On the 10-acre field of red chiem rice (a traditional red rice grown in brackish lowlands of Hue City, sown by April and harvested by July), each planting season requires 40 to 50 hired laborers, and the harvest stretches over several days. Left untended and unfertilized, the rice grows naturally under the generous sun and rain. Some call it “heaven’s rice” — a variety grown from the grace of Tam Giang’s waters.

That is the brilliant yellow of the sunshine and the wind, and of the ripe rice fields with the corpulent, firm rice grains. That is also the yellow of straw and the pleased faces of farmers on the harvest days. The scene of the countryside is bustling and animated but simply beautiful.

It is the brilliant golden color of the sunshine, the wind, and the ripe rice paddies with plump and firm rice grains; it is also the color of rice straw, and the happy smiling faces of farmers on the harvest day. The village scene is bustling and busy, but strangely beautiful.