The southern province of Binh Phuoc announced the Prime Minister’s decision to recognise an ancient Loc Hoa lithophone as a national treasure during a ceremony in the provincial museum on August 28.
A musician performs on ancient Loc Hoa lithophone. (Photo: VNA)
The lithophone, found by a local farmer in 1996, is among 24 artifact sets
honoured as national treasures by the PM in the sixth series of recognition
last year.
Bui Huu Trieu was digging in his garden in Village Eight, Loc Hoa Commune, Loc
Ninh District, when he found 12 pieces of an ancient musical instrument lying
next to each other in size order. After informing the communal
authorities about it, he continued to discover another 14 pieces of the
instrument.
Since its discovery, the Loc Hoa Lithophone has been studied by many state
agencies, as well as experts both at home and overseas, who believe the
instrument was created by ancient peoples more than 3,000 years ago.
The recognition of the Loc Hoa lithophone as a national treasure shows the
distinctive culture of the ancient Vietnamese in Binh Phuoc, said Deputy
Director of the Binh Phuoc Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Do Minh
Trung at the event.
Pham Huu Hien, Deputy Director of the Musuem of Binh Phuoc said the museum will
exhibit the lithophone for public view, adding that it will promptly draw up
plans to safeguard the artifact and promote its value.
Source: VNA
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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