As part of their 20-day journey across Vietnam, the pair devoted half their time to Co To, hoping to immerse themselves in the island’s natural beauty and deep-rooted culture.

“This was the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city  -  a return to pristine, peaceful nature,” they shared.

In the final months of the year, Co To transitions into a tranquil rhythm after a booming tourist season. Locals focus on agriculture, crafts, and seafood harvesting. It’s seen as a time for the island to “rest and recover.”

Rather than just enjoy the blue sea and romantic sunsets, Loic and Antoine opted for a deeper, hands-on approach  -  living like locals. Their days began with farming and ended with seafood gathering.

In the Hai Tien hamlet, they joined villagers in plowing fields, cutting rice, and carrying heavy loads. For both, this was their first direct contact with traditional Vietnamese farming.

Seeing Loic awkwardly wield a sickle or strain under a hefty rice bundle drew laughs and cheers from the farmers.

“This was more exciting than any guided tour I’ve been on. Only when I cut and carried the rice myself did I truly understand how strong and resilient the people here are. Growing rice is far from easy,” Loic reflected.

Antoine, on the other hand, found himself “exhausted to the bone” while trying to plow using a buffalo. He marveled at how lean farmers could walk swiftly with burdens that left him staggering.

This form of agricultural tourism is part of a new local initiative. Several households and homestays on the island now offer tourists the chance to “live like a local,” blending sightseeing, labor, and local cuisine.

Nguyen Minh Hue, a homestay owner in Hai Tien, said international tourists have responded positively:

“This is our first year offering farm experiences. It’s the perfect option on stormy days when tourists can’t go fishing or clam digging. It also deepens their connection to the island and its people,” she said.

After morning rice work, the French guests ventured to the coast to dig clams, collect snails, and fish, often wading waist-deep in seawater, bending over for hours to find shellfish buried in the sand.

Their hard-earned catches were transformed into humble but flavorful local dishes such as clam soup, seafood porridge, and sour fish soup.

“After a long day working with locals, even a simple meal becomes incredibly delicious,” Hue added.

Co To Island comprises over 50 islets, with the main inhabited clusters being Co To Proper and Thanh Lan. Small Co To Island lies to the northeast, forming a natural triangle with the two larger islands. Other scenic spots include Ca Chep Island, Dong Nam Island, Hon Ngang Island, and Bay Sao Island.

“We’re falling in love with the quiet charm of Co To during the off-season,” Loic and Antoine said, already planning to return.