About 7,000 years ago, due
to rising sea water, the life of Soi Nhu residents somewhat fluctuated. It is
possible that groups of people living in low-level caves at the foot of rocky
mountains in the area of Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay today are forced to
move to higher and safer areas, belonging to regional districts. North Bay
mountains such as Cam Pha, Uong Bi, Hoanh Bo and higher limestone areas of Cat
Ba Island. Caves and stone roofs like Dong Dang cave, Ha Lung cave, Doi cave
(Hoanh Bo), Ang Giua cave, Eo Bua, Tung Bo ... (Cat Ba island) belong to this
period. Thus, compared to the cultures of Hoa Binh and Bac Son at the same
time, Soi Nhu culture had a period of opposite migration. While the early new
residents of Hoa Binh and Bac Son tend to move to the plains and coastal areas
to find more and more abundant marine resources, some groups of Soi Nhu culture
have to move to the region. mountains, or highland areas in the region to avoid
sea level rise, continue to exploit freshwater molluscs, continue hunting
wildlife and at the same time maintain relationships with the people they live
in the environment.
Cat Ba people are associated with 77
archaeological sites, of which Cai Beo Ruins is the most typical. Cai Beo relic
is located on the edge of Cai Beo small bay in Hai Dong territory, now Cat Ba
town (Hai Phong). The area of the whole site is thousands of square meters
wide. The site was first excavated and published in 1938 by M. Colani. She
called the site "Baie des Pêcheurs". It can be said that Cai Beo is
one of the most important archaeological sites in the coastal areas and islands
of northeastern Vietnam. In terms of space, it is located on the Gulf Coast of
Cat Ba Island, the largest west coast of the Tonkin Gulf and facing the sea,
which is one of the cultural exchanges of the whole Northern region with South
China and with East Asia. In terms of time, like Da But culture, Cai Beo is a
hyphen, an intermediary stitch, a link between the two eras: Prehistory and
history of the region. However, Bèo Bèo has fundamental differences from Da But
in inheriting and renewing traditions. The Da But people followed the Hoa Binh
and Bac Son traditions in the coastal plains of North Central Vietnam quite
intact by the use of pebble materials to craft the chipping tool and sharpening
tool. In particular, they maintain the method of exploiting mollusks in streams
and rivers in combination with hunting mammals and then proceed to the
revolution to exploit the delta with a new method of farming. Inheriting Soi
Nhu cultural tradition, Cai Beo people aim to adapt and exploit the marine
environment. Therefore, their orientation is still to exploit the sea, not just
to catch mussels to shore like Da But, Quynh Van people, then return to
agriculture. Moreover, the environment of the Cai Beo and later the Ha Long
people was not favorable for the development of pure agriculture because there
were no deltas created by the rivers.
In Cat Ba, there are still many unique works
such as the "Ladies" temple and the "gentleman" temple
associated with the legend of fighting against foreign invaders in the North
during the early period of national construction. In addition, there are relics
of ancient Mac dynasty construction in Xuan Dam commune. The festivals that
remain to this day such as the swimming festival, dragon boat racing festival,
basket boat festival, water festival, fishing festival ... are human resources
to attract tourists.
Management of Cat Ba Bays