Ben Tre Mekong Delta 2026: Coconut Canals & Homestays

Ben Tre (Bến Tre), the “land of coconuts”, is a cluster of river islands in the Mekong Delta about 85 km (around 2 hours) from Saigon, just across the Tien River from My Tho and part of Vinh Long province since 2025. Visitors come for sampan rides in water-coconut canals, coconut candy workshops, Phoenix Island, village cycling and garden homestays.

Status (checked October 2026): open as normal. Following the mid-2025 mergers, Ben Tre is part of Vinh Long province. The Rach Mieu 2 Bridge from My Tho opened on 19 August 2025 and the old Rach Mieu ferry has stopped, so crossings are quicker. Island sites and workshops open daily in daylight.

Why Ben Tre is worth seeing:

Coconut country: Vietnam’s largest coconut-growing area, with palms lining every canal.
Quiet sampan canals: narrow, shady channels with fewer boats than the My Tho side.
Coconut candy workshops: see kẹo dừa boiled, cut and wrapped by hand.
Cycling and homestays: flat village lanes, orchards and simple riverside stays.
Easy pairing: combine with My Tho in a single day from Saigon.

Ben Tre at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Bến Tre, nicknamed Xứ Dừa (“Land of Coconuts”)
Location	Islands between the Tien, Ham Luong and Co Chien branches of the Mekong; Vinh Long province (Ben Tre province until 2025)
Distance	About 85 km from Ho Chi Minh City; about 15 km from My Tho
Known for	Coconut candy, water-coconut canals, Phoenix Island, fruit and plant nurseries
Opening hours	Island sites and workshops: daily, daylight hours
Entrance fee	Workshops free to visit; Phoenix Island packages charged per person (included in most tours)
Time needed	Half a day to one night
Best time	December–April; early morning or late afternoon for cycling
Nearby	My Tho, Vinh Long, Cai Be
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia

Is Ben Tre Worth Visiting?

Yes, it is the greenest and most relaxing part of a short Mekong trip. Ben Tre has no grand monuments; its appeal is the landscape of coconut groves, canals and family workshops. Group tours touch only the island stops, so an overnight homestay or a cycling day shows far more.

Best for: cyclists, families, photographers and travellers who want rural calm close to Saigon.
Skip if: you are mainly after temples and history; My Tho and Chau Doc have more.
Short on time: Phoenix Island, a sampan canal and one coconut workshop in half a day.

Background: Ben Tre and the Coconut

Ben Tre is built on three large islands, An Hoa, Bao and Minh, separated by branches of the Mekong. Fertile alluvial soil and brackish water near the coast suit coconut palms, which became the backbone of the local economy: candy, oil, fibre mats, charcoal and handicrafts all come from the coconut.

Ben Tre is also a name in modern history. The Dong Khoi (“Concerted Uprising”) of January 1960 started in Mo Cay district and is commemorated across the province. In 2025 Ben Tre province merged with Tra Vinh into an enlarged Vinh Long province; the former provincial city has been reorganised into wards, one of which keeps the name Ben Tre.

What to See in Ben Tre

1. Sampan ride through water-coconut canals

The signature experience: a rower takes two to four passengers along a narrow canal under arching nipa (water-coconut) palms for about 15–20 minutes. Canals on the Ben Tre side are usually quieter than those opposite My Tho.

2. Coconut candy workshops

Family workshops in Chau Thanh and Mo Cay show the whole process: grating, pressing coconut milk, boiling it with malt and sugar, then cutting and wrapping each piece by hand in edible rice paper. Flavours include durian, pandan and peanut.

Wrapped coconut candies, a Ben Tre specialty — Coconut candy (kẹo dừa) is Ben Tre’s best-known product.

3. Phoenix Island (Con Phung)

On the Tien River opposite My Tho, Phoenix Island was the base of the Coconut Monk, Nguyen Thanh Nam (1909–1990), who founded the syncretic Coconut Religion in 1963 and is said to have lived on coconuts. His dragon-pillared platform still stands; the rest of the island is a tourist site with workshops, honey tea and đờn ca tài tử music.

4. Village cycling

Ben Tre’s narrow concrete lanes wind past coconut groves, rice paper makers, brick kilns and small family temples. A half-day ride, often with small ferry crossings, is the best way to meet local life.

5. Cho Lach orchards and plant nurseries

Around Cai Mon in Cho Lach, families have grown fruit trees and ornamental plants for generations. In season, orchards offer rambutan, durian, mangosteen and pomelo.

