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Phu Tho Communal House is located in Phu Tho 3 residential group, Ninh Diem Ward, Ninh Hoa Town, Khanh Hoa Province. From the center of Nha Trang city, travel north along National Highway 1A for approximately 37km to an intersection, turn right onto Provincial Road 1 and continue for about 8km to the Ninh Diem Ward People's Committee, then turn right and travel for about 800m to reach the relic.
The main hall of Phu Tho Communal House features a horizontal lacquered board (hoanh phi) inscribed with Sino-Nom characters (亭 富 壽) - Phu Tho Communal House, and an inscription: (成 泰 庚 午) - Thanh Thai Canh Ngo (Year of the Horse). According to Vietnamese historical records, there is no Canh Ngo year during the reign of King Thanh Thai, which only includes the Giap Ngo year (1894). Therefore, it is possible that during later restoration, the year was mistakenly inscribed as Canh Ngo. Based on the horizontal lacquered board in the main hall, it can be estimated that the communal house was established around the beginning of the 19th century.
The horizontal lacquered board with Sino-Nom characters hanging at Phu Tho Communal House
Phu Tho Communal House worships the Tutelary God (Thanh Hoang) and additionally honors the Pioneers (Tien Hien), the Mountain Deity (Son Lam Chua Tuong), and the Five Elements Goddesses (Ngu Hanh Than Nu), Water Goddesses (Thuy Tinh Than Nu), and others.
The overall layout of the communal house is as follows: Front Gate (Nghi mon), Screen (an phong), Performing Stage (vo ca), Main Hall (dai dinh), East House, West House, Pioneers' House (nha Tien hien), and storage building.
Since its establishment, the communal house has undergone various restorations and renovations: In 1942, the locals rebuilt the communal house using limestone and yin-yang tiled roofs; in 1965, the communal house collapsed due to the war, and it was rebuilt in 1967; in 1978, the performing stage and the East and West houses were constructed.
A highlight of the communal house is the wooden frame structure, which remains relatively intact, along with sharp, delicate decorations and a natural landscape that harmonizes with the architectural structure. The main hall of Phu Tho Communal House is formed by two trusses (vi) and four main columns in the middle bay. The roof structure is designed in the rafter style; two long rafters intersect according to the slope of the roof, joining at the ridge, and extending down to the wall. Connecting the two trusses are longitudinal beams, creating a sturdy wooden frame structure. The architecture is formed by the connection of the wooden frame; in this frame structure, the truss is the basic element, serving as both the load-bearing component that supports the roof and the system that constitutes the space of the building.
In addition to embossed decorations on the roof, the communal house is also adorned with patterns carved onto the ends of the crossbeams in the shape of dragon heads. These decorative sculptures soften the rigid lines of the frame structure, which consist of long, smooth, and straight wooden beams and columns, making the communal house more vibrant and attractive.
The communal house is built in the "Nhat" (一) shape, consisting of two roofs covered with western-style tiles. The ridge is decorated with "Two Dragons Chasing the Sun" patterns and the four sacred animals (Dragon, Qilin, Turtle, Phoenix). The front of the main hall is inscribed with Sino-Nom characters: (亭 富 壽 - Phu Tho Communal House), and on the columns, there are parallel sentences in Sino-Nom characters, with the first words composed from the name of the communal house.
- The first pair of parallel sentences:
Transliteration (Phiên âm):
Phu son tu duc vat phu dan khuong anh linh dia,
Tho thanh hai yen ba binh lan tinh do chu thien.
Translation (Dịch nghĩa):
Phu - mountains accumulate, people prosper and wealth abounds in this sacred land,
Tho - the sea is clear and supportive, with calm waves and gentle breezes blessing the people.
- The second pair of parallel sentences:
Transliteration (Phiên âm):
Phu tat cung du vat phu khang dan thien co thanh,
Tho chi vi quy phong thuan tuc my van gia chiem.
Translation (Dịch nghĩa):
Wealth inevitably brings abundance, with prosperous people for a thousand years,
Longevity is prized, with fine customs and traditions cherished by all families.
To the right of the main hall is the Pioneers' House, which has an architectural structure similar to the main hall but is lower, consisting of four wooden columns and a western-style tiled roof; inside, there are three altars: the middle one is for the Pioneers, and the two sides are for the Mountain Deity and the Five Elements Goddesses along with the Water Goddesses.
Every year, the Phu Tho Communal House festival is held on the 16th and 17th of the 6th lunar month.
Phu Tho Communal House was ranked as a provincial-level relic by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 2986/QD-CT.UBND, dated November 7, 2014, classified as an architectural and artistic relic.
