16 Hours With the Tides | Life on Vietnam’s Tidal Flats

Follow a group of Vietnamese coastal workers through a long night and morning on the tidal flats of northern Vietnam. At 9 p.m., they travel nearly 4 miles offshore to a floating hut. After making tea and resting, they begin working as the tide recedes. Heavy rain, darkness, and strong tides make the work even more difficult. Nearby, more than 10 women, aged 50 to 65, harvest clams by hand at night using lights and rakes. Other workers repair nets, move sand, collect dead clam shells, and protect the clam beds from tidal erosion. They continue working until the rising tide covers the sandy flats again. Some workers earn around $19 for a day of clam harvesting, while others spend nearly 16 hours living and working offshore before returning to the mainland. This is real coastal life in Vietnam — a story of hard work, community, floating huts, and people whose lives are shaped by the tides. #Vietnam #TidalFlats #RuralVietnam #CoastalLife #VietnameseFarmers