(Baonghean.vn) – The second lunar month marks the beginning of the "hunting" season for forest rats in the highlands of Nghe An province. This is the time when forest rats are plump and meaty, and can be prepared into many "specialty" dishes such as: grilled over charcoal, stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, or cooked in a stew... Of course, not everyone dares to try it, and not everyone has the opportunity to see this unusual dish in their lifetime.
"Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc incites parishioners."
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| February (lunar calendar) in western Nghe An province is the season for hunting forest rats. The method of hunting rats is to set traps and leave them overnight. Photo by Dao Tho. |
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| When setting traps, one must be observant to spot trails with rat footprints to use as bait. Traps are usually set in the late afternoon or early evening, and then checked and collected in the morning. (Photo by Dao Tho) |
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| Children in the mountainous region of Nghe An province enjoy going into the forest to set rat traps as if it were a game. Photo by Dao Tho. |
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| A large rat caught in a trap. Photo by Dao Tho. |
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| The fruits of a night of "hunting." Photo by Dao Tho. |
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| It turns out there aren't just dried beef, but also... dried rats! Cleaning, seasoning, and hanging them in the kitchen attic is how people in the highlands preserve meat when the "hunting" season is bountiful. Photo by Dao Tho. |
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| In addition, there are many other specialties made from rat meat such as stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, stewed in a brine... Photo by Dao Tho. |
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| Rats are a popular delicacy among people in the highlands. Currently, wild rats are sold in markets at very high prices, sometimes up to 100,000 VND per rat. Photo by Dao Tho. |
Dao Tho
