(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./.
On February 12th (i.e. Lunar January 15), the People's Committee of Hop Tien commune, Kim Boi district organized the Festival of Sim Pagoda Festival in At Ty Spring, 2025. The festival welcomed many people and tourists to visit the pagoda and enjoy the scenery.
The palanquin procession to Sim Pagoda.
As Hoa Binh province is set to host 115 spring festivals, local departments, sectors and localities are joining hands to ensure safety for the events.
In many major cultural events in Hanoi, the sound of the Muong people's gongs has become a special tone, contributing to the unique harmony that praises the cultural values accumulated over thousands of years along with the sacred soul of the capital city.
On the first day back to work and school after the Lunar New Year holiday, thousands of female officials, civil servants, and students from grade nine and above in Lac Son district proudly wore the traditional Muong attire. The vibrant brocade patterns created a striking cultural display, reinforcing the community's commitment to preserving and promoting their heritage.
The provincial-level Khai Ha festival 2025 of the Muong ethnic minority group took place at Phong Phu commune’s stadium in Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province on the morning of February 5 (the 8th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Snake).
"Xuong Dong” (going to the field) festival opened in Yen Phu commune of Hoa Binh’s Lac Son district on February 5, or the eighth day of the Year of the Snake, drawing thousands of locals and visitors to partake in a variety of activities.
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