(HBO) – The Hoa Binh Civilisation is a renowned prehistoric civilisation in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It is associated with French archaeologist Madeleine Colani (1866 - 1943), who discovered, studied, and named this civilisation between 1926 and 1931.
Street QH7 in Quynh Lam ward of Hoa Binh city has the
honour to be named after M. Colani, who gave the Hoa Binh Civilisation its
name.
The Hoa Binh Civilisation existed in not only
Vietnam but also across Southeast Asia. Hoa Binh province is home to the
biggest number of relic sites dating back to this civilisation. As those sites
own the most typical features of the civilisation, international scientists
agreed to name it Hoa Binh.
M. Colani was a geologist, palaeontologist, and
archaeologist who made substantial contributions to the formation and
development of archaeology in Vietnam and Indochina as a whole. Aside from the
Hoa Binh Civilisation, she was also linked with the discovery of the Bac Son,
Ha Long, and Sa Huynh civilisations and the Plain of Jars in Indochina during
the French colonial rule.
From 1926 to 1932, through surveys and
investigations in limestone mountainous areas in the provinces of Hoa Binh,
Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Quanh Binh, Colani discovered and excavated 54 relic
sites of the Hoa Binh Civilisation in northern Vietnam, most of which were
located in Hoa Binh. Findings indicated a Stone Age civilisation that existed
before the previously found Bac Son Civilisation.
In the study "Decouverte du Paléolithique dans
la province de Hoa Binh” (Discovery of the Palaeolithic in the province of Hoa
Binh) published on the anthropology journal in 1927, she mentioned the term
"Hoa Binh Civilisation” for the first time and pointed out its basic
characteristics and three development phases from the late Old Stone Age to the
New Stone Age.
At the first conference on prehistoric studies
of the Far East held in Hanoi in January 1932, Colani presented sufficient
evidence testifying to the existence of an ancient civilisation different from
the already known prehistoric civilisations in the world. Her proposal to name
this civilisation Hoa Binh was also approved.
As 2022 marks the 90th year since the world’s
recognition of the Hoa Binh Civilisation, at the start of this year, the
provincial People’s Committee issued Plan No 50/KH-UBND on the organisation of
cultural, sports and tourism events to celebrate this anniversary.
Notably, the provincial People’s Council
released Resolution No 177/NQ-HDND on August 29 to name Street QH7 in Quynh Lam
ward of Hoa Binh city after the archaeologist. This is one of the most
beautiful streets in the vicinity of Hoa Binh Square. The street nameplate is
scheduled to be unveiled on the 90th anniversary of the Hoa Binh Civilisation
recognition./.
Once a vibrant part of the daily life for the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province, traditional Muong singing styles such as "thuong rang bo meng” and "hat dup giao duyen” had faded over time. Today, local authorities and communities are working to restore and celebrate this cultural art form, recognising its value in preserving the group’s heritage.
Gau Tao Festival, one of the most important traditional festivals of the Mong ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district was held at the Pa Co stadium in Pa Co commune on January 11.
The ancient stone engravings dating back thousands of years in Suoi Co valley in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district, used to astonished domestic archaeologists. What their meaning is and what message they convey are the questions to which scientists are seeking answers.
Preserving and promoting unique cultural identities of ethnic communities in Hoa Binh province is considered a crucial task amid in the international integration trend.
More than just a cultural and historical attraction, the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum is playing a vital role in fostering sustainable tourism in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, particularly in Hoa Binh province. It stands as a model for the emerging trend of "responsible tourism," cleverly blending the preservation of cultural heritage with community economic development, raising awareness of Muong ethnic cultural values while promoting green tourism and sustainable growth.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 24 organised a conference to report on the results of collecting, researching, restoring, and preserving "Bi doi”, a musical instrument of the airophonic family and a traditional instrument of the Muong ethnic people in Da Bac district.
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