(HBO) - Hoa Binh city Currently there is a road and a hotel named Colani in Hoa Binh City. It is a tribute to the French archaeologist, Madelene Colani, who has proposed the concept of "Hoa Binh Culture” and it is also for the other generations of Hoa Binh people to know and be proud of the place where they are living, which is the cradle of "Hoa Binh Culture”.
Hoa Binh culture is a famous culture of the prehistoric period, which was 18,000 years ago. This is a typical culture in the mainland Southeast Asian countries, in southern China and in the western part of the delta of the 3 big rivers in Northern Vietnam, in which there is Da River running through the territory of Hoa Binh province.
From the excavation of relic sites of the caves in the limestone mountainous area of Hoa Binh, in 1927, the French archaeologist, Madelene Colani, proposed the concept of "Hoa Binh Culture”. Accordingly, in 1932, the first conference of Far Eastern prehistoricists meeting in Hanoi recognized the term "Hoa Binh Culture” as a term to refer to an ancient culture that appeared and existed on territory of prehistoric Vietnam, and affirmed that Hoa Binh was one of the centers of the primitive people in Vietnam.
According to the research by M.Colani: the residents of "Hoa Binh Culture” used to live in groups in caves, hunting and collecting food for a living. The people at that time knew how to use pebbles with their crafting to create almond-shaped, disk-shaped and later short ax-shaped tools.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thi, the Director of the Provincial Museum, who has studied and unearthed the archaeological relics related to the "Hoa Binh culture” for hundreds of times says: Currently, over 130 sites under Hoa Binh culture” have been discovered in Vietnam, of which, there are over 70 relics discovered and studied in Hoa Binh. The archaeological sites belonging to "Hoa Binh culture” are mainly located in the caves and on the stone roofs.
They have been discovered in Can cave, in the cave of Trai hamlet, on the stone roof of Vong hamlet, on the stone roof of Tom, on the stone roof of Chieng Khen, in the cave of Doi hamlet, in Muoi cave and so on. These common relics in "Hoa Binh culture” is the kitchen, the burial tombs, the post-meal ruins, the labor tools and the other artifacts of the primitive people. The traces of the clam shells, snails, the animal teeth and bones, and the nut shells of some herbs have been remained in the cultural layer and a large number of relics, animal and human bones.
Currently, a number of relics are stored in the Provincial Museum. They are on the display on the occasion of the province's major holidays and they have been participating in thematic exhibits at the regional level with a view to introducing the visual images showing the steps of human evolution through "Hoa Binh Culture”. The displays on "Hoa Binh Culture” are often the simulations and reconstruction of a cave of the accommodation of the primitive people. There are the people, the fire stoves, the stone working tools, and there are a lot of shells, stone tools and pieces of scrap (eaten and left by humans) on the floor of the cave.
Proudly living in the cradle of "Hoa Binh culture”, Hoa Binh people always raise the awareness of preserving and promoting the cultural identity, creating their own characteristics of the gateway land of the Capital and the gates in the Northwest of the country.
The researchers and the students are visiting the relics of Trai cave, Tan Lap commune (Lac Son) - an excavation of the related to "Hoa Binh culture”
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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