In Vietnam, when someone dies, they are temporarily buried for a period of three years, at which point the bones are collected and moved to a permanent burial location. Since land, specifically burial plots, are so expensive, and the bones of the deceased need to be moved anyway, the locals have opted to temporarily bury the deceased in the rice fields. During this time, the fish help clean off the bones for when the body relocated. The fish in Ninh Binh, where i discovered this practice, are the most delicious fish I think I’ve ever had.. and now
I Know Why.