The village preserves the traces of time.
Amidst a land constantly changing with the hustle and bustle of life, there lies a peaceful village where time seems to stand still in every ancient house – that is Hoi An village in Son Cam Ha commune.
According to the elders in the village, the name Hoi An dates back to the time when their ancestors first settled and established the village. No one can definitively say whether the name is related to the bustling Hoi An area, but it is known that the village's communal house and ancient buildings bear the marks of time, reflecting the journey of our forefathers.
“The land's reputation has been built over hundreds of years / The gate of morality and righteousness has spread in all directions” is the content of two large couplets located below the inscription “Tien Hoi Gate” on the gate of Hoi An village communal house. Historians have tentatively translated this as: “The land's reputation has been built over hundreds of years / The gate of morality and righteousness has spread in all directions.”
Despite the many changes throughout history, this land has preserved its pristine values and rich Quang Nam regional identity.
Son Cam Ha is not only a fertile countryside with lush orchards, but also a place that preserves many historical landmarks, places that witnessed the heroic yet sacrificial and painful years of our ancestors. Within that historical context, the communal house of Hoi An stands as a repository of the profound cultural and spiritual values of the local community.
The Hoi An village communal house was built around 1870 to honor and worship the ancestors who contributed to the founding and development of the village. The initiator of the construction was Nguyen Dinh Tuu, a prominent figure who made many contributions to his homeland. The project was completed through the joint efforts of the people and skilled craftsmen. Due to war and the passage of time, many parts of the communal house are no longer intact. However, what remains is still enough to evoke memories of a golden age of the village.
According to Ms. Bui Thi Huan, Party Secretary and Head of Hoi An Village, there are currently 38 ancient houses in the village, dating back 150-200 years, with antique architecture and yin-yang tiled roofs similar to the traditional houses in Hoi An, hidden among old fruit orchards. These ancient houses have been preserved by the villagers from generation to generation, becoming the main halls for worshipping ancestors and reminding descendants of their roots.
Preserving the cultural roots of the village.
From the sacred space of the village communal house, traditional cultural values continue to be preserved and promoted by the people. The most distinctive is the Ky Yen Festival, organized by the government and the people on the occasion of the annual Ancestor Commemoration Day.
The festival is deeply rooted in the religious beliefs of the agricultural communities in the midland region. The most distinctive part of the festival is the procession of the royal decree from the custodian, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tuan, to the village temple in Hoi An. The restored royal decree is housed in a gilded wooden box, placed on a palanquin carried by four young men.
The imperial decree, which reads "Imperial decree granting to Hoi An commune, Tien Quy district, Ha Dong prefecture, Quang Nam province, to continue the worship of Bao An Quang Hau Chanh Truc Huu Thien Don Ngung Duc Bao Trung Hung Bon Canh Thanh Hoang deity, which has been granted an imperial decree. In the first year of Duy Tan's reign, I respectfully obeyed the imperial decree to express my gratitude and perform the rituals and ranks well. Now, I specially authorize the continued worship as before according to the important national rituals. Respectfully obeyed. (August 11, the 3rd year of Duy Tan's reign (1909): Sealed with the Imperial Decree"), was respectfully brought to the communal house of Hoi An village.
The main Kỳ Yên ceremony is held at the communal house in Hội An after the Royal Decree is brought to the communal house. After the main ceremony inside the communal house, representatives of various clans and local people are allowed to enter and pay their respects.
Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Cam Ha commune, said: "The Ky Yen ceremony was restored to preserve the unique cultural features of the midland region of Quang Nam province, to express gratitude for the contributions of the tutelary deity; to pray for favorable weather, abundant harvests, national peace and prosperity, peaceful villages, and a strong and prosperous nation."
The Ky Yen festival is also an occasion to remember the contributions of our ancestors who pioneered and built the village through the ritual of honoring the ancestors and later generations, the elders and the younger generations... This ritual originates from the belief in valuing the contributions of our ancestors, reflecting the tradition of remembering one's roots; a form of gratitude to the ancestors who contributed to the development and enrichment of the locality.
In recent years, the festival has become a unique cultural gathering place, attracting a large number of locals and tourists from near and far.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/lang-hoi-an-o-son-cam-ha-3333173.html
![[Photo] General Secretary and President To Lam presides over the meeting to approve the draft report on the results of the second inspection by the Politburo of the Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Party Committee.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/05/26/1779789811432_a2-bnd-4430-9620-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)