4,000-year-old archaeological site in Ninh Binh gets national status

Located in Bach Lien village of Dong Thai commune, the Man Bac site was first discovered in 1998. Since 1999, archaeologists have conducted six excavation rounds at the site, involving experts from the Institute of Archaeology, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and international researchers from Japan, the United States, and New Zealand.

Researchers said the site dates back nearly 4,000 years, spanning the late Phung Nguyen culture and early Dong Dau culture periods. It is considered highly significant for studying the settlement history of prehistoric communities in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Experts have described the Man Bac Archaeological Site as possessing substantial historical, cultural, scientific, and archaeological value, offering important evidence of the formation and development of civilisation in the Red River Delta.

On February 12, 2026, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially designated the Man Bac Archaeological Site as a National Relic.

At the ceremony, representatives of the Ninh Binh Department of Culture and Sports announced the decision and presented the National Relic certificate to local authorities./.