Vast rice fields stretching to horizon

Dong Nai province currently has approximately 59,000 hectares of rice-growing land. Although rice is not a primary crop for local farmers like coffee, pepper, rubber, or durian, authorities still encourage most rice-growing areas to remain under cultivation. These areas are either prohibited or strictly restricted from being converted to other uses, as they are classified under national food security zoning.

Farmer Doan Quyet Thang works on a rice field in Hap Field, Bao Vinh B Quarter, Bao Vinh Ward, Dong Nai Province. Photo: Doan Phu

As a result, after the completion of the main-season harvest, the winter–spring rice crop, sown in late November or early lunar December, continues to grow lush and green, swaying in the spring breeze as the plants enter the panicle-forming stage, awaiting harvest.

A “catwalk” along paddy dikes

After harvesting the main-season rice crop, farmer Doan Quyet Thang, who resides in Bao Vinh B Quarter, Bao Vinh Ward, continues to sow 1.1 hectares of winter–spring rice in Hap Field. When the seedlings are more than 20 days old, he must spend considerable time reinforcing the dikes to retain or regulate water levels. On the freshly reinforced, still-muddy dikes, Thang moves quickly and lightly, almost bouncing like a fashion model on a catwalk, so that his footprints press firmly into the surface of the paddy embankment.

According to Thang, as the field has just been sown, the dikes are narrow, less than two hand spans wide, and still wet after being rebuilt. If he were to step too heavily, the dikes could sink, collapse, or break, requiring further repair. That is why the farmers’ steps in Hap Field are likened to walking a catwalk across the paddies.

At Lac Chieu Field, located in Lac Chieu Quarter, Bao Vinh Ward, farmer Tho Tai, of the Cho Ro ethnic group, is seen carrying baskets of fertilizer to spread over five sao of rice that have entered the panicle initiation stage.

Tho Tai said that after 35–40 days from sowing, rice begins forming panicles. Taking advantage of the cooler weather, he applies fertilizer to help the rice develop fuller panicles with larger, healthier grains, ensuring his family has clean rice for consumption and surplus to sell.

Farmers harvest a late main-season rice crop in Phu Dien 4 Hamlet, Phu Hoa Commune.

Although both serve as boundaries between rice plots, the dikes in Lac Chieu Field, which covers about 35 hectares, differ from those in Hap Field, which spans around 150 hectares. This difference is explained by Tran Van Lam, a farmer from Hap Field: many farmers no longer raise buffaloes or cows, so their dikes are narrower, less than one hand span wide, and kept free of grass. When the soil dries under the sun, the dike surface becomes uneven with footprints, making it easy to twist an ankle if one is not careful.

Meanwhile, farmer Tho Lanh smiles gently and explains that the Cho Ro people in Lac Chieu Quarter still raise some buffaloes and cows, so their dikes are built wider, over two hand spans, and grass is allowed to grow to be cut and used as fodder. Because these dikes are broader, they are sturdier and more comfortable to walk on.

Each year, the Cho Ro community in the ward and quarters, together with local authorities, organizes the Sayangva Festival to give thanks to the deities for granting bumper harvests and prosperous, well-off lives to both the Cho Ro people and farmers in the locality. After completing the main-season harvest, the Cho Ro farmers immediately prepare the land and sow the winter–spring crop, only allowing the soil to rest afterward before continuing with the summer–autumn crop.

Village elder Mai Van Luong, a member of the Cho Ro ethnic group, resides in Ruong Lon Quarter, Bao Vinh Ward, Dong Nai Province.

Preserving the green of rice fields

Xuan Phu Commune in Dong Nai province continues to maintain hundreds of hectares of rice fields cultivated two to three times per year. Many three-crop rice fields, ranging from several dozen to up to 100 hectares, are found in hamlets such as Binh Tien, Binh Hoa, and Tay Minh. Binh Tien Hamlet alone has about 150 hectares of rice cultivated two to three times annually, with average yields reaching 8 to 9 tons per hectare per crop.

Farmer Ly Van Hai, of the Tay ethnic group and residing in Binh Tien Hamlet, shared that thanks to the irrigation system, his one hectare of rice land supports three crops per year. The winter–spring crop is the primary season for him and many other farmers in Binh Tien Field, as it produces yields 0.5 to 1 ton per hectare higher than other crops, while also being easier to tend and harvest. Additionally, traders offer higher prices for rice from this crop.

Phuoc An Commune in Dong Nai province has over 1,000 hectares of land dedicated to three rice crops per year, with fields evenly distributed across its hamlets. Attracted by the quick returns from land transfers, which can yield billions of dong more quickly than farming, many rice fields have changed hands and been sold to urban residents. However, due to their strong attachment to rice and farmland, many farmers in Phuoc An lease their land back to continue cultivation. As a result, rice fields in the area remain green.

The rice fields here are naturally endowed with underground water sources. Without the need for irrigation systems drawing from canals or rivers, farmers in Son Ha Hamlet simply insert a round iron rod deep into the field, place a plastic pipe about 10 meters long into the hole, and water naturally rises through the pipe to irrigate the rice year-round.

Farmer Tran Van Hoang, residing in Son Ha Hamlet, Phuoc An Commune, Dong Nai Province.

Farmer Nguyen Van Hoang, also from Son Ha Hamlet, shared that farming today is far more convenient than 10–15 years ago, thanks to mechanization. However, field inspection cannot be replaced by machines. Therefore, he regularly visits his fields to enjoy the rural experience, watching the spring breeze ripple through the rice plants at dawn or dusk.

In the final days of the year, winter–spring rice in fields such as Dau, Doi 6, Tu Hue, and Bau May in Tho Lam 1 and 2 Hamlets, Phu Lam Commune, is either in the tillering stage or entering panicle formation, forming vast stretches of green. With 900 hectares and interconnected dikes, the entire area of Tho Lam 1 and 2 resembles a giant green carpet amid the rapidly developing land of Phu Lam Commune.

Farmer Tran Van Hoa from Tho Lam 1 Hamlet, Phu Lam Commune, Dong Nai Province, tends more than 3 hectares of winter–spring rice that is currently forming panicles.

Pham Thanh Hai, Deputy Party Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Lam Commune, stated that alongside a strong emphasis on developing trade, services, industry, and handicrafts, the locality continues to prioritize maintaining three-crop rice cultivation in a sustainable, organic, and high-tech direction. In particular, efforts are being made to support local agricultural products in building brand recognition and increasing production value by linking agriculture with trade, services, and market consumption.

With approximately 59 thousand hectares of rice-growing land and the winter–spring crop serving as the primary sowing season, few farmers in Dong Nai are willing to leave their fields fallow. As a result, both lowland and upland farmers take advantage of favorable weather conditions to sow in time for the winter–spring crop, embracing the warmth of spring.

By D.Phu, N.A.Dan- Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho