Halong bay – the cradle of ancient civilizations
Quang Ninh in general and Ha Long in particular is the cradle of three famous prehistoric cultures of Vietnam. Archaeologists have discovered the Soi Nu culture (25,000 years ago) followed by the Cai Beo and Ha Long cultures.
The Soi Nhu Culture lasted fron 25,000 to 7,000 years ago, mainly on the limestone islands in Ha long and Bai Tu Long bays. The residents of this culture were cave-dwellers. Many layers of stream and mountain snails as well as rude tools made of stone have been found in the caves in Ha Long. Just inside the entrance to Me Cung Grotto, metres-thick layers of snail shells with the ends were removed are clearly visible.
The Cai Beo Culture ( 7,000 – 5,000 years ago) is a link between Soi Nhu and Ha Long Cultures. The archaeological sites of this culture have been discovered in the windless bays. Cai Beo people lived by fishing in the sea and traditional ways kf hunting and gathering on the mainland.
The Ha Long Culture (4,500 – 3,500 years ago) is divided into two periods. The archaeological remains of the early period have been found mainly in northeast Quang Ninh province, particularly at the Thoi Gieng site. The late period sites have been found in the bay of Ha Long and Bai Tu Long and their surrounding areas. The characteristics of Ha Long Culture are porous ceramics and notched axes which cannot be discoverer anywhere in Vietnam.
The Ha Long culture played an important role in the development of the Vietnam’s ancient civilization, contributing to the cultural diversity of the residents in the Red River Delta. This culture, with its own characteristics, was concentrated in a defined area. However, it was never isolated and was closely linked to other famous Vietnamese ancient cultures, such as the Hoa Binh and Bac Son.
Ha Long bay has also witnessed three victorious naval battles on the Bach Dang river under three national heroes: Ngo Quyen (defeating the Southern Han invaders in 938), Le Hoan (against the Song troops in 981) and Tran Hung Dao (against the Yuan-Mongolians in 1288). The nations’s history never overlooks the glorious feats of arms of the people of Quang Ninh province during resistance wars against the French and American aggressors.
At present, Quang Ninh – Ha Long is the home of 21 ethnic groups with different customers and traditions an important part of the nation’s intangible cultural heritage. It also contains a concentration of dozens of cultural and historical sites, including the Yen Tu Complex of Truc Lam Buddhist Zen Sect, Bai Tho Mountain, Cua Ong temple and the Bach Dang Reiver historical Site.
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