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In Vietnamese folklore, there is a story in which the gods gifted rice to the people so they could live easily. However when carrying out the gods’ wishes, the messenger mistook a bag of grass for a bag of rice. Because of this, grass grows easily, while rice has to be tended with special care.

This and other legends show Vietnam’s unbreakable bond with rice, which is cultivated across the country. In the centre and south, rice is grown in paddies on flat plains; but in the north, rice is grown in spellbinding terraces that carve up the mountainsides. Here are five of the best places to find rice terraces in Vietnam, and the ideal months to visit.