For people in Kim Trung commune, Hung Ha district, Thai Binh province, hunting rats has become their breadwinner because they can earn tens of million dong each season.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
Previously, Kim Trung people caught mice throughout the year but now they only hunt rats at the end of the year, after the rice harvest season.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
Mr. Ha Van Dung, a senior rat hunter said he only catches field-mice, which are sold at higher prices than others, from VND70,000 to VND100,000 per kilo ($3.5-5).
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
There are many ways to catch mice. People here just use rudimentary equipment as shovels to dig mouse caves, then smoke out or pour water into the cave.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
After catching the mice, they dip mice into boiling water and then shave the hair and disembowel them.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
Putting processed mice on straw to burn.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
Each rat hunter can earn $15-20/day.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
Many households earn thousands of USD each season. This job helps many people get rich.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
Kids also catch mice.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
Mouse traders also get rich.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
A mouse seller said she sells 30kg - 40kg of rat meat from 4-6pm every day, earning income of $15-18.
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
![rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat]( "rat hunters, rat hunting, field mice, Kim Trung, rat meat")
Rat meat is sold with spices such as fish sauce, salt, pepper, galangal, ginger, lemongrass ... Buyers can process many dishes from rat meat. |
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Kien Thuc 
