Travel guide Experiences

Month: June 2022

Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach – Ben Tre

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

Cai Mon Flower Village is not only an ideal Ben Tre tourist attraction for customers to visit, the bright lights of flowers blooming depending on the spring, but also finding more editing techniques. They are farmers, with skillful hands, diligently making unique flower products to beautify spring and beautify life.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach – Ben Tre

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: 

Spend-time: One and a half hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food: Yes             

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/cai-mon-ornamental-flower-village-cho-lach-benh-tre/

Address: Located in Cho Lach district, Ben Tre.

Added values: On the days when the flowers bloom, all over the streets of Cho Lach District, pots of confetti of various colors with orange, white, and pink bloom in the sunlight mixed with the bright red of the crested flowers or the yellow of the raspberries waiting for the day to bloom.  All create a very beautiful scene color.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village – Cho Lach – Ben Tre? Ben Tre City (3 minutes), Son Doc Rice paper village (25 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (5 km), Thoi Son Island (15 km), Vien Minh Pagoda (24 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (12 km),…

2. Travel Guide to Cai Mon Village – Cho Lach – Ben Tre

Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach – Ben Tre

Cho Lach district is a land with heavy alluvium, cool weather, calm river, very suitable for ornamental flower models.  Cai Mon Flower Village is a common name for communes that focus on growing many flowers such as Vinh Thanh, Long Thoi, Phu Son… This is one of the two largest flower baskets along with Sa Dec flower village – Dong Thap province.

Located in the middle of the romantic Tien River with an area of ​​​​about 40 hectares, the village has thousands of households participating in the cultivation of traditional flowers such as marigolds, bougainvillea, daisies, raspberry daisies, dahlias, carnations…  Some artisans also use kumquat trees, green trees, to bend into the shape of “12 zodiac animals” or the very unique Four Spirits.

Spring is near, the flowers here are more brilliant, Cai Mon ornamental flower village is like a picture with the colors of hundreds of flowers, fragrant with the sky. Therefore, every December, many tourists from all over the world come here to visit, enjoy the joyful atmosphere, buy flowers and ornamental plants to bring home to decorate their houses.

The highlight of the trip to explore Cai Mon flower village in Chọ Lach Ben Tre will certainly not be complete if you miss a very famous photo spot, the old brick kiln in Phu Son commune. The location of this old brick kiln is quite beautiful with the layout facing the river, the back is a row of coconut trees, the front is a straight flower bed of chrysanthemums. The two sides are covered with green flowers and grass, creating a romantic space that is suitable for everyone to enjoy.

3. What to Do –See – Eat at Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village – Cho Lach – Ben Tre

Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach – Ben Tre

Located only about 35km from Ben Tre city, about 120km from Saigon, you can come here easily by motorbike or bus. From Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Mon ornamental flower village, you follow the main road of Trung Luong Expressway or National Highway 1A – through Long An – through My Tho to Ho Chi Minh City.  Ben Tre – cross Ham Luong bridge – Highway 60 into the territory of Mo Cay town, turn right on National Highway 57. Follow the paved road running into these communes, easy to see potted plants and ornamental flowers displayed along.

Normally, the work of taking care of ornamental plants and flowers is focused by people here from 3 months before Tet holiday. After Tet, people mainly nurse and sell fruit trees such as durian, Thai jackfruit, mangosteen, coconut… Flowers are also often classified by zones. For example, in Phuoc My, marigolds account for a large number, while in Long Thoi, more chrysanthemums are grown. When looking at the brilliant bougainvillea, when coming to Phu Son, the whole area is red, eye-catching and enchanting.

Usually, after the full moon of the 12th lunar month is the time when flowers begin to bloom.  Flower growers here said that, close to Tet, from Cho Lach district, all kinds of flowers will be purchased by traders, then transferred to Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City… Depending on the type of fresh flowers, the price is from 70,000 to 200,000 VND/pair.  Bonsai costs from a few million to several tens of millions of dong/tree; Even the ancient golden apricot tree costs several hundred million dong/tree.

The period from about 22 New Year onwards is when trucks are busy, and traders are very busy.  From about 25 Tet onwards is the time to “pick up the flowers”, then all the remaining flower pots will be displayed on the street to sell directly to people at the flower New Year market in the big cities.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village – Cho Lach – Ben Tre

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location… 

6. Visit Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village – Cho Lach – Ben Tre by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. Those days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village – Cho Lach – Ben Tre

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village – Cho Lach – Ben Tre (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village – Thing to See Ben Tre’s Secret

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

Although Ben Tre is a new land, it has long been famous as one of the lands rich in cultural and revolutionary traditions. In addition to ecotourism and resort areas, Ben Tre also has a fairly rich system of relics, containing many tangible and intangible cultural values ​​and also reflecting cultural traditions, customs and habits, religion, beliefs and characteristics of the land of coconut. Prominent among them is a tourist destination in Ben Tre that is very attractive to domestic and foreign tourists, which is the Dong Khoi guerrilla village.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: 

