Untitled Document Vietnam Countryside Wet rice farming is ubiquitous in rural Vietnam. Large portions of the countryside are covered in water, with rice in various stages of growth. Much of the community spirit in Vietnam comes from the necessity for cooperation to insure that water is available when needed for rice growing. That and living close to the edge of subsistence meant that failure to cooperate could mean catastrophe. The buildings are brick factories, operated by some local entrepreneur.
Bricks are the most common construction material for rural houses.
Here is a scene from a boat ride to Chua Hung pagoda south of Hanoi. The trip is arduous. The pagoda is in a large cave and is full of articles for sale. More from Chua Huong This picture shows rice plants ready for transplanting into a wet field in January. The cone-shaped hats are traditional rural wear and until about 1996 were also common in cities.