Going to Nghe An

Dinh Ba Hoa – The guardian of heritage in the land of martial arts

Khanh Nhu • January 14, 2026 09:17

In the heart of Binh Dinh, the land of martial arts – where the salty sea breeze blends with layers of Champa and Dai Viet cultural heritage – there is a man who quietly dedicates his life to discovering, preserving, and recounting the story of this heritage. He wasn't born here, but he loves this land with a deep affection. That is Dr. Dinh Ba Hoa – a "Nghe An scholar" in the land of martial arts, who has devoted his life to being a silent bridge between the past and the present.

Content:Khanh Nhu/Present:Hong Toai• January 14, 2026

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In the heart of Binh Dinh, the land of martial arts – where the salty sea breeze blends with layers of Champa and Dai Viet cultural heritage – there is a man who quietly dedicates his life to discovering, preserving, and recounting the story of this heritage. He wasn't born here, but he loves this land with a deep affection. That is Dr. Dinh Ba Hoa – a "Nghe An scholar" in the land of martial arts, who has devoted his life to being a silent bridge between the past and the present.

Born and raised in the rural area of ​​Hung Nguyen, beside the gentle Lam River in Nghe An province, Dinh Ba Hoa was nurtured from an early age by a tradition of studiousness and respect for learning.

His childhood was filled with historical stories, legends about dynasties, and layers of culture accumulated over centuries. This fascination grew, becoming a desire to "delve deep into the past," to understand the essence of the land and its people.

In 1984, Dinh Ba Hoa began working at the Quy Nhon General Museum, never imagining that this would be the start of a long-lasting connection with Binh Dinh. The land of martial arts, with its ancient Cham towers, traditional craft villages, and rich folk culture, captivated this native of Nghe An. From a museum officer, he embarked on a path of researching Binh Dinh's culture, considering it his second home.

The path of cultural research is not paved with flowers. It involves long field trips under the sun and wind of Central Vietnam, meticulous notes taken at ancient stone steles, and quiet nights of comparing documents in archives. For Dinh Ba Hoa, every piece of pottery, every trace of Champa architecture, carries within it the breath of the ancients.

Amidst harsh natural conditions, he meticulously reconstructed a detailed account of the material and spiritual life of the ancient Champa people in Binh Dinh province. His work, "Ancient Champa Pottery of Binh Dinh," which won the A Prize in the Provincial Folk Arts and Culture Competition, is not only the result of scientific knowledge but also the culmination of passion and responsibility towards heritage. From seemingly lifeless pottery fragments, he "read" the story of a brilliant culture that once existed. Researcher Tran Xuan Toan, Chairman of the Binh Dinh Folk Arts and Culture Association, shared:When Dr. Dinh Ba Hoa published his work "Ancient Cham Pottery," we cultural researchers were astonished. We were born and raised in this land, yet we couldn't understand it in such depth or produce such insightful articles and research on ancient Cham pottery. Nowadays, when people talk about ancient Cham pottery in Binh Dinh, they mention Dinh Ba Hoa."

Beyond research, he was also an organizer, connector, and disseminator of heritage values. From the 1990s until his retirement, Dinh Ba Hoa dedicated himself entirely to the Binh Dinh Museum. Having held various positions, from specialist to museum director, he contributed to building the museum into a vibrant space – where the past doesn't remain dormant in glass cases, but engages in dialogue with the present through evocative stories.

In addition to his significant contributions to the Museum, Dr. Dinh Ba Hoa has also produced many valuable research works such as:Culture and Society of Binh Dinh;Geographical Gazetteer of Binh Dinh,Historical Sites, Scenic Spots, or Traditional Craft Villages of Binh Dinh...Those works appear vividly and intimately in his writing, like colorful paintings of the land and people of Binh Dinh. For him, his homeland is not only the place where he was born, but also the place where he has dedicated his entire life. Although he is not from Binh Dinh, he loves this land as much as his own flesh and blood.

Driven by his passion for research, Dr. Dinh Ba Hoa's works have won numerous prestigious awards: the A and B prizes of the Dao Tan - Xuan Dieu Award; the A prize in the Provincial Folk Arts Award… But for him, the greatest reward is not the title. It is the joy of seeing a heritage recognized for its true value, and of seeing the younger generation continue the spirit of preserving cultural identity.

Even after having passed the most vibrant years of his life, he still maintains the habit of reading, writing, and conducting fieldwork whenever possible. On the beaches of Quy Nhon, during his visits to the Cham towers, one can still see his figure – slow, contemplative, but with eyes always shining with passion. He understands that preserving culture is a long journey, sometimes lonely, but one that cannot be abandoned.

What makes Dr. Dinh Ba Hoa unique is not only his research work, but also his role as an inspiration. To his colleagues and the younger generation at the Binh Dinh Museum, he is a dedicated teacher who always encourages fieldwork, rigorous research, and a respectful attitude towards heritage.

Many young officials remember him as a guiding light – not imposing, not ostentatious, but quietly leading the way through his own example of diligent scientific work. For him, cultural preservation was not the work of researchers alone, but a shared responsibility of the community. Museums, therefore, are not only places to preserve artifacts, but also cultural meeting points, places to nurture pride in the land and people of Binh Dinh.

“Uncle Hoa is not only a dedicated leader but also a mentor who taught me knowledge and methods for researching cultural works, while also inspiring me to love this work even more. Because, truly, for young people like me, to do research, without the guidance and instruction of my teacher, it would be very difficult for us to fully pursue this profession…”(Hoang Nhu Khoa - Research and Collection Department, Binh Dinh Museum).

For Dinh Ba Hoa, exploring the past is not about nostalgia, but about preserving the future. He quietly gathers fragments of time, pouring his heart and soul into each book and scientific work, hoping to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Like a silent bridge connecting the past with the present, what he does today will help future generations understand who they are, where they come from, and which direction they should go.

Amidst the turbulent pace of modern life, the story of Dr. Dinh Ba Hoa reminds us that there are people who choose to go slowly, delve deeply, to ensure that the essence of culture is not forgotten. A lifetime of passion, he quietly but proudly lives as a "Nghe An scholar" on the path of preserving heritage in the martial arts land of Binh Dinh.