Located in the delta of the Mekong river, Ben Tre is one of the southernmost provinces in Vietnam. Ben Tre, the capital city, is bordered by rivers with the Ham Luong river running straight through the city center. The province’s main agriculture is rice and fruit cultivation and a number of coconut trees can be found here, hence a variety of coconut desserts are available.
The provincial capital is charming, with a host of attractions. As an island town, visitors can travel along the river to explore the surrounding areas and the small museum that is located the bank of the river. The bustling riverfront is also worth exploring.
The Vam Ho bird colony is home to a wide range of birds while the fruit gardens of Cai Mon and Tien Long offer free tastings of various hand-picked fruits. If time permits, take a trip to My Tho, another town near to the provincial capital.
Thanks to its scenic natural surroundings, Ben Tre is also ideal for camping and trekking. Some of the signature dishes here include rice pancakes with mussels, mussel rice gruel and chicken rice gruel.
Despite its charms, not many tourists come to this dead-end province. The only way to get to the rest of Vietnam is by ferry, or you can choose to head back through My Tho. Ben Tre has good infrastructure, with various accommodations and restaurants.