A joyful season in Tam Coc

The early morning sun's rays pierce through the limestone peaks, and in the distance, on the Ngo Dong River, a few boats shimmer with the golden color of rice paddies. Another joyful season has arrived for the people of Tam Coc.

It was past 2 a.m., while the night was still shrouded in silence. In the small alley of Van Lam village, Ninh Hai commune, the clatter of vehicles and the soft voices of women calling out to each other could be heard. Today, everyone would be harvesting in exchange for labor in the fields of Ms. Le Thi Du, Van Lam village.

After nearly 40 minutes of sailing down the Ngo Dong River, the group of women arrived at Ms. Du's family's rice field. It was still dark, but the women quickly anchored their boat, sickles in hand, boots on their feet, and headlamps on their heads, preparing to harvest the rice.

Ms. Le Thi Du said: "We have to leave at night so that we can harvest the rice as soon as the sun rises above the mountain peaks. Leaving early saves energy and allows us to return in time to pick up passengers. This is the peak of the Tourism Week, so Tam Coc is welcoming many visitors; I have a boat trip almost every day."

Ms. Du's family is small, and her children work far away, so during harvest season, she exchanges labor with other women in the village. This is both enjoyable and strengthens the bonds between the women, while also making the rice harvest quicker and more efficient. Ms. Du says that four women who start harvesting at 3 a.m. can finish cutting over two acres of rice in a single morning.

According to locals, rice farming has been practiced here for a very long time. Over the years, the people have preserved and cared for the lush rice fields. Especially in recent years, the rice fields have become a unique tourist attraction, particularly appealing to domestic and international visitors.

The most beautiful time to visit the rice fields is in late May and early June, when the fragrant scent of rice fills the air. This is when Tam Coc is adorned with the golden hue of ripe rice along the winding Ngo Dong River amidst the limestone mountains. This is also the time when the annual Ninh Binh Tourism Week takes place.

A joyful season in Tam Coc — Taking advantage of favorable weather, people in Ninh Hai are actively harvesting rice. Photo: Anh Tuan.

Mr. Vu Van Binh, from Van Lam village, Ninh Hai commune, said: "Growing and harvesting rice in Tam Coc is very hard work because the rice is grown in the valley, and everything has to be done manually. Every time we harvest, we have to immerse ourselves in deep water and travel by boat. On days when the water is too low for the boat to reach the middle of the field, we have to load the rice onto tarpaulins, and it takes 2-3 men to pull it to the edge of the field. Not to mention, encountering snakes and other reptiles while harvesting at night is not uncommon…"

This year, the rice in Tam Coc is ripe and golden, with every ear heavy with grains, making everyone happy. Mr. Binh estimates the rice yield to be about 1.7 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). "Growing rice is hard work, and the yield isn't much, but we never intend to abandon the fields. Because the rice in Tam Coc not only provides us with clean rice but also makes this place an attractive destination for tourists, helping to develop tourism in our hometown," he said.

According to Mr. Dinh Anh Toi, Vice Chairman of the Ninh Hai Commune People's Committee: The Tam Coc rice field covers an area of over 18 hectares. Currently, farmers are beginning to harvest the ripe rice. This year, the weather at the end of the season has been quite favorable, so the rice yield is quite good, estimated at 1.5-2 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). The artistic mural "Shepherd Playing the Flute" will be preserved for visitors to admire and take photos. After the harvest, the local authorities will continue to encourage people to care for the regenerated rice (ratoon rice) to create a beautiful landscape for tourists visiting Tam Coc.

The Tam Coc rice fields were once voted by the international website Business Insider as one of the 5 most beautiful rice fields in Vietnam. The appeal of the rice fields lies not only in their vast, golden landscape, but also, during this time of year, when the farmers begin harvesting, the fields are dotted with black and white patches that look like soft piano keys against the deep blue water. This is also the time most favored by photographers.

Tam Coc is strangely beautiful these days. It possesses a beauty that combines the tranquility of nature with the vibrant joy of the laborers' hands. Visiting Tam Coc means experiencing the aroma of ripening rice, the bustling atmosphere of harvest season, and a journey back to the peaceful childhood memories of visitors.

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