Peaceful countryside afternoon!

In the late afternoon, strolling through the countryside, one easily encounters scenes of adults and children playing together in the fields after the harvest. Suddenly, we are filled with a deep longing for that peaceful, idyllic rural atmosphere!

Bustling activity in the fields

The rice fields, recently harvested, are also the time when children flock to the fields, joyfully playing and mingling with the fragrant scent of new rice in each idyllic afternoon. On the dike, adults sit together, watching the children's running, jumping, and playing. Usually, after school, the kids rush home on their bikes. Without even having time to eat, they gather in the fields to play soccer, fly kites, and frolic boisterously in the open fields. Their playtime lasts only a few hours, but it's more than enough for them to experience the harvest season in the countryside. Later, when they grow up and leave home to study in the city, pursuing their dreams, they carry with them many memories. When they return to their village after achieving success, strolling leisurely along the village roads, and unexpectedly encountering the image of children playing after the harvest, they will fondly remember their innocent childhood.

On a breezy afternoon, as we passed through the fields of Phu Binh commune (Phu Tan district), the faint scent of straw filled the air, immersing us in the peaceful scenery. From the rural road, we encountered many villagers and children playing in the fields. Nearby, mobile stalls sold a variety of food and drinks. Looking up at the sky, blue kites floated gently in the afternoon breeze, as if merging with the clouds and wind, creating a rustic, countryside scene.

People gathered together to play with children in the field.

In rural areas, families who can afford it buy ready-made kites with eye-catching designs for their children. Families with limited finances , however, put in the effort to make traditional kites using only their own materials. Yet, these kites still soar high, curving in the blue sky, eliciting enthusiastic cheers and applause from onlookers. We recall seeing people in the countryside making kites from paper or nylon. These kites looked simple, but they held so many childhood memories that anyone who lived in the countryside could relate to. With the development of society, colorful and convenient kites are now widely available and very popular with children. As a result, traditional kites made of paper or nylon are gradually fading away.

With a long string letting his kite soar high in the wind, Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong (45 years old) excitedly shared that during the harvest season, he takes his daughter to the fields to fly kites every afternoon. In his hometown, kite flying is only possible during the winter-spring season because the weather is cool and windy. “When I was little, my father used to take me to the fields to fly kites after the harvest. Now, I also go to the fields with my daughter to fly kites and have fun,” Mr. Cuong said with a smile. He recalled that decades ago, every harvest season, children in the village would go to the fields and climb on haystacks to play. Nowadays, the straw is gone, but the fields remain an ideal place for children to have a spacious playground and relax after school.

This leads to the development of many services.

Besides flying kites, the children enthusiastically organize teams to play football in the rice fields. Nowadays, rural life has changed positively, with houses built close together, so few houses have large yards for children to play freely. Therefore, whenever harvest season comes, the children take advantage of the open space in the fields to play. Nguyen Van Tuan expressed that when they see farmers harvesting the rice field near their house, the children are all overjoyed. In the evening, everyone gathers, laughing and chatting happily in the fields. “Every year, during the winter-spring rice harvest season, we all get together to play football to improve our health. Playing football in the open fields is more enjoyable than playing on artificial turf because the space is larger and more comfortable,” Tuan shared.

During harvest season, people spontaneously gather in the fields, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. Taking advantage of this opportunity, many bring tables, chairs, and food and drink carts to serve customers and earn extra income. Ms. Tran Thi Cam said that every afternoon, about 100 children and adults come here to play. Children enjoy flying kites and playing football, while adults sit at the stalls chatting and waiting. “Seeing the children playing, the adults also come to watch and eat and drink on the spot. Every afternoon, I sell over 100 glasses of soft drinks, earning more than 200,000 dong,” Ms. Cam explained.

Driving through the rice paddies of the Khmer ethnic minority, one can truly appreciate the lively atmosphere of the people of the Bay Nui region enjoying themselves in the fields. This season, after the rice harvest, the palm trees on the edges of the fields stretch towards the sunset, creating a beautiful rural scene! Taking advantage of the harvested rice, the locals set up stalls selling delicious and unique dishes, which is very convenient. Ms. Neang Sa Nheng said: “Our traditional dishes include: beef sausage, grilled beef skewers, grilled frog stuffed with meat, cold palm juice, and traditional papaya cake… Every dish is in high demand.”

As the sun sets behind the mountains, the rows of palm trees interspersed among the rice paddies create a dreamy and captivating beauty. This time is ideal for immersing ourselves in the peaceful atmosphere and capturing unforgettable moments that are hard to find anywhere else. Throughout my travels, the image of the tranquil countryside at sunset, gently descending upon the fields with the faint scent of straw... always remains in my memory.

LUU MY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/yen-a-chieu-que--a420051.html