(HBO) –Trai cave is one of prehistoric caves related to the Hoa Binh Culture. The relic was ranked as a national historical site by the then Ministry of Culture and Sports (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 2001. Since its discovery, the cave has attracted a large number of Vietnamese and foreign scientists.
Trai cave in Lac Son’s
Tan Lap commune has been preserved to serve tourism and studying activities on the
Hoa Binh Culture.
Located on the east side of an independent mountain on the
bank of Lan stream, the 13m-deep cave has an arc-shape mouth of about 8m wide
and 10m high. The cave is filled with sunlight and clear air during daytime.
According to Nguyen Thi Thu Hien from the Hoa Binh museum,
the cave houses traces of the Hoa Binh Culture, the earliest of its type in the
Red River basin. Since its discovery in 1975, various research and excavations have
been conducted here, which unearthed over 5,000 artifacts. Most of the artifacts
are shells of stream snails, tools and pieces of pottery, and rice, among
others, which are the clearest evidence of a primitive wet rice farming in the
Hoa Binh Culture.
In 2008, preservation work was conducted in the relic to
serve both tourism and research purpose. In the coming time, together with a project on building an eco-urban,
resort, and high-end entertainment complex in Tan Lap’s Quy Hoa commune, the
cave will be further renovated to become an attractive tourist destination.
Meanwhile, locals will be trained to turn local specialties into tourism
products./.
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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