VietNamNet Bridge – The communal house of Tan Dong Commune, Go Cong Dong District, Tien Giang Province has a unique beauty, as it is located inside two Bodhi trees.
The local authorities said that the communal house was built in the reign of King Minh Mang (1791-1841). The communal house worships General Le Van Duyet.
According to local people, some bodhi trees grew from the roof of the communal house about 35 years ago. Their roots have gradually embraced the main hall of the communal house. In 1990, a Bodhi tree on the right side was taken away by some people.
The two trees growing on the top of the main hall have large roots wrapping the whole of the front of the communal house.
On the front of the main hall there are still traces of the year when the communal house was repaired.
Over time, the communal house degraded, and has been abandoned for many years.
In 2013, Go Cong Dong district planned to renovate the house, with initial funding of nearly VND10 billion ($50,000). However, this hundred year old communal house is still deserted. “Without the roots of the Bodhi trees, the communal house would have been collapsed,” a resident said.
Pha Le
Photo: VNE