Mông Phụ Communal House

Mông Phụ Communal House (亭蒙阜) is a national-level heritage site located in the ancient village of Đường Lâm, now part of Sơn Tây ward, Hanoi city, Vietnam.

Mông Phụ Communal House was built on a central and highest plot of land in the village, covering an area of about 1,800 m². The main hall (Đại đình) faces southwest.

The communal house was constructed in 1533 during the reign of King Mạc Đăng Doanh. Later, the đình underwent several restorations and repairs; however, it has retained its original architectural form and carvings from the early 19th century. Among these, according to records, in 1858, under the reign of King Tự Đức, the đình was repaired for the first time. More recently (2006–2008), the đình also underwent major restoration.

The current appearance of the communal house is built in the shape of the Chinese character "Công" (工), consisting of the Nghi môn (main gate), the communal yard, Tả Mạc (left-side house), Hữu mạc (right-side house), and the Đại đình (or Đại bái hall, i.e. the main communal hall). In addition, outside the đình (to the right when facing out from the đình) is the Xích hậu house. This is the reception area and the place where offerings are prepared before entering the đình. In summary:

Nghi môn: consists of four square brick pillars, two large and two small. The tops of the four pillars are adorned with square lanterns featuring bas-relief carvings of the four sacred animals; on top of the two large pillars sit two lions facing inward, while the two small pillars are topped with two flower vases. Three sides of the pillars bear Han-script couplets in bas-relief.

Communal yard and Tả Hữu mạc: The yard is spacious and paved with Bát Tràng bricks; on both sides are the Tả and Hữu mạc, each with five small rooms. These are places for worshipping the ancestors of the village's lineages and those who contributed to the village, etc.

Main communal hall: called the Đại bái hall, it consists of five bays and two wings. The Hậu cung (inner sanctuary) is a building connecting the three central bays of the outer hall, extending to the rear like a pestle handle. On either side of the đình are two ancient wells (locally called the two dragon eyes). The roof of the đình is gently curved, covered with "mũi hài" tiles, with two dragons carved at each end of the ridge. The corners of the roof curve upward into dragon shapes. The trusses are designed in the "giá chiêng chồng rường" style, supported by six rows of pillars. The beam ends in the main bay and the eaves are focal points for decoration. Decorative motifs such as dragons, tigers, fish, birds, flowers, leaves, clouds, etc., are all executed in bas-relief, openwork, or fretwork. The main hall has no partition walls; everything is left open, with only a balustrade featuring spindle-shaped balusters surrounding three sides up to the Hậu cung wall. There are raised floors in the two side bays; in the central bay is a "võng" door (arched screen) with a motif of two dragons flanking a moon, lacquered and gilded. A large altar is decorated with dragon statues, a "hổ phù" (tiger face) holding the character "Thọ" (longevity, 壽), clouds, etc. The Hậu cung has only smooth wooden frames, with three solid walls; the altar is placed in the centre, with a throne and ancestral tablet dedicated to Tản Viên Sơn Thánh.

Within the đình, the deity Tản Viên Sơn Thánh (i.e. Tản Viên God) is worshipped, who is one of the Four Immortals (Tứ bất tử) of the Vietnamese people and serves as the village's tutelary deity (Thành hoàng). Along with Mía Pagoda, Mông Phụ Communal House is an architectural work of artistic value in the ancient village of Đường Lâm. The interior of the đình still preserves many precious and valuable artefacts. Among them is a horizontal lacquered board inscribed with four Han characters: "Dũng cảm cả tưởng" (Bravery and Great Honour), bestowed by King Thành Thái to the village after a campaign against bandits...

Mông Phụ Communal House was recognised by the Ministry of Information and Culture (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) as a national historical and cultural monument in 1984.