(HBO) – The Hoa Binh Civilisation, dating back to the Stone Age, was discovered by French archaeologist Madeleine Colani and named after the cave relics found in the karst areas of Hoa Binh province. In Vietnam, its traces have been unearthed mostly in Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces (over 80% of the total relics), while the rest scatter in the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Lai Chau, Son La, Ninh Binh, Ha Nam, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Ninh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and some others. Not only in Vietnam, this civilisation also existed across the mainland Southeast Asia, from southern China to Sumatra Island of Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
A demonstration of the life of primitive humans at Xom
Trai Cave in Tan Lap commune, Lac Son district.
The reason for the concentration of Hoa Binh
Civilisation relics in Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa is that local karst areas had
stable and consistent geological features, and they were also located in the
transition zone of the northern, western and southern geological regions. That
blessed the two provinces with diverse and complex natural conditions as well
as creature richness, resulting in food abundance.
Caves and rock shelters of the Hoa Binh
Civilisation were located at about 15 - 20 metres above the valley’s bed. The
residential space of people at that time varied according to relic sites. Some
caves and shelters are 10 square metres wide while others cover thousands of
square metres, but most have an area of 50 - 150 square metres. Those places
were also lit and warmed by sunlight in the morning. More than 90% of those
sites could keep their inhabitants from cold northwest winds in winter.
Late Professor Tran Quoc Vuong highly valued the
residential locations of the Hoa Binh Civilisation people, saying those places
were the prerequisite for primitive humans to develop agriculture and move to
lowland areas to develop a new civilisation.
Archaeological documents and excavations showed
that hunting and foraging were the main ways of subsistence of people of this
civilisation. Those activities mainly took place in valleys.
Working tools in the Hoa Binh Civilisation were
made from wood, bamboo and pebble. When finding places to reside in, apart from
choosing the sites with necessary natural conditions like sunlight, rivers, and
streams, people at that time also paid special attention to those near pebble
and limestone sources to make working tools.
Archaeological findings also revealed that women
played the main role in creating working tools while men were in charge of
hunting. Women also hunted small animals and mollusk, and picked vegetables and
fruit, which were not as hard as men’s work but generated high economic value.
Women were also responsible for bringing up children, sustaining fire, cooking,
and storing food. Therefore, women’s role gradually became important and
indispensable in each cave of primitive humans.
Ninety years have passed since the discovery of
the Hoa Binh Civilisation, but there remain a number of questions waiting for
answers about this civilisation before a panorama of the society in that period
could take shape./.
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.
.jpg)
