The Hang Kenh Communal House does not have anything in common with a dormitory. It was built by residents of a commune of the same name in approx 17th-18th centuries, instead of an old temple.

When you pass by it, you probably will be surprised that a small house is located on a huge square. Apart from an area of 6000 square meters enclosed by stone gates, there is nothing else outside that can impress a tourist. This is a one-story building built in a traditional Vietnamese style with a tiled roof, carved 5-meter columns and bars on the windows. However, it is only one building. There are several of them here. They are connected through passages and small covered bridges.

The most interesting things are inside. It is simply impossible to calculate the number of all the valuable items. It is difficult to concentrate your attention on particular things, you simply do not know from where to start viewing the temple – there are so many things. You do not need to be very attentive to notice that there are many dragons in the room. In total, there are more than 300 of them: they are of different shapes and sizes. More than one hundred dragons are carved from carved figures. The quality of craving, the uniqueness of the pattern, the fantasy of a craftsman, mastery of the work – everything is impressive. A dragon, as the main theme of the room, was chosen for a reason. This mythical creature is one of the «four gods» of the Vietnamese. Some of them are small and barely noticeable, others are big and gilded. You can easily get lost in this colorful and fancy world of dragons.

Dragons are not the only decorations that you cannot take your eyes off. In the temple – where there are no dragons – there is a fruit garden with singing birds, flowers and fruit trees. The beauty is also outside, in the inner yard of the temple.

After you finish viewing the temple, go to a small pond. Then you may see another, not less interesting temple – the temple of literature. It is located on the territory of the complex.

The Communal House is located just 20 kilometers away from Haiphong. But keep in mind that it will take you several hours to get to the destination by public transport, due to the Vietnamese traffic.