During the season, the rice fields in the West are extremely bustling. In front of the rice harvester, behind each group of young men and children chased and caught field mice. Some places use nets, some places use sticks to hit and even do not catch mice.
In Long Binh commune (Dong Thap province), in the last days of the Winter-Spring rice crop, the fields not only resounded with bustling harvesters but also filled with the laughter of people participating in catching mice. Following the workers, immerse yourself in the brilliant golden field to witness this activity that is both interesting and meaningful.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tam, a rice carrier with many years of experience, shared while wiping away sweat: "After harvesting, we often go fishing with mice. The rice has been harvested, the mice have lost their hiding place and are running all over the fields. Catching at this time is both fun and delicious, and helps people kill mice. The field cages after harvest are often fatty and are raised with fresh rice for many months.
To catch rat, people hunt for rat in groups, imbued with collective spirit. Group of 5-7 people, sometimes accompanied by hunting dogs, moving with harvesters. When the mice run out, they use hoes, empty hands or spread nets at the edge of the field to block them. The agile mice jumped out but after just a few minutes were captured, the group laughed in the middle of the field.
Mr. Le Minh shared his experience: "We usually catch 10 - 20 fish a day, on days when the fields are large and the mice are large, we catch up to 30 - 40 fish. The stall here is clean, eating all the fresh rice. Regarding the preparation of crispy fried and grilled chili salt, it is delicious. In particular, a sun- rising rat with firm meat, natural sweetness, crispy outside and soft inside is a dish only for gourmets.
Catching field mice during the rice harvest season has become a typical cultural feature in the West, this activity attracts many participants. Catching mice not only helps protect the crop but also serves family meals. Many people also hunt for copper mice to sell, increasing their income.
