Cultural architectural imprints in Mo Trach doctoral village
PHUONG LINH•14/11/2025 17:00
Visitors to Mo Trach, a renowned village of scholars in Duong An commune, Hai Phong city, are often impressed by the beauty and uniqueness of its many cultural architectural structures.
Leading into Mo Trach village is a spacious “doctorate road,” lined with straight rows of king palmsAlong this road, visitors pass the mausoleum complex of the village’s tutelary founder, covering more than 3,600 m2. This architectural complex was built in 2010 with a total investment of 7 billion VND, contributed by members of the Vu – Vo family, with most structures crafted from green stoneFrom the mausoleum complex, continuing along the “doctorate road” leads to the village gate. Built in 2007, the gate follows a three-entrance architectural style. Inscribed on the gate are three pairs of parallel sentences in the Vietnamese script, presented by Professor and Labor Hero Vu KhieuPassing through the gate, visitors reach Mo Trach shrine. It was restored and expanded over an area of more than 5,000 m2 between 2001 and 2003, with contributions from residents and expatriate businesspeopleMo Trach shrine worships Vu Hon (804 – 853), the village’s founder, who opened a school and laid the foundation for its renowned scholarly traditionBehind the shrine stands a stele house displaying 36 doctoral steles arranged clockwise, symbolizing the flow of history from the first to the last doctorate holder of the feudal eraIn front of the shrine are two dragon-eye wells, which have been dredged, reinforced with stone and restored, reflecting the image of the ancient shrineA short distance from the ancient shrine is the village’s cultural house, designed in the form of a traditional communal house. It features four pillars, four curved roofs and a roof ridge carved with dragons. The wooden doors and balustrades are decorated with traditional motifsCompleted in 2009, the cultural house serves as the venue for the village’s political, cultural, sports and community activitiesA family ancestral house in Mo Trach villageMo Trach communal house was originally built in the 17th century. Despite repeated damage and fires, villagers have persistently restored itIn 1991, the communal house was recognized as a national historical and cultural relicDien Phuc pagoda was built by Vu Hon to worship Buddha. Southeast of the pagoda lies an open well called Rong (Dragon), fed by a strong underground water source that remains full even during years of severe droughtIn 2001, the local community contributed funds to renovate and upgrade Dien Phuc pagoda
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