The province of Ben Tre and the capital of the same name are located in the middle of the Mekong Delta – the river delta that is located at the southernmost tip of Vietnam. Surrounded by lush green vegetation you can explore authentic Vietnam off the beaten path.
Ben Tre is known as Coconut Province Known: More coconuts grow here than almost anywhere else in Vietnam. And the coconuts from Ben Tre really taste great, as we were able to test for ourselves. We have seldom drunk such good coconuts as in Ben Tre.
Are you considering going to Ben Tre soon and want to know what to expect? In this blog article we tell you about our experiences. We reveal our personal tips and show you why the Mekong Delta should definitely be on your itinerary.
1. Ben Tre: The Coconut Province at a Glance The town of Ben Tre is located in the heart of the Mekong Delta. The unique river delta in southern Vietnam is criss-crossed by several arms of the river and countless canals. The vegetation is lush and green, the people are very friendly (as friendly as nowhere else in Vietnam) and the atmosphere is relaxed. In short, the Mekong Delta is truly a place that we believe should not be missed on any Vietnam trip.
For most travelers, Can Tho is the first (and often only) stop in the Mekong Delta. Ben Tre, on the other hand, sees far fewer tourists. The river landscape around Ben Tre is at least as attractive.
The town of Ben Tre itself is surprisingly lively. We had reckoned with an idyllic, low-traffic provincial town. However, we found ourselves in a small metropolis surrounded by honking mopeds. A little outside the center, however, things are quite different. A trip along the canals around Ben Tre is pure idyll!
What can I do in Experience Ben Tre? Would you like to experience authentic Vietnam and get a glimpse of the rural life of the people ? Then Ben Tre is definitely the right destination for you. For example, many stay in a homestay, to make the experience as authentic as possible. We will tell you our overnight tip for Ben Tre at the end of this blog article.
Most (including us) explore the region in the same way that the locals mostly get around: By boat. You drive past the houses on the river, take a look into the backyards, watch the people at work and once again see why the Mekong is called the lifeline of Southeast Asia. The Mekong and its river arms and canals simply determine the entire everyday life of the population.
An excursion by bike is also popular. Although the town center is very hectic, you can reach rural Ben Tre fairly quickly. We love to explore a region by bike – even if the whole thing is often a sweaty undertaking in Southeast Asia, you get a great insight into the lives of the people.
Where is Ben Tre and how do I get there? Ben Tre is located in the east of the Mekong Delta , which is located in the very south of Vietnam. From Saigon you can usually get to Ben Tre by bus. Buses to Ben Tre usually start at the Mien Tay bus station in Saigon. The journey takes a good two hours – sometimes longer, depending on traffic. A bus ticket for this route costs approximately 25.000 VND per person.
Should test If you are already in the Mekong Delta, there are bus connections to Ben Tre from many places (e.g. Can Tho). However, there are mainly “local buses” on the road here, i.e. those buses that tend to be less comfortable and are used by locals. The buses run rather irregularly – we would recommend you to ask locally (eg at your accommodation) for the current departure time.
We ourselves traveled from Can Tho to Ben Tre. Since we had missed the direct bus, we took a bus from the recommended bus company Phuong Trang (Futa Lines) to My Tho. From there we took a taxi to Ben Tre.
2. Ben Tre Province Day Trip: Our Experiences We recommend you to do Ben Tre Province in frame of a day or half-day excursion. Depending on which provider or tour you choose, different stops will be made. If possible, we advise you to take a private tour. The experience just gets more personal.
On our tour we visited a brick factory and a coconut candy factory, among other things. Factory (so good!). We were guests of a local family who served us the most extensive lunch of our entire Vietnam trip. We were allowed to pick a papaya from their garden, drank the best and sweetest coconut of our lives, ate the most unusual fruits (ever tried water coconut?), rode a tiny boat through the canals of the Mekong Deltas and watched the people fishing.
You may have noticed from our story: Of course, the tours in Ben Tre are clearly aimed at tourists. However, we found the day to be very exciting and wouldn’t want to miss the experience.
The tours offered by DinHo Ecotour. are highly recommended only private tours that you can book through the Dinho Ecotour Facebook page.
3. Overnight stays in Ben Tre: Our hotel tip Are you looking for a very special one Retreat? Then we can heartily recommend the accommodation Mekong Home. The concept is a bit reminiscent of a homestay with a luxury character. The entire facility is furnished with an incredible amount of flair and attention to detail – you feel at home here from the first moment.
The host family will do everything possible to ensure you have a pleasant stay. For example, free cooking classes are offered. The boat tours, which start directly from the hotel’s jetty, are also highly recommended. The rooms in the bungalows are very tastefully furnished. You really don’t want for anything here.
The property is just outside Ben Tre town center – by car it’s about 25 minutes. But to be honest: The center of Ben Tre isn’t pretty anyway, so that doesn’t bother you in the slightest. The Mekong Home is a oasis of calm and highly recommended!
You can book the accommodation here: Mekong Home
Transparency: Affiliate Links This blog article contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or buy something through the links, we will receive a small commission. For you, this does not change the price at all. A thousand thanks from both of us!
Have you already been to Ben Tre or any other place in the Mekong Delta? How was your experience? Do you have any other tips? Or would you also like to travel the Mekong Delta and still have questions? We look forward to your comment!
