Ben Tre
Sandwiched between two major branches of the Tien Giang River, Ben Tre is situated on a small island in the Mekong Delta known among other things for its fruit production, its tranquil atmosphere, and as the site of the first Viet Cong victory at the start of the Vietnam war. Once infamous as the village that had to be "destroyed in order to be saved" by American forces, the small town is now a wonderful place to experience the charms of the Mekong Delta. Today, Ben Tre is a tranquil, serene town, whose highlights include old villas, beautiful countryside, and a fascinating, teeming wet market.
Experiences
A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
Ben Tre High School for the Gifted
Come and visit with some talented Vietnamese youngsters and see what their school day is like. Talk with them and learn about their culture. Students harbor an optimistic and vibrant energy that will leave you with a strong impression of the local people and their future.
Ben Tre Museum
A collection of weaponry, photos, and propaganda from the Vietnam War (referred to as the American War by the Vietnamese), the Ben Tre Museum is housed in a nondescript structure, and is an excellent way to escape the heat or tropical rains. Recently, the museum received some donations in the form of nineteenth century pottery, thus expanding their collection.
Bike Tour of Mo Cay
After your boat ride, bike to Mo Cay, the site of an excellent wet market. Here, local residents come to buy fresh fish, meat, and vegetables; also available, though admittedly much rarer, are specialties like rat, snake, and spiders, few of which find their way into a typical Vietnamese meal.
Afterwards, bike to a local guesthouse and eat a delicious lunch of traditional Vietnamese dishes served in a breezy pavilion overlooking the river.
Boat Cruise
For a chance to experience relatively untouched parts of Vietnam that few foreigners visit, board a private, covered cruising boat, stocked with cold, cloth towels, bottled water, fresh, seasonal fruits, and green tea. Relax as the boat makes its way downriver, and the only sounds to be heard are trees stirring in the breeze, buzzing cicadas, or oars dipping in the water from an occasional, passing sampan.
Coconut Festival
Held in April of each year, the Coconut Festival is a sort of showcase of Ben Tre’s agricultural sector. At the Festival, coconuts, coconut-related handicrafts are exhibited, judged, and rated. One special treat is the coconut candy, or keo dua, a soft, sticky, and chewy candy beloved by adults and children alike.
Tour the Surrounding Countryside
Hike or bike the surrounding countryside around Ben Tre, through jade-green rice fields, houses with thatched, straw roofs, and locals farming the land, much as their ancestors have done for generations. Speak with the locals, take pictures of the scenery, and enjoy a leisurely, pre-packed picnic lunch.
Vien Minh Pagoda
While the original structure, built almost a century before, was demolished to make way for the more recent, stone and concrete temple, the Vien Minh Pagoda serves as the headquarters for the provincial Buddhist association. The pagoda also features a white statue of Quan Am, the female bodhisattva, or Buddhist saint, of mercy and compassion.
Vietnam Regions
Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below on the right.
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Exclusively Asia
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
Cruising the Mekong Delta: Saigon to Phnom Penh
- Author
- Jay Tindall
Start from Saigon, I plunged deep into the Vietnamese countryside for an adventure up the mighty Mekong, finally to dock in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh
What Others Say
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Friends from Washington DC and New York
The guides they selected were very good and, in three cases (Seoul, Hoi An/Hue, and Angkor Wat) simply outstanding.
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Remote Lands provided us with a deep, emotional human experience and we felt as alive as we could feel. [...] You truly do not know what traveling is like until you have traveled with Remote Lands.
Two couples from France and Switzerland
Our party preferred a French-speaking local guide and you found someone who was both knowledgeable and helpful. We would recommend her to anyone with the same needs.
