Ben Tre is a little province in the east of Mekong Delta, being wedged between two main arms of Tien River. Ben Tre shares borders with Tien Giang, Tra Vinh and Vinh Long. It has one township also called Ben Tre and 7 other small districts, including Ba Tri, Binh Dai, Chau Thanh, Cho Lach, Giong Trom, Mo Cay and Thanh Phu. The province also accounts for the greatest part of Khmer ethnic population of the region. Read more:
Mekong river cruise
Ben Tre is known as the land of coconut and also the cradle of “Dong Khoi” (“simultaneous insurgency”). Recording some of the fiercest stages of the American-Vietnam War, Ben Tre is heard by most students of the two countries’ history.
The sleepy and laid back Ben Tre is usually bypassed by most visitors coming to the delta. Considering its unparalleled beauty and historical significance, however, this picturesque area is definitely well worth a visit.
Sights & Attractions
Phoenix Island
A visit to Bentre should include a boat trip to its several secluded islands. The first to be mentioned is the beautifully named Phoenix Islands (Con Phung). The island covers an area of 28 ha, emerging amidst the Tien River. Con Phung draws tourist attention mainly due to a coconut candy home factory located here. It is interesting to watch the entire manual making process of these Vietnamese fragrant sweets and taste some. The island is also famous with its coconut handicraft village.
The next stop is Dragon Island where you may fill your stomach with luscious tropical fruit and enjoy a yummy lunch with local specialties, typically included elephant ear fish, crispy southern spring rolls, sweet- sour soup and rice or noodles. On Unicorn Island, you may relax with honey tea and enjoy a local music performance of “Don ca tai tu”, a form of folklore opera in southern Vietnam.
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| Ben Tre travel guide |
Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary
Vam Ho is a natural reverse area in Ba Tri District, around 57km from Ben Tre Township, accessible by road and boat. The sanctuary is home to thousands of stocks, cranes, herons and many other rare bird species. A network of arroyos was dug to water and protect the area from risks of fire.
The reserve also boasts rich flora (mainly mangroves) and fauna (bats, snakes, pythons, etc). It is best visited from 4 to 5pm everyday as the birds coming back to their nests after a day searching around for food. It may get very noisy with their flap of wings and their loud voices, but definitely a scene you may see once in a lifetime.
The historical relics & memorials
Ben Tre is homeland of the greatest female figure in Vietnam modern history, Madam Nguyen Thi Dinh. Her temple and memorial complex can be found in Phong Dien Hamlet, Luong Hoa Commune, Giong Trom District.
General Nguyen Thi Dinh was the soul of Dong Khoi revolutionary, first broke out in Mo Cay District of Ben Tre (1959), then spread out to the all other provinces of Mekong Delta. She was also the founder and leader of the renowned Vietnamese “long hair army” or “female guerilla troops”. You may also visit the Dong Khoi traditional house in Mo Cay District and relics of the Ho Chi Minh Trail on sea in Thanh Phu District.
Food & Drink
Numerous fruit orchards can be found in Cai Mon-Cho Lach, Tien Long and Chau Thanh districts: mango, longan, papaya, durian, jackfruit, rambutan, you name it. Interestingly, it is often sold to tourists not in kg but “belly sold” that means you pay a certain amount then pick up and eat to your full. The orchard owners may also offer you a delicious lunch of chicken specially raised by letting walk freely in the large orchards and find food themselves. Mussel rice is also a popular delicacy here.
Ben Tre is especially famous for coconut cake that is made from sticky rice mixed with black bean and rolled in strips of nipa young leaf. Making this cake is a time consuming and painstaking job. Rice is carefully chosen and soaked for several hours. Locals have to get up early to wash rice, extract young coconut milk and prepare wrappings. Cakes are fasten in clusters of a dozen and boiled for hours. The secret of making coconut cake is kept strictly and passed from generation to generation of the families.
A very popular drink not only in Ben Tre but around Mekong Delta in general is snake wine. It is supposed to be good for men and only men are allowed to taste them. Other widely available drinks are coconut alcohol and honey tea. Strolling around the bee farming villages in Mo Cay, Chau Thanh, Cho Lach and Giong Trom districts, you will be invited by vendors to visits their homes and taste some.
Getting there & away
There are two main ways to get to Ben Tre by road. From Ho Chi Minh City, you may follow the National Highway 1A to Trung Luong junction in My Tho- Tien GIang, turn right into National Highway 60 to Rach Mieu Ferry. Total distance is 86km and the ferry crossing takes around 22 minutes, ferry run 24 hours.
The second way is to travel from Can Tho to Vinh Long on National Highway 57. After crossing Dinh Khao Ferry to land on Cho Lach District, then continue to Ben Tre Township. Total distance is 50.7km.
Ben Tre can also be visited by boat down the Tien River.
