(HBO) – With 72 caves and archaeological relic sites, Hoa Binh province has been identified as one of the cradles of the "Hoa Binh Civilisation” by archaeologists, scientists, and anthropologists. Over the past years, local authorities have paid great attention to the conservation and promotion of this civilisation’s values.
"Hang xom Trai” (Trai Village Cave) in Tan Lap commune of Lac Son district is
one of the typical archaeological relic sites of the "Hoa Binh Civilisation”.
According to the provincial Museum, karst caves
in Hoa Binh attracted attention from archaeologists of the French School of the
Far East in the 1920s. Through surveys, excavations, and studies, scientists
found that those karst caves contain vestiges of a civilisation that developed
between the late period of the Old Stone Age’s and the early period of the New
Stone Age, and named it "Hoa Binh”.
The "Hoa Binh Civilisation” existed about 30,000
- 4,000 years ago not only in Vietnam but also other places across Southeast
Asian such as Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, as well as
China. More than 130 places dating back to the civilisation have been found in
Vietnam, and over half of them were discovered by Vietnamese archaeologists
during 1966 - 1980. Those relics scattered in various localities but
concentrated in Hoa Binh (72 sites) and Thanh Hoa (32 sites).
The typical relic sites and artefacts discovered
in Hoa Binh reflect the life and livelihoods of prehistoric humans. Most of the
relics have been protected, restored, and submitted to seek recognition, and
many of them have gained the status of national importance.
In the recent past, all-level Party committees,
administrations, and people of all ethnic groups in the province, especially
the cultural sector, have been stepping up the conservation and promotion of
this civilisation’s cultural values. They have enhanced cooperation with
domestic and international organisations in civilisation research, surveyed
archaeological relics, and taken measures for managing, conserving, and bringing
into play its values. In addition, communications in different forms and
languages have been stepped up to introduce the Hoa Binh Civilisation to major
cultural, economic, and political centres of Vietnam and at international
scientific conferences.
To mark the 90 years since the world recognised
the Hoa Binh Civilisation and gave it the name (1932 - 2022), at the beginning
of this year, the provincial People’s Committee issued Plan No. 50/KH-UBND on
the organisation of cultural, sports, and tourism events.
Luu Huy Linh, Deputy Director of the provincial
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the cultural sector is planning
activities to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the recognition and naming of
the "Hoa Binh Civilisation”, including seeking permission for excavating some
archaeological caves in Lac Son district, inviting scientists to a national
seminar on the civilisation, and working with the People’s Committee of Hoa
Binh city to choose a road to name "Colani” so as to honour contributions by
French archaeologist Maeleine Colani who discovered and named the civilisation
"Hoa Binh”./.
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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