The fields in Chau Nhan Commune, located by Lam River, are used to harvest sandworms. Locals often call the creatures found in the soil a "gift from heaven."
"We must use nets to prevent sandworms from swimming into neighbouring fields. The bamboo stakes must be driven deep into the ground, and the nets must be fastened tightly to withstand wind and tidal currents," Vo Van Que, a person from Chau Nhan Commune, said.
People spend approximately VND100,000 (USD3.94) on nets for every 360 square metre field. After each sandworm season, the nets are dismantled and stored for reuse in the next harvest.
Sandworms emerge unpredictably with the tides rather than based on a fixed schedule. However, they appear larger during the early days between the 10th and 11th lunar months, following the rice harvest season.
According to Que, local farmers never use pesticides on the rice fields to maintain the quality of the sandworms. "We grind corn into powder, spread it evenly over the fields, and then plough to provide additional food for the sandworms," Que added.
Que disclosed that last year, his family earned a profit of VND50 million from selling sandworms. Each kilo of sandworm is sold at VND350,000-VND400,000.
Le Khanh Quang, Chairman of the Chau Nhan Commune People's Committee, stated that approximately 300 local households harvest sandworms across every 360 square metres of farmland, around 15-20 kilos of sandworms per season, significantly boosting farmer incomes.
