The first time seeing Vietnamese people harvesting lotus flowers, American tourists were overwhelmed.

During a recent trip to Vietnam, Jess McHugh, an American tourist, had the opportunity to visit the Mekong Delta region to learn about the lives of the local people. This was also the first time the visitor witnessed the harvesting of water lilies in the riverine area.

"Water lilies are abundant in the Mekong Delta. At this time of year, farmers here are busy harvesting them."

"Beautiful moments become a fascinating subject for photographers. Water lilies are also a highlight in some tours in the Mekong Delta," Jess shared. The Western tourist also said she was overwhelmed by the stunning scenery in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

Women harvesting water lilies in Tan Lap commune (Photo: George Steinmetz).

In the Mekong Delta, tourists can find water lilies in many places such as the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest, rice fields in Long An , etc.

Between September and November, women in the Mekong Delta wake up at dawn to harvest water lilies during a specific period. These plants are known for their remarkable resilience in this region. Water lilies grow wild, requiring no special care, yet they thrive.

Every time the water lilies bloom, the locals excitedly gather to harvest them. Along with aquatic resources, during the flood season, water lilies are a product that helps people improve their lives.

During the flood season, when water lilies bloom, it's also a time that attracts tourists to take pictures and experience the scenery (Photo: George Steinmetz).

With skillful hands, the women roll up each bunch of water lilies, wash away the mud, arrange them into bundles, and load them onto small boats or canoes. Although water lilies can be grown year-round, their peak blooming season is in the autumn. Each flower only blooms for a few hours each day for 3 to 5 days before wilting.

The scene of harvesting water lilies not only attracts tourists and photographers, but this flower is also an important part of the daily life of people in the riverine areas. They can be used to decorate homes or processed into everyday dishes.

Water lilies bloom during the day and their blooming period lasts only a few hours (Photo: George Steinmetz).

The resourcefulness of housewives in the Mekong Delta has transformed water lilies into countless delicious dishes. After removing the flowers, the stems are kept to be stir-fried, used in sour soups, and mixed in salads.

The most famous dish is undoubtedly water lily stems stewed in fish sauce, a specialty of An Giang and Dong Thap provinces during the flood season. Another rustic dish is sour soup with water lily stems, Sesbania grandiflora flowers, and small fish, which is also very appetizing and popular with many diners.

Sweet and sour water lily salad is a rustic dish in the Mekong Delta region (Photo: Food).

For her part, Jess McHugh said the trip to the West yielded many memorable moments. One of them was witnessing the water lily harvest.

According to several travel agencies, the flood season in the Mekong Delta, from September to November each year, is when water from upstream flows downstream, creating a distinctive landscape in the provinces and cities.

This is also the peak tourist season for the local area in the Mekong Delta region.

Some highlights of the tour include a cruise along the Mekong River to experience the ecosystem in the western provinces. Tour prices start from tens of millions of VND. The main target market for this tour is European tourists.

The cuisine of the Mekong Delta region is also one of the reasons that attract tourists to visit the area.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/lan-dau-thay-canh-nguoi-viet-nam-thu-hoach-hoa-sung-khach-my-choang-ngop-20241120123729880.htm