Cam Giá Communal House is located in Khánh Tân Street, Ninh Khánh Ward. This ancient architectural structure was originally built during the Lê Dynasty and has been restored and preserved through many generations. The communal house follows the Công (工) character layout, facing east. The site boasts a picturesque landscape with many heritage trees over a hundred years old, such as lộc vừng (barringtonia), xi (fig tree), đa (banyan tree), and gạo (silk cotton tree). A semicircular lake in front of the communal house enhances its poetic, ancient, and sacred ambiance.

The Meaning Behind the Name

                 According to the Sino-Vietnamese dictionary, Cam (甘) means "sweet," and Giá (蔗) means "sugarcane." Thus, Cam Giá translates to "sweet sugarcane," which is why the local people also refer to the area as Làng Mía (Sugarcane Village). As a result, Cam Giá Communal House is also known as Đình Làng Mía.

                Additionally, the communal house is sometimes called Đình Voi Đá (Stone Elephant Communal House) or Đình Ngựa Đá (Stone Horse Communal House). This name originates from the contributions of Lê Trung Nghĩa, a scholar from the Later Lê Dynasty who married a woman from Cam Giá Village. After passing the imperial examination, he donated several stone worship objects to the communal house, including stone elephants, stone horses, stone dogs, and ceremonial stone staffs. The most remarkable of these are a pair of stone elephants and a pair of stone horses, which led the local people to adopt these names for the communal house.

A Sacred Place of Worship

               Cam Giá Communal House is dedicated to Thừa Tướng Lã Gia, a brilliant general of the Triệu Dynasty (207 BCE – 116 BCE), who was known for his strong spirit of national independence and resistance against Han domination. The site also honors Câu Mang Đại Vương, Lê Trung Nghĩa, and the ancestral founders of Cam Giá Village.

The Tam Quan Gate has retained its original majestic and dignified appearance.

             The site is a traditional structure showcasing the essence of national architectural heritage. The beam ends and trusses still preserve intricate wooden carvings from the Nguyễn era, featuring motifs such as floral patterns transforming into dragons, lưỡng long chầu nguyệt (two dragons flanking the moon), and sacred creatures like dragons, qilins, turtles, and phoenixes. These carvings are exquisitely detailed and full of life.

Additionally, the main pillars, secondary pillars, horizontal beams, and partition walls retain gilded lacquered decorations, depicting dragons soaring among clouds with sharp, graceful brushstrokes, enhancing the site’s majestic and sacred beauty.

Stone horse

             The site also preserves numerous rare and valuable ancient artifacts, including stone elephants, stone horses, ceremonial elephant and horse statues, wooden altars, incense tables, imperial thrones, and ancestral tablets.

              Additionally, the communal house houses seven imperial decrees (sắc phong), each carrying historical significance:

• 1 decree from the 4th year of Emperor Cảnh Thịnh (1796)
• 1 decree from the 6th year of Emperor Tự Đức (1853)
• 1 decree from the 31st year of Emperor Tự Đức (1878)
• 1 decree from the 3rd year of Emperor Duy Tân (1909)
• 1 decree from the 2nd year of Emperor Khải Định (1917)
• 1 decree from the 9th year of Emperor Khải Định (1924)
• 1 decree from the Nguyễn Dynasty (with missing inscriptions)

          These relics highlight the site's historical and cultural importance, reflecting the reverence bestowed upon it across different dynasties.

 

                         Stele house

          Every year, the local people organize traditional ceremonies and folk cultural activities that reflect the rich national identity. Most notably, on the 12th day of the 10th lunar month, Cam Giá Communal House hosts the Kỳ Phúc Festival, which consists of both ritual and festive sections.

Ritual Section:

The ceremonial part includes four main rituals:

1. Lễ Cáo Yết – A preliminary offering to inform the deities.
2. Lễ Cầu An – A prayer ceremony for peace and prosperity.
3. Lễ Dâng Hương – An incense-offering ritual.
4. Lễ Tất – The closing ceremony of the worship.

       The rituals are performed solemnly by the village elders chosen by the community. Following the main ceremony, there are separate offerings by male and female ceremonial groups (tế nam quan and tế nữ quan) representing different neighborhoods in the area. In recent years, additional ceremonial groups from neighboring localities have also registered to participate, further enriching the festival’s cultural significance. The ceremonies are conducted with great reverence, strictly following traditional rites to preserve and honor the spiritual heritage of the homeland.

Offerings and Participation:

            On this day, people from all around come to the communal house to pay their respects. Traditional offering trays (mâm lễ) typically include sticky rice, a pig’s head, betel leaves, alcohol, and fruits, symbolizing gratitude and devotion to the deities.

                                                        Tế lễ (sacrificial ritual)

        The festive section of the event blends both traditional folk culture and modern elements, creating an engaging and lively atmosphere. Almost everyone in the community can participate in various activities, including:

• Dragon and lion dances (múa rồng, múa lân), symbolizing strength, prosperity, and good fortune.
• Cultural performances (giao lưu văn nghệ), featuring traditional songs, dances, and modern entertainment.

        These activities not only preserve local heritage but also foster unity and joy among the people, making the festival a vibrant celebration for all generations.

 

Lion dance

The Unique Tradition of "Đâm Xôi" at the Kỳ Phúc Festival of Cam Giá Communal House

        One of the most distinctive features of the Kỳ Phúc Festival at Cam Giá Communal House is the tradition of "đâm xôi" (pounding sticky rice). This ritual, deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual values, is an essential part of the festival.

The Process of "Đâm Xôi"

         On the evening of the 11th day of the 10th lunar month, all neighborhoods (formerly villages, now streets) gather at the Cultural House (formerly the communal guard post) to prepare and pound sticky rice.

• The glutinous rice is soaked and steamed into sticky rice, then placed into a large bamboo basket (thúng), lined with a plastic sheet or banana leaves.
• Three or four strong individuals from each neighborhood use wooden pestles to pound the sticky rice until it becomes smooth and elastic.
• Once the rice is properly pounded, it is flipped onto a tray and shaped into a perfectly round mound by hand.

Offering and Evaluation

• The pounded sticky rice is placed on two ceremonial trays, each topped with a pig’s head as an offering:
  • One tray is presented at the neighborhood’s Cultural House.
  • The other is offered at Cam Giá Communal House on the morning of the 12th day of the 10th lunar month.
• After all neighborhoods complete their offerings, the festival committee evaluates the pounded sticky rice and awards prizes to the best preparation.

Sharing the Blessings

         After the ceremony, the sticky rice and pork offerings are evenly distributed among all households in the neighborhood. This symbolizes the sharing of blessings and good fortune, reflecting the community’s belief in prosperity and luck for the coming year.

 

The neighborhoods pound sticky rice and offer it to the deities.

          During the days of the traditional festival at Cam Giá Communal House, local residents, as well as those who have moved away for study, work, or other pursuits across the country, along with visitors from all regions, return to gather in unity. They come to express gratitude and remembrance for the efforts of their ancestors, who played a crucial role in founding and developing the village.

          With these unique cultural and historical values, Cam Giá Communal House was officially recognized as a provincial-level cultural and historical site in 2004.