The communal house faces a field, so in this season of the year it’s pervaded by the aroma of ripe rice. I’m standing at the gate of the Van Xa communal house (Huong Van Ward, Huong Tra Town) beholding the yellow paddy field admiring our ancestors who chose this place for the house. Twice a year, the ancient communal house reflects itself on the field, forming a very beautiful rustic sight.

The inaugural Van Xa “Steps of Ancient Fragrance” Race 2025, organized by the People’s Committee of Huong Van Ward (Huong Tra Town), will be kicked off on the morning of April 27th. As of April 24th, over 2,000 runners have registered, making it the local race with the highest number of participants ever recorded.