When foreign tourists experience life as farmers in Vietnam

For many visitors, Co To island is a good suggestion to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse themselves in pristine, peaceful nature.

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French tourist Loic Pesquerl and his friend Antoine Habert have spent memorable moments harvesting rice and plowing fields with local farmers in Hai Tien hamlet, Co To Special Zone.

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The French man is a bit confused the first time he holds the sickle. However, his experience as a farmer on Co To quickly turns into a wonderful adventure. Using the sickle to harvest rice, he gains deeper understanding of farmers’ daily lives. “This experience is more amazing than any other tour I’ve ever joined,” he shares.

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Loic’s friend Habert experiences rice harvesting for the first time.

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Apart from harvesting rice, Loic Pesquerl and Antoine Habert are guided to plow the fields with buffalo, experiencing the daily life of local islanders.

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Bui Thi Phuong, a resident of Hai Tien village, shares that watching foreign visitors harvest rice makes her feel both surprised and delighted. “They seem very excited to experience life as farmers,” she says

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The seasonal tourism programme, offered by many local households and homestays, combines sightseeing with hands-on activities and local cuisine. After harvesting rice, catching snails, or going fishing, tourists enjoy a meal, gaining a deeper understanding of the daily life and culture of local islanders.

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The tourism model offers visitors the chance to live like a local.

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The community-based tourism model helps tourists discover Vietnamese culture in rural areas.

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A resident guides French tourist on how to rake for clams.

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Experiencing life with islanders is a tourism product designed to introduce international visitors to local culture and promote environmental conservation. Alongside key offerings such as marine ecotourism and community-based tourism, these experiences form part of the initiatives to develop the tourism industry in the Co To Special Zone by 2030.