Thắng Tam Communal House

Thắng Tam Communal House (chữ Nôm: 亭神胜三) is a nationally recognised complex of historical and cultural monuments located in Vũng Tàu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Originally the communal house (đình) of Thắng Tam village on the Vũng Tàu peninsula, the current grounds comprise three shrines: Thắng Tam Communal House, Lăng Ông Nam Hải (Whale Tomb), and Miễu Bà Ngũ Hành (Five Elements Lady Shrine). Today, the name "Thắng Tam Communal House" is used to refer to this entire complex.

This is one of three village communal houses on the Vũng Tàu peninsula, and is the most intact of them all.

The communal house serves as a centre for the spiritual life of the former Thắng Tam village residents of Vũng Tàu, and is regarded by fishermen and visitors as a sacred site to pray for luck, peace, and smooth sailing in their work.

The site is located at 77A Hoàng Hoa Thám Street, Vũng Tàu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

After defeating the Tây Sơn army, unifying Đại Việt, and restoring the Nguyễn dynasty, Emperor Gia Long dispatched three naval units ("boats") to Vũng Tàu to build fortifications, combat pirates, and guard the sea gate. In 1822, when piracy had been eradicated, Emperor Minh Mạng demobilised the three groups of soldiers, rewarding them with the land they had helped defend. The three commanding officers organised the clearing and founding of three villages named Thắng Nhất, Thắng Nhì, and Thắng Tam.

Phạm Văn Dinh governed Thắng Nhất village. Lê Văn Lộc governed Thắng Nhì, and Ngô Văn Huyền governed Thắng Tam.

Thắng Tam Communal House began construction at the start of Emperor Minh Mạng's reign, in the year Canh Thìn (1820). Initially, the communal house was built of bamboo and thatch; in 1835, villagers contributed to repair and re-roof it with tiles. In 1965, the communal house was renovated, rebuilt solidly, and has retained its architectural layout to this day.

The Tam Quan Gate (triple-arched ceremonial gate, nghi môn) is roofed with yin-yang tiles. The ridge is decorated with four reliefs: "dragons flanking, crouching tigers, Eight Immortals".

This is the main village communal house, located at the centre of the grounds, built in the architectural style of Southern Vietnamese communal houses. Inside the communal house are:

Roofed with yin-yang tiles, the roof features a relief of Two Dragons Flanking the Moon. The columns are all carved in high relief with dragon motifs. The altar is decorated with red lacquer and gold leaf.

Here are worshipped the former village dignitaries who contributed to the establishment and restoration of the communal house, as well as heroes, martyrs, and the children of Vũng Tàu City who sacrificed their lives on Thắng Tam land. The Tiền Hiền Hall interior has four altars: Thổ Công (Earth God), Tiền Hiền (First Founders), Hậu Hiền (Later Founders), and Tiền Vãng - Hậu Vãng (Earlier and Later Departed).

This area is arranged with many shrines and houses 13 imperial decrees of conferment.

This area has a similar structure to the Tiền Hiền Hall, with ten altars including: Thần Nông (God of Agriculture), Thiên Y A Na, Ngũ Đức (Five Virtues), Thánh Phi, Hậu Hiền (Later Founders), Hội Đồng (Council), Phụ Án - Cao Các, Thiên Sư (Heavenly Master), Ngũ Thơ (Five Ancestors), and Ngũ Tự - Tiền Hiền (Five Families - First Founders).

This is the place for the xây chầu ritual and for performing hát bội and hát tuồng (classical Vietnamese opera) during the annual festivals for the communal house, Whale Tomb, and Lady Shrine.

The Assembly Hall is the place for activities, work, and meetings of the Ritual Committee, communal house members, village dignitaries, and the site management board. It is also the venue for receiving guests, official interactions of village authorities, and the annual festivals of the communal house.

Located to the right of the main communal house is Lăng Ông Nam Hải (chữ Hán: 南海翁陵), established in the year Giáp Thân (1824). This is a shrine dedicated to the Whale God – Nam Hải Cự Tộc Ngọc Lân Chi Thần, who was conferred three imperial decrees by Emperors Thiệu Trị and Tự Đức in 1845, 1846, and 1850. In the main sanctuary, there is a whale skeleton (ngọc cốt) 18 metres long. According to village records, the whale died (washed ashore) in the year Tân Mão (1831) at Bãi Sau, Vũng Tàu.

Miễu Bà Ngũ Hành (chữ Hán: 五行婆廟), located to the left of Thắng Tam Communal House, was established in the year Nhâm Thìn (1832) to worship the five female deities of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, as well as two national guardian goddesses: Thiên Y A Na and Thủy Long Thần Nữ. Emperors Thiệu Trị and Tự Đức conferred six imperial decrees of "Supreme Deity" in the years 1845, 1846, and 1850.

With its outstanding tangible cultural, artistic, and architectural values, along with its unique customs and spiritual beliefs, in the year Tân Mùi – 1991, the Thắng Tam Communal House complex was recognised and ranked as a National Historical and Cultural Monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).

The management board of Thắng Tam Communal House also oversees Miếu Hòn Bà, located on Hòn Bà islet near Bãi Sau and Nghinh Phong Cape.

The Thắng Tam Communal House historical and cultural site in Vũng Tàu Ward preserves 13 imperial decrees from various Nguyễn dynasty emperors. Among these:

3 decrees for four deities: Đại Càn Quốc Gia Nam Hải,

3 decrees for Nam Hải Cự Tộc Ngọc Lân (i.e. the Whale God) in the years Thiệu Trị 5th year (1845), Tự Đức 3rd year (1850), with the conferment: "The Deity Nam Hải Cự Tộc Ngọc Lân, compassionate and helpful, has many times shown miraculous responses in aiding the nation and saving the people."

3 decrees for Thiên Y A Na, full title: "Decree for the deity Thiên Y A NA Diễn Ngọc Phi, additionally conferred as the Deity of Great Benevolence, Universal Salvation, Miraculous Response, and Supreme Virtue, who has aided the nation and saved the people, many times showing miraculous responses," conferred in the years Thiệu Trị 5th year (1845), Tự Đức 3rd year (1850).

2 decrees for Thủy Long Thần Nữ, titled: "Decree for Thủy Long Thần Nữ, originally conferred as the Deity of Manifest Response, Profound Kindness, and Supreme Virtue, who has aided the nation and saved the people, many times showing miraculous responses," conferred in the years Thiệu Trị 5th year (1845), Tự Đức 3rd year (1850).

1 decree for the Tutelary Deity of the Locality.

Thắng Tam Communal House holds three annual festivals:

Lễ Cầu An (Peace-Praying Festival): held on the 17th, 18th, and 19th days of the 2nd lunar month each year.

Nghinh Ông Festival: on the 16th, 17th, and 18th days of the 8th lunar month.

Miễu Bà Festival: held on the 16th, 17th, and 18th days of the 10th lunar month.