Duong Viet Anh, 37, who currently works at Nui Cam tourist area in An Giang Province, captures the greenness of rice paddies intermingled with rows of thot not (palmyra palm trees). Besides adding a unique touch to the local scenery, palmyra palm trees provide fruits that are used to produce pandan honeycomb cake, palm sugar and refreshing beverages.

During the harvest season from August to early December, rice paddies in Tinh Bien District, around 80 kilometers from Long Xuyen, capital of An Giang, stretch as far as the eye can see with golden yellow hues. With more than 2.2 million people, An Giang is the most populous province in Mekong Delta, known as Vietnam's rice basket.

Tinh Bien is a mountainous district close to the Cambodian border and home to the largest number of ethnic Khmer communities in An Giang, with most farming or growing palmyra palms.

November is the most ideal time of year to visit Tinh Bien as its rice paddies turn a golden yellow. As tourism popularity has risen in recent years, homestay facilities are also available in the poverty-stricken district, including Ngoc Han Hotel, Sang Nhu Ngoc Resort or Nui Cam Resort with prices starting from VND500,000 ($21.13) a night.

From Tinh Bien District, tourists can easily reach Nui Cam tourist area, home to a series of Buddhist pagodas and temples, along with natural attractions, which take around 20 minutes to reach by car.

Anh promises that harvest season is the most beautiful in his hometown, and recommends visitors to take a leisurely drive early in the morning to discover the local grandeur.

Khmer farmers go to their fields before sunrise. There are over 35,000 Khmer people living in Tinh Bien District, accounting for one third of the district’s total population.

A field of palmyra palms in Van Giao Commune of Tinh Bien District at dawn.