The unique sculptural art of the ancient temple 'built in one night'.

Hau Temple was built by the people of Hau village, Bac Thanh commune, several hundred years ago. Besides its function as a community center, the temple also serves as a place of worship for the tutelary deities Thung Linh Trieu Co Nguyen Tuong Cong, Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang, and the gods Cao Son - Cao Cac... Photo: Huy Thu

The architecture of Hau communal house is quite unique, consisting of a gate, lower hall, upper hall, left and right wings. Four buildings are constructed in a closed structure forming the shape of the Chinese character "口" (mouth), with an open courtyard in the middle. Currently, a fig tree provides abundant shade in the center of this courtyard. Photo: Huy Thu

The lower hall is a massive five-bay, six-truss building, dating back to the earliest period of construction within the entire Hau communal house complex. Photo: Huy Thu

Legend has it that, to avoid conflicts between villages in the commune, Hau communal house was built by the local people in one night. In the middle of the lower hall of Hau communal house hangs a horizontal plaque inscribed with four large Chinese characters: "Pure - Customs - Respectful - Traditional," signifying the importance and reminding the villagers to always preserve the beautiful customs and traditions of Hau village. Photo: Huy Thu

The main pillars of the lower pavilion rest on square green stone blocks. A circular groove, about 3cm wide and deep, is carved into the stone surface around the base of each pillar. According to elderly locals, in the past, people used to pour water into these stone grooves to prevent insects from climbing the pillars. Photo: Huy Thư

Of the six roof trusses in the lower hall, the two gable trusses are the most elaborately decorated and sculpted. One gable truss depicts a phoenix and a tiger with a longevity symbol in its mouth, serving as a backdrop for the central image of "returning home in glory to pay respects to ancestors," complete with people, horses, palanquins, and banners... Photo: Huy Thu

The central beams of the lower pavilion, on the wooden structures, are designed and decorated with delicate and elegant patterns. Photo: Huy Thu

The remaining gables focus on depicting "music, chess, calligraphy, and painting," with a stylized tiger holding the character for longevity beneath the wooden panel. Over time, the wood carvings in the lower part of the pavilion have been covered in moss, and many parts of the gable's wooden panel are broken and cracked... Photo: Huy Thu

Both sides of the front and back lines of the lower pavilion are carved with traditional themes. A highlight of the sculptural art at Hau Pavilion is the decorative motifs that combine courtly elements with strong folk characteristics, featuring images such as scenes of triumphant return home, playing chess, and depictions of dragons, unicorns, turtles, and phoenixes... Photo: Huy Thu

The two side buildings, the left and right, are built in a multi-tiered, overlapping roof style. The lower three sides are walled, while the upper four sides are enclosed. Compared to many ancient communal houses in the province, Hau communal house has a rather unique architecture. Photo: Huy Thu

At Hau communal house, many ancient ritual objects are still preserved, such as the dragon throne, ancestral tablets, and large inscriptions. In the open courtyard of the communal house, an ancient stone bell hangs. Due to its immense historical value, Hau communal house was recognized as a National Historical Monument in 2002. Photo: Huy Thu