Home | Editorial | Discover the Magic of Vietnam’s Rice Fields

Vietnam’s mesmerizing rice fields are an integral part of the country’s cultural and artistic heritage. Visitors come from around the world to see their otherworldly terraces, golden tones, and cycles of harvest and rebirth.

Yet, these fields represent more than just the bounty of the harvest – they also illustrate the long-standing tradition of pastoral subjects within the realm of Fine Art. The idyllic rice farming regions in Vietnam have left their mark in the art world, repeatedly inspiring Réhahn’s photographs.

Follow along to learn more about the beauty and serenity of Vietnam’s rice fields, as well as behind-the-scenes details about some of the French artist’s most iconic photos.

A Celebration of Rural Life

As the sun rises or sets, vast expanses of vibrant green or burnished gold fields create a picturesque scene, captivating both locals and tourists alike. The reflection of the clear blue sky in the shimmer of the flooded fields adds to the ethereal beauty of the paddies, providing an infinite palette of colors and moods.

Rice fields in North of Vietnam — Farmers create perfect bundles of rice stalks during harvest season in Vietnam

This interplay between color and light is part of what drew Réhahn to Hoi An and what continues to inspire him to wake before the sun’s first rays hit the sky and to capture the changing tones of the fields “en plein air.”

rice-field-in-vietnam-rehahn — Earth Symmetry, a bestselling photograph, from the artist’s Rice Field collection evokes the delicate balance of humanity with nature.

For centuries, artists have been drawn to the charm of rural life and have captured its essence in fine art. Pastoral artwork celebrates the harmony between humans and nature, focusing on idyllic scenes of farmers tending to their rice crops, water buffaloes grazing peacefully, and simple homes dotting the landscape.

A man pauses for a rest in front of his dried bundles of grains in a rice paddy post harvest.

The Impressionists, such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre Bonnard, all sought to capture the changing seasons within the agricultural areas within France. They often painted wheat fields with loose brushstrokes to represent the movement of the crops and the light.

Impressionist photograph of Rice Fields in Vietnam — “Impression” was one of the artist’s first uses of Impressionistic distortion in his photograph. These two farmers were shot in the reflection of a flooded field to soften their lines and create a focus on the colors of their shirts in contrast to the natural world around them

Vietnam’s strong artisanal farming traditions and the tranquil nature of the rice fields lends themselves well to this genre, allowing the artist to convey a sense of peace, abstraction, and artistic context through his artwork.

The Serenity of Rice Fields in Fine Art

Serenity is a prevalent theme in art, and Hoi An’s countryside offers a perfect embodiment of this concept. In Réhahn’s photos, the rice paddies represent the cycle of life – from the first shoots of rice stalks breaking through the soil to the harvest, to the flames used to burn the fields to replenish the earth.

A Vietnamese man resting in the rice field — Resting Gold utilizes a classic Fine Art color combo of sky blue and yellow to add a sense of gentle playfulness and historical depth to the composition.

These different cycles also lend artistry to the photos, creating abstractions of forms and subjects. Réhahn uses an innovative technique to transform the scenes into photos that appear to be paintings. Shot through the heat shimmer created as the fields burn, the farmers appear to be painted into the scene with the use of soft brush strokes. The colors seen through the smoke and smudged lines become slightly muted in contrast to the bright tones of the natural world.

Impressionism in photography - Rice fields in Hoi An — By evoking a sense of the surreal in Glowing Fields, the artist seeks to recreate the meditative quality of Vietnam’s rice fields in a world far removed from the chaos of urban life

The Colors of the Countryside in Art

The colors of the Vietnamese countryside, especially in the rice fields, are nothing short of awe-inspiring. From the vivid green of the rice plants to the golden hues of the ripening crop, and the blue skies reflecting in the water, the palette is a symphony of nature’s finest colors. Through the ages, artists have skillfully harnessed these shades, using various techniques to convey the vibrancy and tranquility of the rural landscape.

Van Gogh often returned to his favorite palette of blue and yellow. Depending on the work, he utilized sky blue and goldenrod yellow, or deep indigo and ocher to create different effects and moods.

Fisherman in rice fields in Hoi An Vietnam — Golden Field was shot in a flooded rice paddy after a typhoon. This man is trying to fish in the floodwaters.

Cezanne often used a moodier palette. Deepening his yellows to burnt sienna and muddying his blues with touches of gray and vibrant green.

Pissarro tended to celebrate the colors of the countryside at their most vibrant, allowing the free brushstrokes to soften the colors as they blended.

A man walking in the yellow rice fields in Hoi An (Vietnam) — Life Traces uses verticalism, a favorite composition technique in Japonisme and Impressionism, to draw the viewer’s eye beyond the horizon line.

Reflection of a farmer in the rice fields in Vietnam — Luminous was shot in the reflection of a flooded field to create a textural silhouette of a farmer. This photo signifies the infinite – nature will continue long after man is no longer here.

Réhahn’s rice field photographs span the whole painter’s palette – from vibrant sunrises or sunsets, to the deepened tones seen through smoke. His works are a gallery of the natural world.

Rice fields in Vietnam — A cascade of rice rains down as this farmer sifts the grains in a bamboo basket

Ricefields in Hoi An, Sapa, and Beyond

Among the countless locations where ricefields grace the Vietnamese landscape, Hoi An, Sapa, and Mai Chau hold a special place in the hearts of artists and travelers.

Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its well-preserved ancient town and surrounding picturesque rice paddies. Tourists flock to take in the beauty of traditional architecture and rural charm as well as to see the secrets of the harvest.

Mu Cang Chai offers an unparalleled experience of rural tranquility. Surrounded by lush greenery and towering limestone mountains, this region is a real-life canvas of majestic pastoral scenes.

Mu Cang Chai’s rice terraces create sculptural beauty in Northern Vietnam.

Sapa’s Rice Terraces are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most stunning natural wonders in Southeast Asia. Believed to have been built more than 2000 years ago, the terraces cascade down the mountain slopes and are home to many of Vietnam’s more than 54 distinct ethnic groups.

The Enduring Legacy of Rice Fields in Vietnam

This artistic homage of Réhahn’s photographs not only celebrates Vietnam’s natural beauty but also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving such landscapes and the people who live within them in the face of modernization. They stand as a testament to the harmonious relationship between man and nature.

Rice fields with Tay ethnic group in Vietnam — The Harvester focuses on the geometric juxtaposition of the farmer’s circular non la hat and the long lines of the rice stalks.

The colors of the countryside, particularly in locations like Hoi An, Sapa, and Mai Chau, have gifted the world with otherworldly beauty, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the peace that these landscapes offer.
Through pastoral artwork in fine art, the serenity of natural landscapes has become immortalized, becoming a window into a softer time and place.