Đình Ông Voi Communal House / Village Hall @ Hoi An in Vietnam

While jogging in the ancient city of Hoi An, I chanced upon this quiet little area known as a communal house in Vietnam, which was like an enhanced community centre that embodies "culture, spirit and religion".

Honestly, I thought it was just one of the many temples found in the city but one thing that stood out; instead of lions, elephants guarded the main building! 

Stepping in for a closer look; I was actually only halfway through my jog but this intrigued me enough to make me stop. Would there be anything interesting?

Really just a very temple setting. Communal houses typically honor the guardian of the village and aside from being the administrative office of a village, it is also the site for village festivals. Just wondering in the modern era, are they still as relevant?

Something caught my attention! p.s. not the plaques. I might recognize the individual characters yet I can't really catch the meaning once everything is connected. 

Anyway, the extracts of old paintings and maps attracted me; and interestingly, Hoi An was named after a communal village, although Westerners tend to call it Faifoo. There were numerous changes over the years until it was granted as the permanent name in 2008. 

A door that served no purpose! 

Props for the lion dance that appeared significantly different from the Chinese version, which was a lot more intimidating. Oh well, I could be wrong as this was the first time I chanced upon the props of lion dance in Vietnam.

I was going to explore more when an elderly gentleman started chasing me out, spewing Vietnamese in an angry manner. Obviously, I don't understand and could have only assumed I have maybe mistakenly trespassed? Sigh.

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Address

27 Lê Lợi, Old Town, 

Hội An, Quảng Nam, 

Vietnam

Map

As above.

Floor Plan

As above.