(HBO) – Hoa Binh Culture – a Stone Age culture dating from 18,000 - 7,000 years ago, was discovered by Madeleine Colani - a French female archaeologist in 1926. In 1932, the first conference of Far Eastern pre-historicists meeting in Hanoi recognised the term "Hoa Binh Culture”, named by Colani, as a term to refer to an ancient culture that appeared and existed on territory of prehistoric Vietnam.
Tourists
learn about Hoa Binh Culture artifacts at the provincial Museum.
The Hoa Binh Culture spread throughout
Southeast Asia, but most found relics of the period are concentrated in Hoa
Binh province with over 80 out of 150 relic sites found in Vietnam. The
archaeological sites belonging to "Hoa Binh culture” are mainly located in
clusters of caves or rock shelters. They have been discovered in Trai hamlet’s
cave in Tan Lao district, Vanh hamlet’s rock shelter in Lac Son district, Cho
cave in Luong Son district, Dong Thot cave in Lac Thuy district and Muoi cave
in Tan Lac district.
Over the past years, the work of preserving
and promoting the value of Hoa Binh Culture has received attention from Party
Committees and authorities at all levels. Many archaeological relic sites of
Hoa Binh Culture in the province have been ranked at the national level.
In 2022, the provincial Department of
Culture, Sports and Tourism and the provincial Museum coordinated with the
Institute of Archaeology, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, and Centre
for Southeast Asian Prehistory to conduct archaeological excavations at
national relic sites: Vanh hamlet’s rock shelter and Trai hamlet cave. These
are two typical archaeological relics of Hoa Binh Cultural in the province in
particular and Vietnam in general.
With unique archaeological cultural values
of a world-famous Stone Age culture in Hoa Binh, local authorities are making
scientific documents asking for competent agencies’ recognition of the two
relic sites as special national historical relic sites.
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.