Nguyen Thanh Tien is a renowned rice mouse catcher in Soc Trang Province, situated in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. He is widely recognized for his expertise in capturing the small rodents that can wreak havoc on local farmers’ crops. With his help, many farmers have been able to protect their harvest and their livelihood.
He is renowned there for his remarkable vocal capabilities, which allow him to flawlessly imitate the chirps of mice of varying genders and ages.
He is highly respected for his exceptional talent and for the invaluable contribution he has made to pest control in Soc Trang.
Under the cover of night, Tien navigates his small vessel through the flooded rice paddies, searching for the prized delicacy of the delta region: the rice mouse. He is a skilled hunter, familiar with the area’s waterways and the habits of these elusive creatures. With a steady hand and a keen eye, Tien is determined to make a successful catch.
Crafted from bamboo and welded steel pins, his spear is an essential tool for nighttime hunts.
The only source of illumination was a portable light affixed to his forehead.
One day, he joyfully guided correspondents from Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper to his beloved hunting ground—a lush, verdant rice field located just in front of his house.
“Why are you out so early, Master?” inquired a few of the neighbors. “Are you already catching mice?”
Imitating Mouse Sounds – Have you ever wondered what a mouse would sound like if it could talk? Well, now you can find out! With a little bit of practice, you can learn to imitate mouse sounds and have your own little mouse conversation. All you need is to learn the different mouse vocalizations, and you’ll soon be able to carry on a conversation with your furry little friends!
Tien is renowned in the Ho Dac Kien Ward of Chau Thanh District, Soc Trang Province, for his unparalleled skill in mouse catching. Residents of the area often turn to him for help in ridding their homes of pesky rodents.
Local residents have long been aware of his career and how he acquired his skills since the very first day.
When they used the term “early,” they were referring to the premature timing for mouse catching in relation to crop harvesting.
Normally, mouse catchers are active in the post-harvest clearance of rice fields when mice congregate in their caves along the canals.
Every year, we take a vacation from December and resume our activities in March. According to Tien, “during the high water season, the mice will be driven to the edges of the fields as the water flows in”.
This year, I’m getting out earlier than usual, and I’m hoping for a good catch. As long as it’s peaceful and cool in the evening, I should be all set.
According to him, his hunt would end at midnight, after which he would clean up and sell his haul, which usually amounted to more than ten kilograms of mice.
If I got too many, I wouldn’t be able to cope with them all on my own,” he continued.
He is renowned for providing fresh and hygienic mice, and as a result, he has become a reliable source of mice in the vicinity.
As he rested in his boat, he swiftly scanned the area, his headlight providing the sole source of light.
His left hand gripped an oar, while his right hand tightly clutched a weapon. The boat glided silently through the water, the tranquil atmosphere punctuated only by the chirping of insects, crickets, and frogs.
The tranquil peace was occasionally broken by the melodious sound of birds taking flight, or the occasional splash of a wiggling fish from far away.
As he approached a dense bush, the man quickly made high-pitched, squeaky mouselike sounds, gently tapping his spear on the riverbank.
To an unsuspecting listener, it may sound like a group of mice huddling together, chattering away.
To him, the simple way of mimicking the language of the rodent could lure the mother mice out from their burrows, as he pretended to be the child mice.
Once he caught the mother mouse, Tien would continue to emulate the sound of a male mouse.
From his explanation, the high-pitched squeal of the female mouse would alert the mother mouse, and the lower-pitched trill of the male mouse would indicate to the father mouse that a potential male rival could be nearby, threatening his mate.
“He would just jump out trying to protect his mate,” said Tien.
|
During the peak season of mouse-catching, Tien can trap more than 10 kilograms of mice and make up to VND1 million ($42.62) each day. |
At the ripe old age of 42, Tien has amassed an impressive 20 years of experience in the art of catching mice. His expertise is second to none and he has been successful in keeping countless homes and businesses rodent-free. Tien’s commitment to excellence and dedication to his craft have earned him the respect of his peers, and he continues to be one of the most sought-after mouse-catchers in the business.
In 2002, I was only making VND15,000 [$0.64] a day, as I had not achieved much in school previously, and my wife had just given birth to our first child,” Tien said.
A relative of mine suggested that I accompany him on his forays to catch mice, so I could make a more profitable living.
Duong Van Sang, a 63-year-old relative of mine, has a whopping 30 years of experience on the job. He is a true testament to the power of hard work and dedication.
”
At the time he first dipped his toes into mouse trapping, mice had become a sought-after delicacy in the locale, meaning he was catering to a burgeoning demand.
He had to learn how to identify the different types of fish in the waters around the island and how to capture them. He needed to learn how to use the nets and traps to catch the fish. He also had to understand the tides and the changing weather patterns to be successful in his fishing.
As an apprentice, Tien first had to learn how to maneuver his boat skillfully and stealthily. He had to learn how to recognize the various species of fish in the waters surrounding the island and how to capture them. He had to understand how to use the nets and traps to catch the fish. Additionally, Tien had to comprehend the tides and the ever-changing weather conditions to be successful in his fishing endeavors.
The aim was to get close enough to a frog so that the spear could be thrown accurately without disturbing the frog or alerting any nearby dogs.
Once he had perfected the art of silent movement, he then endeavored to hone his ability to observe in the dark. He trained himself to rely on other senses to perceive his surroundings, such as sound, smell, and touch. He was determined to become an expert in the art of night vision, and it wasn’t long before he succeeded.
