Between mist-shrouded mountains and rushing rivers, the rice fields of Vietnam's Mekong Delta burst into bloom in a breathtaking swirl of color.
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It happens every year after the summer harvest.
The locals welcome the monsoon rains that cause the rivers to overflow their banks, flooding the rice paddies with waist-deep water rich in fertile alluvial soil.
The water descending from the mountains carries essential minerals that enrich the earth, prevent the spread of pests, and — above all — coax back to life the lotus flowers whose roots have been waiting in the soil for an entire year.
The broad leaves and long stems of the lotus create an underwater ecological environment that serves as a thriving habitat for fish and crustaceans.
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White lotus flowers are also known as "ghost flowers" because they bloom at night.
For this reason, the flower-gathering ritual takes place at dawn, when they are still at the height of their bloom.
Local women set out into the flooded fields in small wooden boats, dressed in traditional clothing, and collect the flowers into bundles that are later sold at the market.
As they gather, they sprinkle water over the flowers to rinse away soil and dirt, and to keep them fresh and beautiful.
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According to Eastern tradition, lotus flowers grow wherever the Buddha's foot has trodden, making them an important cultural symbol.
In ancient Egypt, an extract of the blue lotus was believed to possess supernatural properties, as the flowers contain compounds with narcotic effects.
Today they are used as an ingredient in traditional dishes — primarily the stems — as well as as decorative flowers in homes and temples.