Co To: Sweet watermelons

Across the sandy coastal fields of Hai Tien Hamlet (Co To Special Zone, Quang Ninh), lush green watermelon fields are entering the harvest season. Amid the sun and sea winds characteristic of the island, the plump, crimson-fleshed melons stand as the reward for local farmers' years of dedication to watermelon farming.

Ms. Do Thi Quyen's family, from Hai Tien hamlet, is among the island's most experienced watermelon-growing households. This year, her family has planted around 2 mau (1 mau = 3,600 m²) of watermelons and expects to harvest approximately 4 tons, providing an important source of income for her family.

Ms. Quyen said her family began growing watermelons in 1997. After nearly 30 years of water growing, she has found that watermelons are exceptionally well suited to the island's natural conditions. The sandy soil, abundant sunshine, sea winds, and distinctive saline environment combine to give Co To watermelons their unique flavor.

Unlike watermelons grown in many mainland regions, those cultivated on Co To Island are not particularly large. However, they are prized for their intense sweetness, deep-red flesh, firm texture, and abundant juice. The island's unique natural conditions allow the fruit to accumulate higher sugar content, producing a refreshingly sweet flavor rarely found elsewhere.

Sharing her cultivation experience, Ms. Quyen said that soil improvement is key to producing consistently high-quality, sweet watermelons. "One of the secrets behind the distinctive flavor of Co To watermelons lies in environmentally friendly cultivation practices. For many years, my family has collected shrimp heads from local seafood processing facilities and composted them into organic fertilizer to improve the soil. Once fully decomposed, this seafood by-product becomes a mineral-rich natural nutrient that loosens the soil, enhances its fertility, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers," Ms. Quyen shared.

Nourished by organic fertilizer and shaped by the island's sandy soil and distinctive climate, Co To watermelons are prized for their rich sweetness, deep-red flesh, crisp and firm texture, and natural aroma. The model of utilizing seafood by-products for agricultural production not only enhances the quality of agricultural products but also reduces environmental waste, moving toward a green, circular, and sustainable agriculture on the island.

Beyond their economic value, the lush watermelon fields also enrich the agricultural landscape of this frontline island district. Every harvest season, Co To watermelons are popular with both local residents and tourists for their excellent quality, food safety, and the distinctive flavor shaped by the island's maritime environment.

Under the island's strategy to develop agriculture associated with experiential tourism, Co To watermelons are gradually affirming their value, becoming one of the locality's typical agricultural products, while contributing to promoting the image of a green, friendly island with strong growth potential.

In addition to developing agricultural production, Ms. Do Thi Quyen's family has gradually expanded into experiential tourism. Alongside watermelons, her family also grows oriental melons, sweet potatoes, and a range of other signature agricultural products of Co To Island.

In recent years, a large number of tourists to the island have come to Ms. Quyen's farm to experience its green agriculture space, learn firsthand about cultivation and harvesting processes, and enjoy freshly picked products straight from the field. The model has emerged as a promising direction, contributing to diversifying the island's tourism products while showcasing the clean agriculture and distinctive values of Co To Island to tourists.