During a recent trip to Vietnam, American tourist Jess McHugh had the opportunity to visit the Mekong Delta to learn about the lives of local people. This was also the first time the guest witnessed how water lilies are harvested in the river area.
The New York Times journalist commented, “There is nothing more impressive than watching the lotus harvest in Vietnam.” Indeed, when witnessing the scene of small boats weaving through the vast lotus fields, we can fully feel the simple yet magical beauty of the river region.
"There's nothing quite like watching the lotus harvest in Vietnam," commented Jess McHugh, a writer for The New York Times.
The image of women with tilted conical hats, nimbly picking lotus flowers under the dawn light has become an unforgettable film in the hearts of tourists. It is not only a production activity but also a living work of art.
The American daily newspaper described how local farmers (mostly women) living in the southernmost region of Vietnam will wade into shallow water at dawn to harvest water lilies during a certain period (about a few weeks) from August to November.
"The water lily is quite similar to the lotus but is smaller in size and has sharper leaves. The colors are more vivid with purple and dark pink. Over the years, the scene of people waking up early to go to the river to pick water lilies, arrange them into bundles, wash off the mud right on the river and then load them onto canoes or small boats has been highly appreciated, especially in the field of photography," wrote The New York Times.
Water lilies are a part of the daily life of people living in river areas.
According to the New York Times, the water lily may be the oldest flowering plant on the planet because the blue water lily was buried with the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen (circa 1341 BC). Today, the flower symbolizes immortality and is used as food and medicine. Marc Hachadourian, chief curator of the greenhouse area at the New York Botanical Garden, describes the water lily as smelling like Juicy Fruit gum.
Have you ever imagined a giant carpet of flowers spread across the water, with pure lotus flowers blooming under the golden sunlight? The lotus stem, slender but extremely flexible, stretches from the muddy bottom to find the light. The round, green leaves form a cool green carpet.
When the river delta floods, the lotus harvest becomes a popular photo spot for tourists.
Water lilies, the flower of peace and purity, have been closely associated with the lives of people living in the river delta. During the flood season, when the Mekong Delta is flooded, the water lily fields become a beautiful picture. Local people, with small boats, weave through the flower fields to harvest. This image has become a characteristic of the river delta, attracting many tourists from near and far. Tourists not only admire the beauty of water lilies but also experience the simple life of the people here.
During the period from September to November, women in the West wake up early at dawn and harvest water lilies in a certain period. This is the plant with the most miraculous vitality in this land. Water lilies grow wild, do not need care but still grow well.
The American daily newspaper described how local farmers (mostly women) living in the southernmost region of Vietnam would wade into shallow waters at dawn to harvest water lilies.
Every time the lotus flowers bloom, the locals happily go out to harvest them. Along with aquatic resources, during the flood season, lotus flowers are a product that helps people improve their lives.
Under the skillful hands of the women, each bunch of water lilies is rolled up, cleaned of mud, then arranged into bundles and loaded onto canoes or small boats. Although water lilies are grown year-round, the most blooming time is in the fall. Each flower only blooms for a few hours a day for 3 to 5 days before withering.
Lotus is the image representing the Vietnamese people's character.
The scene of harvesting lotus flowers not only attracts tourists and photographers to work, this flower is also an important part of the daily life of people living in the river area. They can be used to decorate houses or processed into daily dishes.
The lotus is not only a beautiful flower, but also a symbol of life and rebirth. Even though it has gone through harsh flood seasons, the lotus still grows strong and then blooms brilliantly.
