Often referred to as the "Coconut Kingdom," Ben Tre offers visitors an authentic glimpse into the rural life of the Mekong Delta. In this Ben Tre travel guide, we will take you through the must-visit attractions, cultural experiences, local specialties, and accommodation options that will help you make the most of your trip. Get ready to embark on a memorable adventure in this enchanting part of Vietnam, where every corner holds a story and every encounter leaves a lasting impression.

Things to Visit In Ben Tre

The Four Islands

When visiting the Mekong Delta, the four islands Long, Lân, Quy, and Phụng (Four Sacred Animals of the Orchard) are the first thing that comes up (well, maybe the second, after the floating markets). The Long (Dragon) and Lân (Unicorn) islands are located in the My Tho, while the Quy (Turtle) and Phụng (Phoenix) islands belong to Ben Tre province.

Turtle Island, located in Chau Thanh district, is renowned for its delicious fruits and seafood. It is the smallest of the four islands of the Mekong Delta. Visitors to Turtle Island can enjoy "đờn ca tài tử," a traditional Southern Vietnamese musical performance that embodies the essence of the Mekong River region.

In Phoenix Island, visitors can take a motorboat to explore coconut candy production facilities and souvenir shops or take a horse ride through fruit orchards, stopping at a palm-thatched house to drink honey and kumquat tea with honey and savor tropical fruits. You can also go crocodile fishing and bottle-feed carp.

There are two ways to explore all four islands in a single day. You can either join a guided tour or go independently. The cost for a shared tour is around 80,000 VND per person. For a private and all-inclusive tour, the cost ranges from 300,000 to 350,000 VND. To explore the four islands, you need to rent a boat. Boats can be rented in My Tho or from An Khanh commune, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre.

Coconut Gardens & Coconut Religion

Known as the “Coconut Kingdom,” Ben Tre has more than 200,000 households growing coconuts, accounting for about two-thirds of the total households in the province. Obviously, you can see coconut gardens almost anywhere in Ben Tre. Consider cycling a few kilometers around the coconut gardens to enjoy the peaceful countryside. And when you’re tired, stop for a relaxing coconut water and savor coconut candy—a Ben Tre specialty.

If there were to be a real Coconut Kingdom, Coconut-ism would be its religion. Unironically, there is actually something called Coconut religion, founded by a monk named Nguyen Thanh Nam. It was one of many religions that existed in the South before 1975. Coconut religion promotes religious harmony, integrating elements from Buddhism and Christianity.

Each night, Nguyen Thanh Nam would sit outside to meditate, wearing only a simple garment, enduring the weather. His diet consisted strictly of coconuts for years, which earned him the nickname "Ông Đạo Dừa" (Coconut Monk). In 1963, Nguyen Thanh Nam went to Phoenix Island, where he built a temple and established the Coconut religion. His religion did not require chanting or bell-ringing like in Buddhism but emphasized meditation, vegetarianism, and reflection. Coconut religion encouraged people to live respectfully, lovingly, and harmoniously with one another. Regarding food, the Coconut religion advocated for the consumption of coconuts and coconut water. The religion/cult ended when the Coconut Monk died in 1990, but you can still visit the “Coconut Estate” in Phoenix Island.

Fruit Orchard

Not only known as the "Land of Coconuts," Ben Tre's fruit orchards are also very worth visiting with their diverse variety of fruits, and especially their year-round abundance. This is because each season has its own characteristic fruits, such as green-skinned pomelo, durian, rambutan, mangosteen, star apple, langsat, oranges, tangerines, and more. The Cai Mon fruit garden in Cho Lach is known as the "kingdom of fruits, seedlings, and ornamental plants" of Ben Tre province.

One of the most famous fruit orchards to visit in Ben Tre is Cai Mon-Cho Lach. You can enjoy the lush green space of the orchard, hand-pick fresh fruits, and eat them on the spot. 

