Man stands in stream at Mai Chau fishing with net on pole near taro plants

A highland man wearing a conical sunhat stands in a stream at Mai Chau fishing with a net on a pole. Visible in the foreground is a stand of large taro plants. For highland peoples of Southeast Asia, riverine fishing is a main source of protein in their diet. The large-leafed plants in the foreground, often called "elephant ears" in the U.S., are taro, which have a starchy edible tuber at their base. Peeled and cooked like a potato, taro roots are a filling but not highly nutritious food. They are, however, easy to grow and provide a ready source of food when other more favored crops such as rice are not available.