Most farmers went to the field at 5am but at that time, the heat was high.

For the dry fields, they could rent a mowing-machine for VND150,000 ($7) per one sao (360sq.m). 

For the wet field, where the machine cannot operate, hired harvesters are paid VND200,000 ($9)/sao.

Ms. Lan, a hired harvester, said her five-member group was hired to harvest rice on 1,700sq.m field. "We usually work from 5am to 10am and then from 2pm to evening," Lan said.

Due to the scorching sun, hired harvesters did not dare have long breaks because the more they relaxed, the weaker they were.

Farmer Le Van Sy said he hired a harvester machine but he had to be on the field from 5am to take care of the job and transport rice home. In sunny day like this, standing in the field was nearly unbearable.

For those who harvested by hand, they had to wait for the rice rubbing machine.

Working hard,  farmers can harvest only 200kg of rice from 360sq.m of field, worth over VND1 million ($48).

The sun makes people tired but in return, it makes rice dry more quickly.

After harvesting, farmers arrange straw into piles as food for cattle.

However, farmers are still happy with their job.

According to weather forecasters, the heat will end later this week but it will return at least twice in June.