The Cai Mon-Cho Lach fruit orchard entrance fee is 10,000 VND per person. If you want to pick and enjoy the fruits in the garden, you need to buy a ticket for 70,000 VND. You can try any fruit in the garden, but you will need to pay for any fruit you wish to take home.

Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary

If you have the chance to visit Ben Tre, don't forget to explore Vam Ho, the largest bird sanctuary in the province, covering over 67 hectares. Here, you can discover fascinating nature and witness flocks of birds flying across the sky.

October to April is when birds gather here to breed. You can see nests with eggs on the branches of mangroves, nipa palms, and other trees. By August, the birds migrate elsewhere. You'll experience paddling through lush old-growth forests filled with the sounds of birds. You can visit historical resistance bases, cross rickety bamboo bridges, relax on hammocks under the forest canopy, and breathe in the fresh air.

It's rare to find a place as pristine and naturally beautiful, teeming with birds and aquatic life, as this sanctuary. Vam Ho bird sanctuary is home to over 120 rare bird species, including herons, egrets, cormorants, grey herons, white ibises, and teals, as well as various wildlife such as pythons, snakes, squirrels, civets, bats, and monitor lizards.

The vegetation in Vam Ho is also vibrant, providing ideal habitats for the birds. The bird sanctuary also features a network of interwoven canals, rich in shrimp and fish, offering abundant food sources for the birds.

Entrance fee: 150,000 VND/person

Craft Villages

There are a lot of interesting craft villages in Ben Tre that are worth checking out, such as:

Phu Le craft village: a fascinating destination where visitors can listen to the local "hát sắc bùa" songs and observe traditional weaving. "Hát sắc bùa" has two parts: a ceremonial part and an entertainment part. The ceremonial part involves using songs and a charm to ward off evil spirits. The entertainment part consists of festive songs that offer blessings for farming and weaving. In addition to bamboo and rattan weaving, the traditional sticky rice wine brewing is also a popular craft in Phu Le. The uniqueness of traditional Phu Le wine lies in its secret herbal yeast recipe, which includes 36 herbs from both North and South Vietnam. These herbs are finely ground and mixed with rice bran or Ba Tri sticky rice, creating a distinctive yeast for the village's wine. Additionally, the yeast is also mixed with a variety of spices such as chili, galangal, and betel leaves, contributing to the wine's unique flavor.

My Long rice paper village: offers visitors the chance to watch locals make rice paper. The rice papers are dried and then grilled over a charcoal stove, resulting in hot, crispy, and coconut milk-flavored rice papers for visitors to enjoy.

Son Doc puffed rice cake village (bánh phồng): with a history of over 100 years. Visitors here can learn about the process of making puffed rice cakes. A quality puffed rice cake should be fluffy and crispy and expand to twice its original size when grilled. The village offers a variety of puffed rice cakes for tourists to savor or to take home as gifts, including egg yolk puffed rice cakes, jackfruit-flavored puffed rice cakes, and durian-flavored puffed rice cakes.

Dishes to Try

Ben Tre Coconut-Based Specialties

Kẹo Dừa (Coconut Candy): Mention Ben Tre and coconut candy immediately comes to mind. This famous specialty is known nationwide for its unique rich and fragrant flavor. Each piece of candy is delicious, meticulously wrapped (the wrap is also edible), and super affordable, making it a popular gift to bring back from Ben Tre.

Bánh Dừa (Coconut Cake): A humble yet long-standing delicacy in Ben Tre, coconut cakes are small, hand-sized, and resemble the cylindrical shape of bánh tét. Coconut milk is mixed with the rice, along with a bit of salt and sugar, and thoroughly blended. When tasting, you'll experience the salty hint of salt, the rich coconut flavor, and the soft, sticky texture of the rice.

Bánh Phồng Sơn Đốc

This delicacy combines the fragrant smell of sticky rice, the richness of coconut, the rustic sweetness of cane sugar, and the puffy texture of the rice cake, making it a dish worth trying.

