For many generations, Dong Son bronze drums have become a sacred symbol of Vietnamese national culture. The image of bronze drums is not only a precious treasure of Vietnamese culture but also a convergence point of the sacred souls of rivers and mountains formed from the time of building the country and accumulating national essence throughout the historical process of building the country and protect the country of the Vietnamese people. Hoa Binh is one of the provinces that discovered and preserved the second largest number of bronze drums in the country, only after Thanh Hoa province. 

Special display on Ancient Bronze Drums at Hoa Binh Provincial Museum

Photo: Hoa Binh Provincial Museum

Bronze drums were discovered in almost every district in the province, some were discovered in ancient tombs, some were discovered accidentally during the process of digging land to build houses, cultivating fields and constructing irrigation systems. With different early and late groups, bronze drums discovered in Hoa Binh date from the first century to the seventeenth century. According to statistics, to date the number of bronze drums discovered in Hoa Binh has reached more than 100, of which 76 are kept and preserved at the Hoa Binh Museum warehouse.

In general, Dong Son drums in Hoa Binh all have big surfaces, and toad statues appear on the drum surface. Regarding decorative patterns, it is worth noting the dancing figures dressed in bird feathers. In particular, on the Khoan Du drum and the Vinh Dong II drum, new pattern elements have appeared: squares, decorative cages at the feet. Khoan Du drum and Vinh Dong II drum both belong to the straight-backed drum line, relatively large in size, marking the transition in size from the traditional Dong Son drum to the large-sized drum that commonly exists on Heger type II. Therefore, it can be said that Dong Son drums have developed and created a new step through the existence of Heger type II drums discovered in Hoa Binh.

The Heger type II bronze drum surface has four toad statues

The Heger type II bronze drum has a long association with the Muong people. The original functions as mythical symbols of drums in rituals of praying for rain and harvest related to farming have faded. For the Muong people, the clear function of the drum is as a symbol of authority of the Lang Dao class and as a musical instrument in funerals. The presence of Heger type II bronze drums in the Muong people's residential areas for nearly two millennia is an eloquent proof of the Dong Son tradition, the continuation and creation of ancient Vietnamese civilization.  With the above meanings, Heger type II bronze drums can be called Muong drums.

According to scientists, the Heger type II drum is the continued development of the Dong Son bronze drum (Heger type I). Inheriting the shape from the type I drum, the type II drum has certain stylizations. The basic drum is still divided into three parts: the surface, the body and the foot. The drum's surface protrudes from the main part of the drum, and the surface of the drum often has the shape of four toad statues - symbolizing calling water to help the crops. The main decorative patterns on the drum are geometric patterns, repeated over and over again. In the middle of the drum surface is usually a 6, 8, or 12-pointed star, surrounded by motifs of leaves, diamonds, and lemon flowers, etc. are decorated very meticulously and sophisticatedly.

The Heger type II bronze drum is a sacred artifact that symbolizes power and wealth. Bronze drums are used in major ceremonies and important occasions, demonstrating the wealth and authority of the Lang Dao class in Muong land. The bronze drum, in addition to being a musical instrument used in important community rituals, is also used as a communication and signaling tool. Whenever the community is in danger, the sound of the drum is a summons to villagers everywhere to gather together to unite and fight, and it is the urging to advance, making the enemy terrified. Bronze drums are also associated with the spiritual life of the ancient Muong people, are burial objects to help the dead return to the other world afterlife, and are instructions for ancestors to know the way back to earth to enjoy with their descendants in the great days of important ceremonies.

The Heger type II bronze drums of the Hoa Binh Provincial Museum

showcased in Hai Phong province in 2023, attracting a large numbre of visitors 

Thus, bronze drums hold an important position in the consciousness and life of the Vietnamese ethnic community in general and of the Muong people in Hoa Binh in particular, being a valuable asset left by their ancestors to their descendants. Therefore, preserving and promoting the value of bronze drums is also contributing to preserving the traditional cultural identity of the nation. Currently, Hoa Binh Provincial Museum is preserving bronze drums in a collection of 76 to serve the display of this rare bronze drum collection to widely introduce it to people and tourists.