Decoding ancient human genes: scientific achievements from genetic research in Vietnam
With the aim of exploring the genetic information of ancient humans who once lived in Vietnam, Dr Hoang Ha and a research team from the Institute of Biology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology carried out the project: “Genetic sequencing of archaeological bone samples in Vietnam to provide genetic information for human biodiversity and archaeological studies” (code: DL0000.08/20-23). The study focused on applying modern scientific advances to sequence and analyse genes from human skeletal remains dating from 1,000 to 6,000 years ago.
According to Dr Hoang Ha, Vietnam has a long evolutionary history with many important archaeological sites. To understand the formation and development of today’s populations, in addition to archaeology and anthropology, genetic data from ancient humans is indispensable. However, this remains a new field in Vietnam, with limited studies and considerable difficulties, especially since human remains are often severely degraded by the hot and humid tropical climate. Recent advances in archaeogenetics worldwide have opened opportunities to apply genome sequencing and modern molecular biology technologies, enabling deeper studies of origins, genetic admixture, and relationships among ancient populations in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
In particular, the Dong Xa site (now an archaeological site in Luong Bang commune, Hung Yen province) is one of the most typical sites of the Dong Son culture. Although discovered and excavated in the 1980s, it had not yet been studied from a genetic perspective. Recovering genetic material from ancient human bones here, combined with modern techniques such as mitochondrial genome sequencing, short tandem repeat (STR) analysis (commonly used in kinship and forensic studies), or next-generation sequencing, is expected to yield scientifically valuable discoveries for future interdisciplinary research in archaeology and genetics in Vietnam.
Dong Xa boat coffin – the oldest of its kind in Southeast Asia, containing human remains wrapped in burial cloth and interred with many artefacts, including a bronze drum typical of the Dong Son culture
Source: Bellwood et al. 2007, 10.1111/j.1095-9270.2006.00128.x
One of the key achievements of the study is the complete sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of two ancient human bone samples dating back over 2,000 years, excavated at Dong Xa. The research produced full mitochondrial genome sequences with high coverage and accuracy, sufficient for further analyses.
Archaeological bone sample over 100 years old, excavated at Dong Xa, Hung Yen
Plastered bone sample excavated at Dong Xa, Hung Yen
The researchers collected more than 10 intact human bone samples dated between 1,000 and 2,000 years, and determined their age using radiocarbon dating. They also collected modern genetic samples from ethnic groups representing the five major language families in Vietnam, including Kinh, E De, Mong, and Tu Di, and established an STR database for several minority groups. These data have been published in prestigious international journals such as Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Legal Medicine, and the American Journal of Human Biology.
Genetic analysis showing the relationship between the Tu Di – Bo Y population and other ethnic groups in northern Vietnam and Southeast Asia
Sharing the challenges faced in the research, Dr Hoang Ha explained: one of the greatest difficulties was extracting genes from heavily degraded archaeological bones in tropical conditions. The team tested more than three different extraction methods. Among these, the use of large-capacity filter columns combined with complete demineralisation proved most effective, allowing recovery of short gene fragments under 100 bp – the typical size after extraction. To ensure reliability before sequencing the full genome, the team confirmed the presence of mitochondrial genes using the Sanger sequencing method – an essential step to guarantee accuracy before proceeding with full sequencing.
The team continued to apply this method to Da But period bone samples dating back nearly 6,000 years. Analysis revealed that these individuals belonged to a special haplogroup genetically close to ancient Southeast Asians but rare among modern Vietnamese. This finding raises hypotheses about changes in the genetic structure of populations over time, reflecting waves of migration, admixture, or extinction of maternal genetic lineages. The results also suggest the possible existence of genetic groups once present in populations but later completely disappeared or merged into others, offering new insights into the evolutionary history of populations in the region.
Dr Hoang Ha emphasised: this is the first set of ancient human genetic data from Dong Xa, and it provides clear scientific evidence of historical processes and genetic exchanges in Southeast Asia. The research not only aims to exploit archaeological value from artefacts but also seeks to reconstruct genetic information preserved in bones or even genetic traces in sediment layers. The successful sequencing of genomes from samples thousands of years old demonstrates the strong potential for archaeogenetic research in Vietnam. The results confirm the technical capacity of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in applying modern biotechnology to archaeology, providing the first genetic evidence of ancient humans from the Dong Son culture and contributing to clarifying the history and genetic structure of ancient populations in Southeast Asia.
Building on these initial results, the research team will continue to optimise methods for extracting genes from low-quality samples, while expanding research to other archaeological sites and periods. Constructing a comprehensive genetic database combining ancient and modern data will provide a solid foundation for exploring the origins, migration patterns, and genetic changes of Vietnamese people over time. This is also a necessary step for Vietnam to actively participate in the global revolution in anthropological genetics and archaeological research in the future.
Translated by Phuong Huyen
Link to Vietnamese version
