspended screens, horizontal lacquered boards, and dozens of large inscribed panels. The content of the horizontal boards and parallel sentences is filled with independence, vitality, and national self-reliance, clearly reflecting the cultural identity of northeastern Vietnam. These features not only fascinate and attract domestic and international visitors with their unique architectural values and distinctive customs, but also provide a highly engaging subject for researchers. Beyond that, in the collective memory of local residents, Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai is also a cultural milestone affirming Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty at the country’s frontier.
The carved details are always a unique highlight, attracting visitors to Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai
Although more than hundreds of years have passed, Tra Co Communal House – Mong Cai has remained unaffected by time. It still holds sacred meaning and remains closely connected with many generations of Tra Co residents. If you have the opportunity to visit Mong Cai, do not miss the chance to explore this sacred communal house and light a stick of incense.