Chuối Đập (Grilled Flattened Bananas)

A popular snack among students, this dish involves grilling slightly ripe bananas over charcoal and serving them with thick coconut milk. The combination of the aromatic grilled bananas and the rich coconut milk leaves a lasting impression.

Gỏi Củ Hủ Dừa Tôm Thịt (Coconut Heart Salad with Shrimp and Pork)

Made from the tender core of the coconut tree, this salad includes ingredients like pork belly, shrimp, onions, carrots, chili, and peanuts. The crisp texture and nutty flavor of the coconut heart set this salad apart, making it a perfect appetizer.

Bánh Xèo Ốc Gạo (Rice Snail Pancakes)

Exclusive to Phu Da islet in Ben Tre, this pancake dish uses the locally abundant “ốc gạo” (rice snails) instead of the usual pork and shrimp.

Chuột Dừa (Coconut Rat)

This unique specialty involves cooking rats that live on coconut trees. The rats feed on the sweet coconuts, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. They are prepared in various ways, such as grilling, steaming, or cooking in curry.

Bánh Tráng Mỹ Lồng (Mỹ Lồng Rice Paper) 

This well-known Ben Tre specialty is crispy and golden when grilled, with a distinct coconut flavor. It's often bought as a souvenir and pairs well with salads.

Cơm Dừa (Coconut Rice)

A signature dish of Ben Tre. The rice is soaked in coconut water, then cooked inside the coconut shell itself. The resulting dish is fragrant and pairs excellently with savory dishes like sautéed shrimp or braised pork.

Best Time to  Visit Ben Tre

Ben Tre is located in the southwestern region of Vietnam, enjoying a warm, sunny climate year-round. Visitors can explore this area at any time of the year, but the best time to visit Ben Tre is during the summer months of June, July, and August. This period allows you to admire the colorful natural scenery and enjoy fresh fruits picked directly from the trees, such as mangosteen, durian, and rambutan.

How to Get to Ben Tre from Saigon?

If you're traveling from Ho Chi Minh City, you can head to Mien Tay bus station to take a bus to Ben Tre, with ticket prices ranging from 85,000 to 140,000 VND. The journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

You can opt for a motorbike trip, allowing you to stop and enjoy the scenery along the way. It’s best to start early in the morning or after 9 AM to avoid the peak traffic between 6 and 8 AM. Follow National Highway 1A to My Tho city, then cross the Rạch Miễu Bridge. After the bridge, turn right to reach the center of Ben Tre city.

You can also choose a tour from a local travel agency for a more convenient visit.

Where to Stay in Ben Tre

Hotels in Ben Tre

Hàm Luông Hotel: This hotel offers modern amenities, including an outdoor pool, a spa, and a restaurant. It's centrally located, making it convenient for exploring the city.

Address: 200C Hùng Vương, Phường 5, Ben Tre

Mekong Hotel: This hotel offers a pleasant stay with clean rooms, a restaurant, and easy access to local attractions.

Address: 232 Võ Nguyên Giáp, Phường 5, Ben Tre

Homestays in Ben Tre

Jardin du Mekong Homestay: A peaceful homestay surrounded by lush gardens, offering an authentic Mekong Delta experience. Guests can enjoy home-cooked meals and explore the local area.

Address: Tan Phu, Chau Thanh, Ben Tre

Mango Home Riverside: This homestay features charming bungalows along the river, providing a tranquil setting with opportunities for boating and cycling tours.

Address: My Khanh, Cai Be, Ben Tre

Budget Options

Nhà Nghỉ Thư Thư: A budget-friendly guesthouse with basic amenities and clean rooms.

Address: 83C Nguyen Thi Dinh, Phu Khuong, Ben Tre

Nhà Nghỉ Quê Hương: Another affordable option offering comfortable rooms and easy access to the city's attractions.

Address: 216B3 Đại Lộ Đồng Khởi, Phường 6, Ben Tre

=> Mekong Delta Discovery Mo Cay - Ben Tre