Prehistory

Quảng Ninh has been inhabited for thousands of years, perhaps since the beginning of the old-Stone Age. In November 1976, in the village of Tấn Mài - now called Quảng Đức Commune, Hải Hà District, a geologist discovered pieces of stone in the shape of rough prehistoric tools. Afterwards, many archaeologists arrived to search for other artifacts to study. It has been estimated that the site was not only an ancient settlement, but also a “tool factory”. Besides, there have been opinions about the site, as an archaeological cultural layer was not discovered, these pieces of stone might have only formed naturally.
 If old-Stone Age sites have not been proven, ranks of new-Stone Age areas have been found on islands and on Quảng Ninh’s coast. These confirm the presence of prehistoric inhabitants whom dwelled here nearly 10,000 years ago.
In 1967, in the Soi Nhụ Grotto, archaeologists found petrified snail shells, with pieces of human skulls and teeth, arm and leg bones, ceramic pieces, stones for grinding, stone axes and a bone from a wild ox. By arranging the pieces of human bones, the remains of two men and three women were recognized. By analyzing the age of snail shells and tools, and the quality of the ceramic items, archaeologists have defined that the inhabitants of this land lived in the middle to new-Stone Age, between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago. Recently, this culture has been named the Soi Nhụ culture or Hạ Long culture.
Prior to the discovery of the Soi Nhụ culture, ranks of post-Neolithic cultures were discovered by French and Swedish archaeologists in 1938, 1939. After 1954, Vietnamese archaeologists have found numerous similar relics. Recently, further grottoes have been revealed with relics of prehistoric man. In the process of developing in this region, it has been named pre-Hạ Long culture by the archaeologists. Archaeologists have divided this culture into early and late periods:
 The early period, 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, consisted of these sites: Thoi Giếng, Nam Hamlet, Mừng Hillock in Vạn Ninh Commune; Mả Tổ and Bảo Quế Hillocks (Hải Tiến Commune), Miếu Cả and Quất Đông Nam Hillocks (Hải Ðông Commune). All of these were in Móng Cái Town.
 The late period, 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, had remnants discovered at these sites: Ngọc Vừng (Vân Đồn District); Xích Thổ (Thống Nhất Commune, Hoành Bồ District); Đồng Mang (Giếng Đáy Ward), Giáp Khẩu (Hà Lầm Ward), Cái Lân (Bãi Cháy Ward) and Cọc 8 (Hồng Hà Ward) of Hạ Long City.
 From the Bronze Age, many remains of Quảng Ninh’s inhabitants have been found. 
As recently as 1998, relics were discovered on Đầu Rằm Mountain in the Hoàng Tân Commune, Yên Hưng District. Besides stone tools and ceramic items, bronze arrows and knives were found.
In 1965, on a hill by the Quảng Lễ and Quảng Chính communes, a bronze drum belong to the first class of Đông Sơn bronze drum system from the Hùng Vương era was discovered.
In the field of Cầu Nam belongs to Phương Nam Commune, near Uông Bí, seven ancient graves were discovered (the coffins were bored-out tree trunks). Within the grave, there were many interesting items: bronze lances, shields and vases, rough fabrics and a unique iron chisel.