Festival at Thach Khoan Communal House – Thanh Son District

Settling across the ancient land of Thanh Son for a long time, the Muong ethnic community left only one ancient communal house with a unique architecture, harmoniously blending the two cultures of Kinh and Muong. That ancient communal house is Thach Khoan Communal House.

Thach Khoan Communal House is located in Thach Khoan commune, Thanh Son district, worshiping Tan Vien Son Thanh – considered a symbol in the nation-building and defense of our people. The communal house also worships three princesses, daughters of King Hung, namely Ngoc Hoa princess, Tien Dung princess, Thuy Tien princess, and four local deities of the Dinh family, Muong people in Thach Khoan commune – those who contributed to King Le Thai To’s victory over the Ming invaders, preserving the homeland, which was praised by successive dynasties and recorded in historical documents. The communal house has a long history, according to legends: After defeating Thuy Tinh, Tan Vien took a princess. During a journey passing through Thach Khoan village, he found the terrain beautiful as a dragon and tiger bowing, pleased with it, so he established his base, recruited soldiers, and trained them to prepare for the battle against the Shu. From the Thach Khoan base, Tan Vien marched to fight against the Shu and then returned victoriously. The deity opened a military parade and a local festival. From then on, the people of Thach Khoan built the communal house and honored Saint Tan Vien as the Village Guardian.

The original Thach Khoan Communal House had a small and simple structure, primarily constructed with materials like wood, bamboo, thatch, and palm leaves. In 1905, the communal house was rebuilt, burned down in 1914, and renovated in 1925. In 1967, it was renovated by the state and the local people and has existed until today. The communal house is built in the shape of the letter “Nhất” (One), consisting of 5 chambers and two wings. The central chamber faces Mount Ba Vi, where the main altar worships Tan Vien Son Thanh. The left chamber worships the princesses, daughters of the 18th King Hung. The right chamber worships Tù trưởng (Earth Commander) – General Dinh Cong Moc and other local deities of the Dinh family – those who contributed to Le Thai To’s victory over the Ming invaders in the 15th century. Despite several renovations, the communal house still preserves a rich and historically valuable system of horizontal lacquered boards and ancient decorations. In 2001, Thach Khoan Communal House was classified as a National Historical and Cultural Relic, motivating the local people as well as neighboring regions to continue preserving this unique cultural space.

The Thach Khoan Communal House Festival is a celebration associated with the only ancient communal house of the Muong ethnic people in the mountainous Thanh Son district, aiming to express gratitude to the merits of Saint Tan Vien and the ancestors who explored and built this land. The communal house festival is held on the 24th and 25th of January every year, consisting of two parts: the Ritual section with traditional procession and offering ceremonies. After the procession, the ritual section includes prayers for the nation’s prosperity, favorable weather, and harmony. The ritual procession involves 22 elderly people with virtuous children, united families, participating in the procession team; the Festival section includes cultural exchanges among residential areas: making square sticky rice cakes, pounding round glutinous rice cakes, playing traditional musical instruments, performing traditional dances, playing folk games, and community activities: tug of war, stilt walking, blindfolded games, volleyball matches, etc. The Thach Khoan Communal House Festival is one of the festivals that organize many traditional folk games, bearing the most distinctive characteristics of the homeland.

With the moral tradition of “Remembering the source when drinking water,” expressing gratitude for the merits of the ancestors, throughout generations, Thach Khoan Communal House is deeply respected and admired by the local people and surrounding areas. The smoke of incense continues to rise. Through the ups and downs of history, the communal house and the Thach Khoan Communal House Festival have become historical and cultural heritage, the focal point of spiritual and cultural activities of the Muong ethnic people in Thanh Son and neighboring regions.”