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Quan Lạn Communal House
Quan
Lạn Communal House is
situated with a group of pagodas and shrines on Quan Lạn Island
Commune in the Vân Ðồn District; 35 km from Cẩm Phả Town and 55 km
from Ha Long City. It was built at end of the Later Lê Dynasty (in
the 17th century), and was restored on numerous occasions
during the Nguyễn Dynasty.
It
is dedicated to the founding fathers of the village, and also to Trần Khánh
Dư, the man who sunk the food supply boats of Trương Văn Hổ. This contribution was of great importance to the victory on the
Bạch Ðằng River in 1288.
It is built in the shape of the letter I. Its Front
Ceremonial Hall has five compartments and two lean-tos. Its Back
Sanctuary includes three compartments. The communal house has 32 big
ironwood pillars, 26 smaller ironwood pillars. Its roof carved
scale- tiles, atop of its roof has two carving dragons flanking a
moon.
The main decorative themes of the building are:
dragons, phoenixes, flowers and leaves, all formed in different
styles at the ends of columns and frameworks. The most precious
artefact still preserved in the communal house is a statue of Trần
Khánh Dư with 18 royal decrees from the Nguyễn Emperors conferring
the title of tutelary genie on him.
Next to it is Quan
Lạn Temple which is dedicate to
Buddha, and Nghè Shrine which is dedicate Mr. Phạm Công Chính, a
local people who had sacrificed his life during the Vân Đồn Victory.
To visit Quan
Lạn Island, tourists are not only
enjoyed the landscape but also take bathing in the two nice beaches:
Sơn Hào and Đầu Núi, and the nicest beach is Minh Châu.
The village festivities
take place here from the 10th to 20th of the
sixth lunar month (the official day is on the 18th of the
sixth lunar month), but the atmosphere lasts all month long.
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