Ben Tre, Vietnam: Top 10 Places to Visit
Ben Tre is a destination often chosen by many travelers in the exploration programs of the Southwestern region of Vietnam. With ideal year-round weather conditions, friendly and hospitable people, and an abundant river system, it is well-suited for ecotourism, providing an exciting experience for every traveler. In this article, let’s explore a province in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam together with SVietnam Travel.
Overview of Ben Tre
Ben Tre is a province in the South Central Coast region, part of the renowned Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Here, the local residents lead lives closely tied to the rivers, engaging in fruit cultivation and agriculture. With an extensive network of waterways, visitors to Ben Tre will travel on small boats alongside friendly locals, exploring tourist attractions, traditional craft villages, and unique festivals in the area.
The floating market is also a unique cultural feature of the Mekong River region, learn more: Top 8 Floating Markets in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Best Time to Visit Ben Tre
Ben Tre is located in the Southwestern region of Vietnam, known for its typically hot and sunny days with cooler nights. The weather here doesn’t undergo significant changes, so you can choose to visit Ben Tre at any time. However, if you want to savor the delicious fruits in Ben Tre, it’s best to visit from May to August, which is the harvest season for fruits like mangosteen, rambutan, longan, lychee, jackfruit, and custard apple. To learn more about the best time to visit other cities in Vietnam, see Best Time To Visit Vietnam
Transportation to Ben Tre
The distance from Ho Chi Minh city to Ben Tre is only 85 km, and the most suitable transportation options for getting there are motorbikes and cars, with a travel time of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. If you’re coming from the North or Central regions of Vietnam, you should book a flight to Ho Chi Minh city and then use a car to reach Ben Tre.
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Ben Tre
Con Quy Island
Con Quy is like a small island situated in the river, formed hundreds of years ago. In the early days, this place was deserted and uninhabited, and it wasn’t until the 1960s that people began to come here to clear land and settle. Today, Con Quy has become an area for growing various fruits and agricultural products for export, and it’s also a popular tourist destination in Ben Tre. When you visit Con Quy, you can enjoy various fruits and have the opportunity to experience Don Ca Tai Tu, a form of cultural expression recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Con Phung Island
Con Phung is located on a small islet in the Tien River, in the Tan Thach commune of Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. Not far from Con Quy, this place is famous for growing various fruits of Ben Tre. Besides, when you come here, you can immerse yourself in nature, explore the lives of local people, go cycling, paddle through the intricate river branches, and listen to Don Ca Tai Tu music.
Minh Islands
Minh islands is one of the largest islets in Ben Tre, combining with two other islets, Bao Islands and An Hoa Islands, to make up Ben Tre province. It is also the area with the most coconut cultivation in Ben Tre and many facilities produce coconut-based products.
Lang Be Tourist Area
Lang Be Tourist Area is another exciting destination you should visit on your trip to Ben Tre. Here, you can participate in various fun and adventurous activities like swinging over the river, fishing, cycling across bridges, and more.
Cai Mon Fruit Garden, Tan Phu Fruit Garden
Visiting fruit gardens is an activity you shouldn’t miss when in Ben Tre, as it is the primary economic activity of the local people here. When you visit these fruit gardens, you can admire and savor various local specialty fruits right in the garden.
Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary
Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary is a unique ecological area, representing the coastal mangrove forests of the Mekong Delta. Covering an area of over 67 hectares, it is a habitat for over 120 rare bird species such as herons, egrets, storks, seagulls, and many types of wild animals like snakes, squirrels, bats, and monitor lizards.
Cai Mon Flower Village, My Long Rice Paper Craft Village
Ben Tre also has some craft villages that combine with tourism, such as flower-growing villages and villages producing coconut-based products like My Long Rice Paper Craft Village. This is where coconut rice paper is made. The rice paper is made from a mixture of rice and coconut, forming round sheets with a diameter of about 25 cm. After drying in the sun, the rice paper hardens, is packaged, and then sold. To enjoy this rice paper, you must grill it on a charcoal stove or microwave it, but the most delicious way is to grill it over an open flame.
Nguyen Dinh Chieu Temple and Mausoleum
The Nguyen Dinh Chieu Mausoleum in An Duc commune, Ba Tri district, is the final resting place of the famous Vietnamese poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu, who had a patriotic spirit and was also a doctor for the people. Every year on July 1st, the people of Ben Tre hold a traditional festival here to commemorate the renowned poet, a beloved figure in the Southern region. He was also recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Celebrity in 2021.
Ben Tre Cuisine
Coconut is the most prominent product in Ben Tre, known for its high-quality coconuts that are highly regarded and distributed to cities throughout Vietnam. Therefore, there is a wide variety of coconut-based products here, such as coconut candy, coconut rice, and banana cakes served with coconut milk.
Notes When Visiting Ben Tre
- When participating in recreational activities in Ben Tre, you may get wet or dirty, so it’s a good idea to prepare at least two sets of clothing for changing as needed. Opt for simple, comfortable, and cool attire.
- If you can plan your itinerary wisely, you can explore Ben Tre in just 1 to 2 days.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are accessories you should have when traveling to Ben Tre.
- It’s advisable to carry only the amount of cash you need to avoid loss or theft.
Conclusion
Exploring the Mekong Delta region in general and Ben Tre in particular always reveals interesting experiences through the simplest aspects of daily life for the local people. By bypassing the bustling, noisy urban areas, you can immerse yourself in a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere, connect with nature, and relieve stress with joyful laughter. If you’re interested in Mekong and Ben Tre exploration tours, please contact our advisors for assistance.
