Truong Luu - Vietnamese Village: Three Heritages, One Source of Culture

VHO - Truong Luu Village (Ha Tinh) quietly entered the world cultural map with three Documentary Heritages honored by UNESCO. Hidden under the moss-covered tiled roofs is a source of culture for centuries, where academic spirit and studiousness are nurtured, creating a unique cultural flow of Nghe An.

Contributing three heritages to humanity from an ancient village of learning land

The name Truong Luu originates from the ancient village of Trang Luu, which used to be the examination center of Lai Thach commune, La Son district, Duc Quang prefecture, Nghe An province. After many geographical and administrative changes, from July 1, 2025, the place name Truong Luu was officially restored as a return to its true cultural identity.

There is no place like Truong Luu - an ancient village that owns three World Documentary Heritages recognized by UNESCO: Phuc Giang School Woodblocks (2016), Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do (2018) and Han Nom Documents of Truong Luu Village (2022). All three Heritages are associated with the Nguyen Huy family of scholars - one of the typical cultural families of Vietnam.

"Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do" - an ancient book containing many valuable documents on geography, culture and diplomacy between Vietnam and China.

The Phuc Giang School Woodblocks, consisting of 383 elaborately engraved woodblocks, are the “textbooks” of Phuc Giang School, founded by the Nguyen Huy family in the 18th century. This heritage reflects the Confucian academic education and the will to spread knowledge through many generations.

The Royal Envoy Map - a unique work about the Vietnam - China diplomatic journey in the 18th century compiled by the Third Prize Winner Nguyen Huy Oanh, copied in 1887. This diplomatic map not only details place names, waterways and roads, but also depicts diplomatic ceremonies, customs, nature and contemporary society.

The set of Han Nom documents of Truong Luu village includes 48 valuable documents, including 26 royal decrees, 19 administrative documents and 3 ancient scrolls. This is vivid evidence of the examination system, social relations and traditional village governance culture.

A branch church of the Nguyen Huy family in Truong Luu - where precious heritage documents are kept.

Along with that, Truong Luu was also praised for its "eight scenes" - eight famous landscapes created by the combination of nature and humans: Quan Market, Ru Phuong, Han Thien Tu, Nghia Thuong Pond, Ancient Temple, Lotus Pond, Thach Well, Nguyen Family Flower Garden... During the three centuries (18th-20th), this place was the gathering place of thousands of scholars from all over the region to study at Phuc Giang School.

Amidst the world's fame is the struggle to preserve the village's soul.

It has been a long journey to bring these three heritages to the international spotlight. Among them is the persistent effort of Professor - Academician Nguyen Huy My, the 16th generation descendant of the Nguyen Huy family, who, together with the Ha Tinh government, has persistently built the dossier, translated and connected with international academics to be honored by UNESCO. But behind the applause are the existing gaps.

Currently, all three documentary heritages are still kept in private homes and family temples, without any specialized facilities for proper preservation; the ancient "eight scenes" landscape is gradually fading away. Many local people and students have never even seen the Phuc Giang Woodblocks or the Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do with their own eyes. The village is still a village, but the title "World Heritage" is becoming a... title.

A Han Nom document of Truong Luu village

Professor Nguyen Huy My pondered: “To preserve, first of all, we must keep it in its original state, avoiding termites and warping; next is digitization, translation, and promotion. But the most important thing is to bring the heritage to the community, we cannot let it stay in the warehouses of people's houses or family temples forever.”

According to research, in the locality, Truong Luu commune currently does not have a department specializing in cultural preservation. The construction of Truong Luu Cultural Village has been planned for many years, but is still on paper. A village with three heritages but still has no investment in infrastructure, no systematic connection in cultural tourism and lacks a worthy exhibition and experience center.

Mr. Mai Khac Trung - Vice Chairman of Truong Luu Commune People's Committee said: "The desire to regain the name Truong Luu shows the deep consensus of the people. In the documents of the next term of the commune congress, promoting heritage will be included in the key tasks, but local resources are still very limited."

The preservation and promotion of heritage in Truong Luu is not only the responsibility of the Nguyen Huy family or local people. It is a strategic issue in the cultural and tourism development of Ha Tinh. If there are no drastic steps, the risk of "sleeping on heritage" is imminent. And when the preservation requirements are not met, UNESCO itself can revoke the title.

The ancient, mossy features of Truong Luu village - where three cultural heritages converge

To awaken Truong Luu, a plan with enough scope and long-term vision is needed. If properly planned, Truong Luu cultural space can completely become a center for academic exhibition, cultural tourism experience, linked with the system of famous relics of Ha Tinh such as: Huong Tich pagoda, Dong Loc intersection, Nguyen Cong Tru temple, Hai Thuong eco-tourism area...

A Vietnamese village with three World Documentary Heritages is unprecedented. But in order for the heritage not to be sealed in books, for its value to not stop at the pages of recognition, what is needed now is not only memory but action. Truong Luu was once a brilliant cultural center. Now, in the depths of the times, it is waiting for a strong enough hand to awaken it. Not as a living museum but as a living cultural space - where literature, academia and national memory spread together.

  

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/truong-luu-lang-viet-ba-di-san-mot-mach-nguon-van-hien-162573.html