He had to strategically disperse his light so that he wouldn’t alert the prey.
The key goal was to recognize the prey quickly by illuminating it with the light.
Once the prey was locked in, he would steer so close to it in complete silence. He had to act fast and think fast to make sure the hand-eye coordination was as precise as possible, which required a lot of practice, according to Sang.
Once the target was within sight, as soon as you flashed your light upon it, you had to hit it; otherwise, it would just escape.
Sang was astonished to find that his student had managed to copy the sounds of a mouse after only two months on the job. He hadn’t anticipated such rapid progress.
“That means this job was tailor-made for him,” remarked Sang. “I’m not even close to being able to do the same. In fact, no one in the entire Mekong Delta has ever been able to match his skill set.”
In his initial efforts, Tien encountered plenty of misses. The lack of light made it difficult for him to distinguish between a frog perched on a leaf and a stork camouflaged in the shrubbery.
So he decided to take a look around the banks to gain a better understanding of his prey.
He soon discovered which cave was home to a plentiful number of rats, and which cave was sparsely populated.
Examining the appearance of the bite marks on the leaves nearby, he was able to discern whether they had been caused by rice mice or sewer rats.
After listening to the mice squeaks for an extended period, he managed to replicate their sounds. This prompted disbelief from those who had watched him, with some even attempting to make a bet on his ability.
The owner of an orange farm challenged Tien to capture two mice on a coconut tree and set them in a trap. If he succeeded, the reward would be one crate of beer bottles.
In response, Tien maneuvered his mouth muscles and began squeaking. Despite the other man tapping the coconut tree to scare them away, the two mice still came down and Tien readily got them.
The orange farm owner had immense respect for the mouse catcher and pleaded with him to capture every mouse that was wreaking havoc in his farm. He knew that the mouse catcher was the only one with the capability to get rid of the problem.
As Tien stepped into the fragrant orange garden, he plucked over ten kilograms of the juicy, sweet fruit from the trees. The farm owner was delighted, and Tien’s impressive harvests quickly became renowned, cementing his reputation as a masterful picker.
They would be amazed to discover the vast array of unique mouse voices available.
Thanks to this skill, Tien can make enough money to fund the education of his first child in Ho Chi Minh City. His child has already graduated from an electrical refrigeration school and landed a job, which is a great accomplishment.
His other child, a seventh-grader, has consistently achieved good grades throughout their years in school.
Whatever you choose, education is the best choice. I was never a good student, so I had to stay focused in order to take care of my family,” he said.
His elder son said that Tien never took him on any mouse-catching trips.
Perhaps, the father was worried that his son would end up in the fields working instead of focusing on his education.
Nguyen Van Duong, a neighbor, exclaimed, “Our master is truly remarkable. He had a chip on his teeth, so he ate fresh areca berries prior to his hunt in order to be able to make the correct sounds.”
You need to firmly close your mouth, draw your lips into a straight line, and make a sound. It may sound easy, but it could take quite a while to be able to produce the correct sound.
Duong, a 33-year-old father of two schoolchildren, is facing financial difficulties and, as a result, has applied to become Tien’s apprentice. Hoping to improve his situation, he is eager to learn from Tien and gain the knowledge and skills needed to provide a better life for his family.
“I simply hope to learn how to control the boat, watch out for the rats, and use the spear swiftly,” said Duong. “But the mouse voice? That’s impossible.”
Nguyen Van My, deputy chairperson of the Chau Thanh District People’s Committee in Soc Trang Province, declared that Tien is an extremely effective mouse killer.
The farmers of Ho Dac Kien Ward are facing a huge problem: an infestation of rodents is causing major damage to their crops. Not only is the destruction of their crops a financial burden, but it is also a source of stress and worry for the farmers. They are scrambling to find a solution that will help them protect their crops and preserve their livelihoods. Some are trying to trap the rodents, while others are exploring more natural methods such as using hedgehogs and snakes as natural predators. No matter the solution, the farmers of Ho Dac Kien Ward are in dire need of help.
“The devastating impact of rodents’ attacks is immeasurable,” remarked My, “and Tien’s ability to mimic mouse sounds is truly remarkable.”
”
He has assisted in safeguarding the crops and augmenting the overall earnings of the people.
He is an excellent resident and a considerate individual, so everybody genuinely appreciates his companionship.
Stay up to date with the latest news from Vietnam by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter! Click here to find us on both platforms.
Ancient village in Tien Giang province woes visitors
Dong Hoa Hiep village in Tien Giang province’s Cai Be district is home to many beautiful ancient houses that have contributed to the unique landscape of the Mekong delta.
Mekong Delta, southern islands are new domestic tourism hotspots
The Mekong Delta and southern islands like Phu Quoc and Con Dao are dominating domestic tour bookings as COVID-19 cases rise elsewhere in Vietnam.
An emerald pearl by the Tien river
Located on the alluvial ground of three rivers of Tien, Ham Luong and Ba Lai, Chau Thanh district in Ben Tre province, which is home to coconut trees and beautiful orchards, is called the emerald pearl of Ben Tre.
Cam Thanh – Land of Coconuts
Located next to world heritage Hoi An and the world biosphere reserve Cham Islands, Cam Thanh coconut village is a popular tourist attraction, hosting thousands of foreign visitors every summer.
River-borne tourism a typical product in Can Tho city
Stretching for 55 km along the Hau River, Can Tho city boasts favourable conditions to develop river-borne tourism, a typical product of the locality.
