The lotus may be the national flower of Vietnam but, in the country’s Mekong Delta region it is the waterlily, a similar though unrelated plant, which is able to draws crowds of visitors to witness its harvest each fall.

For several weeks between August and November, depending on the intensity of that year’s monsoons, both farmers and other locals, mostly women, wade through the murky shallows at dawn in order to collect the flowers, the US newspaper wrote.

The writer Jess McHugh shared that over the years, the harvest ritual and the spectacle of the women paddling boats laden with waterlilies has become a popular photo op and a staple of guided tours, although the flowers themselves remain an intrinsic part of everyday life.

The blossoms serve to decorate homes throughout the country and are often seen floating in clay pots on doorsteps, while the stems are mainly used in fish soups and stir-fries, he added.