越南的新石器時代文化橫跨更新世到全新世，約在距今12000年前到4000年前之間。這個文化直接延續在（Hoabinhian）和平文化之後，以獨特多樣的石器工具聞名，除了分佈在越南也散佈於整個東南亞。海平面變化對於越南北部新石器時代考古遺址的分布有著巨大的影響，新石器時代早期的考古遺址大多分佈在山區海拔25公尺附近或是更高的位置，晚期的遺址則是在平原與海岸地帶，尤其經常出現在植物相能夠適應酷熱、潮濕氣候型態的區域。和平或後和平文化的進展對於後續新石器考古文化的形成與發展建構了不可或缺的有利條件。一般相信新石器時代的人群是狩獵採集者，然而，由與繩紋陶、小型板岩製石刀一起出土的石器（例如磨製石斧、石錛、石鋤與石刀等）的間接證據，指示著這些器物具有農業上的用途。早期農耕活動的議題雖然引起當代學者的興趣，不過卻因欠缺古環境的相關內涵，目前瞭解有限。為了對這個議題有進一步的理解，本文採用孢粉分析方法來重建過去的植被狀況，並建立早期農業活動的指標。本研究採集越南北部7個新石器時代遺址考古地層的沈積物進行孢粉分析。分析結果顯示當時屬於草地、灌木與天然林交錯分布的植物生態體系，自然與人文對於環境的影響顯然同時並存。在洞穴遺址中，蕨類孢子比其他植物群落出現更高的比例，指示著過去潮濕的環境條件，而在平原區的遺址，則是以樹種與非樹種花粉佔有優勢地位。此外，本文所鑑定出來的禾本科、錦葵科、菊科與豆科等花粉種屬與當時的栽培作物密切相關，這些種類的花粉普遍出現在新石器時代遺址以及上部地層中，可能與人工培育品種有關，說明著越南北部的新石器時代人群很可能已經開始栽培作物。這樣的研究結果不僅修正了過去所建立的植物系統，也對這個區域新石器時代的文化與環境地景，建構出一個更為清楚的圖像。透過孢粉分析與考古學證據的結合，我們推斷過去的植被改變與新石器時代人群的早期農耕活動有關。雖然對於越南北部的古環境仍存在一些明顯的空缺與未解的議題，本文目前也只能透過討論和現階段資料的整合，突顯出未來研究將要關注的主題，也就是以更多、更全面的孢粉分析工作來追溯農業起源。我們主張藉由孢粉學研究，能夠釐清越南北部屬於新石器時代晚期／青銅器時代早期的Phung Nguyen階段，之所以能夠發展出更廣泛的農業與馴養活動所需的先決條件，提供越南北部新石器時代至青銅器時代有關古代植被的具體解釋。

Neolithic in Vietnam exists in across from Pleistocene to Holocene, dated about 12,000BP to 4,000 BP. Directly followed the Hoabinhian culture which is well known, not only in Vietnam, but also throughout Southeast Asia, for its distinctive diverse of lithic tools. Sea level changes had a strong impacted on the distribution of the Neolithic archaeological sites in North Vietnam. At the early Neolithic, the sites mostly distributed in a wide range of terrains in the mountainous area, which about or higher than 25 m above sea level. In the late Neolithic period, it can be found at the plain and at coastal area, but especially within the floral bioregions adapted to a tropical and humid climate pattern. The cultural achievements of the Hoabinhian and post Hoa Binh cultures established favorable prerequisites for the formation and development of subsequent Neolithic archaeological cultures. It is generally accepted that Neolithic people were hunter-gatherers, but indirect evidence of stone tools i.e. polished axe and the adze, stone hoes, knives, etc. are associated with cord-marked pottery and small slate knives, believed to be used for agricultural purposes. This issue is current interest but its understanding is hampered by lack of information regarding its palaeoenvironmental context. In order to better understanding of this issue, pollen analysis method is used, with the aims to reconstruct the vegetation and the sign of early agriculture activities. Sediment collected from archaeological layers of seven Neolithic sites in North Vietnam has been extracted for pollen analysis. Analysis results show that the floral ecosystems were mosaics of grassland, shrub trees and native forests. It reflects both natural and cultural influences on the environment. In the cave sites, fern spore occurred in higher percentage than other plant groups, indicated humid condition. While at the sites located at plain, pollen of arboreal and non arboreal is dominant. The identified pollen appears to have a close relationship with contemporary plant cultivars, such as Poaceae, Malvaceae, Compositae, Leguminosae,...This type of pollen appears in most Neolithic sites and in upper part of stratigraphy, and thus may be related to the cultivar species; suggesting that Neolithic inhabitants of Northern Vietnam may have begun to cultivate crops. The results bring a new and improved insight into the previously established vegetation sequence, and giving a clearer picture of the cultural and environmental landscape of the Neolithic periods in this area. Combined pollen analysis results and archaeological evidences, we posit a relationship between vegetation changes and early agricultural activities of Neolithic populations. Although there remain significant gaps and unresolved issues in the paleo-environment of North Vietnam, this discussion and interim synthesis of existing data only serve as a highlight topic for further research i.e. more testing for the pollen analysts, as far as tracing agricultural origins is concerned. We conclude that palynology can clarify preconditions required for the development of more intensive cultivation and domestication apparent at the sites of the subsequent Phung Nguyen period, corresponding to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, provide a holistic interpretation of vegetation of the Neolithic to Bronze Age in North Vietnam.