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Location: Tho Ha Communal House is in Tho
Ha Village, Viet Yen District, Bac Giang Province.
Characteristics: Tho Ha, an ancient communal house built under the reign
of King Le Hy Tong is surrounded by many old trees. It was built according to
the form of the Chinese character cong. The praise-giving house is 27m long, 16m
wide and stands on a raised ground surrounded by three grey stones steps. The
roofs of the Communal House are covered with ancient crescent-shaped tiles
curved up like a scimitar sword blade at the four corners and decorated with
purple-burned glazed terra-cotta creatures such as lion cubs. There are 22
mighty levers intricately engraved with dragons, clouds, and lion cubs. The
praise-giving house is divided into 7 rooms and is supported by 48 ironwood
pillars. The roof frame is engraved with lively scenes. The ladies in long
dresses wearing their hair in buns or turbans, riding phoenixes and dragons or
dancing over the floating clouds, are remarkable. The floor of the temple is
laid with polished blue stones. The wooden entrance of the communal house is
engraved and painted in gold, conferring it with a solemn and ancient
atmosphere. The inscription on an old stela, relates that Tho Ha Communal House
was built through the material contribution of Tho Ha villagers. Even now, it is
clearly still honored and cared for with pride.
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