Da Nang is not only known for its fantastic white sandy beaches with their crystal-clear water and beautiful landscapes, but also for its numerous precious cultural relics and historical sites.  The Hai Chau Communal House is a “must-see” whilst you are discovering our beautiful seaside city.  It is located in alley No 42 on Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hai Chau 1 Ward, Hai Chau District.

In front of the house, there is a pond with a rockery under the shade of an over 100-year-old bodhi tree.  The words “Hai Chau Chanh Xa”, which were written using the Han script characters, were engraved on the three-door temple gate of the house. 

The Hai Chau Communal House in 1950 …

… and now

The site is home to a holy temple of the Lady Goddess Thien Yana (Holy Mother) and 3 houses of worship.  One is dedicated to the ancestors, and the other two are for praising the founding members of Hai Chau village’s 43 clans.  In 1471, in the reign of Emperor Le Thanh Tong, these clans from Hieu Hien Village, Hai Chau Commune, Ngoc Son District, Thanh Hoa Province, together founded Hai Chau Village. 

According to Vietnamese historians, Hai Chau Communal House was originally called Phuoc Hai Pagoda, and was where Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu visited and stayed for relaxation in 1719 during his journey to Quang Nam Province.  After that, local residents built an altar for the worship of the Lord.

At present, the house preserves numerous illuminated horizontal lacquered boards and spiritual scroll couplets which are engraved with Han script characters, and they date back hundreds of years.

The communal house was recognised as a historical and cultural relic on 12 July 2001 by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

A traditional festival at the house was revived in 2009 after a gap of over 30 years.  The event is now held annually in late March and its aims are to honour the ancestors as well as preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural identity.  

The festival features solemn rituals and various exciting cultural activities.  These include musical performances, a Vietnamese ethnic minority costume show, a unicorn dance, a pigeon release, and a lantern making competition.  To add to the host of activities on offer, festival-goers can also watch such interesting folk games as tug-of-war, stick pushing, and sack races.

A visit to the Hai Chau Communal House will definitely leave a deep impression on you, and it is a really wonderful place to learn about the history and culture of this hospitable and friendly city.