6. Ben Tre town

The small former provincial city has a riverside promenade, Truc Giang Lake and the Ben Tre Museum, which covers local history including the 1960 uprising.

Tickets and Opening Hours (2026)

Activity	Price	Hours
Phoenix Island (Con Phung) tourist site	Package per person, roughly 100,000–150,000 VND for small groups; included in most tours	Daily, daylight hours
Coconut candy workshop	Free to watch; candy for sale	Daily, daytime
Sampan canal ride	Included in most island tours; tip for the rower	Daylight hours
Bicycle hire	Low cost from homestays and tour operators	On request

Prices are set by each operator and change often, so check what is included before booking.

How to Get to Ben Tre

From	How	Time
Ho Chi Minh City	Car via the Trung Luong expressway and Rach Mieu bridges	About 2 hours
Mien Tay bus station	Public bus to Ben Tre	About 2–2.5 hours
My Tho	Car over the bridges, or tour boat to Phoenix Island	15–30 minutes
Can Tho	Car via Vinh Long	About 2–2.5 hours

For bus and boat options, see our Mekong Delta transportation guide.

Best Time to Visit Ben Tre

When	What to expect
December – April	Dry season; ideal for cycling and boats
May – August	Fruit season; hot with afternoon showers
September – November	High water, very green; occasional heavy rain
Time of day	Cycle early morning or after 15:00; canals are calmest before the late-morning tour rush

Local Expert Tips for Ben Tre

These tips come from years of arranging Saigon and Mekong Delta tours for international travellers.

Stay one night: a homestay turns a rushed stop into a relaxed village experience.
Cycle with a guide: lanes branch constantly and small ferries are easy to miss.
Buy candy at the workshop: it is fresher and cheaper than in Saigon.
Bring insect repellent: mosquitoes come out at dusk near canals.
Combine with My Tho: see our My Tho guide for the pagoda and islands.
Read our Mekong Delta travel tips for money and etiquette.

Ben Tre vs Vinh Long

Feature	Ben Tre	Vinh Long
Distance from Saigon	About 85 km	About 100 km
Highlights	Coconut canals, candy workshops, cycling	An Binh island, Mang Thit brick kilns
Crowds	Moderate (island stops busy)	Quieter
Best for	Day trip from Saigon	Homestay on the way to Can Tho

Our view: Ben Tre is perfect for a day trip; Vinh Long suits an overnight on a two-day route to Can Tho.

Nearby Attractions

My Tho: Vinh Trang Pagoda and Unicorn Island.
Vinh Long: orchards and homestays on An Binh island.
Cai Be: riverside church and heritage houses.
Can Tho: the Cai Rang floating market at dawn.

Mekong Delta for First-Time Visitors: Where Ben Tre Fits

One day? Pair Ben Tre with My Tho on a Mekong Delta day trip from Saigon. Two days? Sleep in a Ben Tre or Vinh Long homestay and reach Can Tho for sunrise on the river; ideas are in where to stay in the Mekong Delta.

Plan your trip with our Mekong Delta travel guide and Mekong Delta tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ben Tre

1. Where is Ben Tre?

Ben Tre lies on islands between branches of the Mekong, about 85 km south-west of Ho Chi Minh City and just across the Tien River from My Tho.

2. Which province is Ben Tre in now?

Ben Tre province merged with Tra Vinh into Vinh Long province in 2025, so Ben Tre is now part of Vinh Long province.

3. Why is Ben Tre called the land of coconuts?

Ben Tre has the largest coconut-growing area in Vietnam, and its economy has long revolved around coconut candy, oil, fibre and handicrafts.

4. How far is Ben Tre from Saigon?

Ben Tre is about 85 km from Saigon, roughly 2 hours by car via the Trung Luong expressway and the Rach Mieu bridges.

5. Can I visit Ben Tre on a day trip from Saigon?

Yes. Ben Tre is usually combined with My Tho on a day trip; see our Mekong Delta day trip guide.

6. What is Ben Tre coconut candy made of?

Ben Tre coconut candy (kẹo dừa) is made by boiling coconut milk with malt and sugar, then cutting and wrapping it by hand in edible rice paper.

7. What is Phoenix Island in Ben Tre?

Phoenix Island (Con Phung) in Ben Tre was home to the Coconut Monk, Nguyen Thanh Nam, who founded the Coconut Religion in 1963; it is now a tourist site with workshops and music.

8. Is Ben Tre better than My Tho?

Ben Tre is greener and quieter than My Tho, with narrow coconut canals and village lanes, while My Tho has the famous Vinh Trang Pagoda; most tours visit both.