Spend-time: One and a half hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food:      

Shop: 

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/dong-khoi-guerrilla-village-ben-tre/

Address: Located in Dinh Thuy commune, Mo Cay district, Ben Tre province

Added values: Dong Khoi guerrilla village tourist area is known for its historical values. The authorities here have been constantly building to realize the goal of building a guerrilla village to recreate the phenomenon of the old Network Method. In order for us to partially understand the value of patriotism and the hard days of the heroes who went before, did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives to protect the beloved homeland, bring independence and freedom for the nation.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village? Ben Tre City (5 km), Son Doc Rice paper village (25 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (8 km), Thoi Son Island (17 km), Cho Lach Flower Village (27 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (35 km),…

2. Travel Guide to Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village

This is the place where the first uprising of the Dong Khoi movement was in 1960. During the time when Vietnam was in turmoil due to the war. There were many uprising movements, but one of the movements that went down in the heroic history of our army and people was the Dong Khoi movement in Ben Tre. It can be said that Ben Tre is the “hometown” of Dong Khoi.

It is known that Dong Khoi is a movement led by Viet Minh members who remained in South Vietnam to call on the people to simultaneously rebel against the ancient invaders, first of all the large rural areas in the South and the mountains. The Dong Khoi movement took place from the end of 1959 and culminated in 1960. The movement quickly spread throughout the South, dissolving the rural grassroots government structure of the Vietnamese government at that time.  The Dong Khoi movement in Ben Tre has gone down in history as a flagship, opening the way for the uprisings and attacks of the southern revolution.

In 1998, in order to preserve the relics and images and documents of great historical events about the Dong Khoi movement.  At the same time, in order to educate the people’s indomitable patriotic tradition and to raise pride in their achievements, the leaders of Ben Tre province issued a decision to plan the construction of Dong Khoi traditional house in Dinh Thuy Commune. On January 17, 2000, this traditional house was inaugurated and put into use. The house was built in an area of ​​4,684m2, including a ground floor, a floor with a usable area of ​​500m2.

The whole house has a block architecture, 24m high, 24.5m long and 24m wide. On the roof, there is a torch symbol made of reinforced concrete with a height of 12m, a diameter of 4.5m, red – the symbol of the Dong Khoi fire burning brightly in the hearts of the people of Coconut. Inside the traditional house are booths displaying artifacts, characters, pictures, charts, self-made weapons during the ancient resistance period… Around the house there are green lawns, a large yard with flower beds and ornamental plants add to the beauty of the relic. Besides, there are rows of stone benches along the small paths, suitable for visitors to rest after visiting the traditional house. Many tourists who have the opportunity to travel to Ben Tre have taken the time to visit Dong Khoi guerrilla village.

3. What to Do –See – Eat at Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village

Dong Khoi guerrilla village was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a national revolutionary historical relic on January 7, 1993. Every year, the government of Ben Tre province takes January 17 (the date of the Dong Khoi movement) as a historical traditional festival, organizes conferences and fun activities to attract tourists to visit in the city

In addition to participating in a special traditional festival, coming to Dong Khoi guerrilla village, visitors also have the opportunity to learn about the history of the Vietnamese nation, understand more about the indomitable fighting spirit of the army and people of Ben Tre.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location… 

6. Visit Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. Those days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village – Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

Ben Tre province is famous for being the land of immense green coconut trees, so the craft village producing handicraft products from coconut is also quite diverse and rich. One of the typical craft villages here is Hung Phong – Giong Trom coconut basket weaving village.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: Free

Spend-time: One and a half hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food: Yes   

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/hung-phong-coconut-basket-weaving-craft-village-ben-tre/

Address: Located in Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province.

Added values:  Hoping for a bright future for this craft village, because the development of a traditional craft village not only brings economic profits, creates jobs for local workers, but also preserves the local people’s unique traditional culture values.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village – Giong Trom (Ben Tre)? Ben Tre City (12 minutes), Son Doc Rice paper village (27 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (2 km), Thoi Son Island (21 km), Vien Minh Pagoda (24 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (17 km),…

2. Travel Guide to Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village – Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

Hung Phong (also known as Con Oc), is isolated from the mainland, on a floating Island. Hung Phong coconut basket weaving village has been established since 1992 with the main products of producing gift baskets, flower sockets from coconut roots. Initially, craft villages were concentrated in hamlet 3, then spread throughout the commune. In addition, the commune has also developed a new profession of making handicrafts from coconut fruit, shells, and coconut trunks. On April 8, 2009, the Provincial People’s Committee issued Decision 647 recognizing the coconut basket weaving craft village in Hung Phong commune (Giong Trom).

Over the past 20 years, Hung Phong is one of the communes of Giong Trom district specializing in producing coconut baskets for consumption all over the country. Hung Phong commune has 617.3ha of coconuts bearing fruit on a total of 1,222ha of natural land. It is known that the commune currently has 500 households knitting baskets, 1 cooperative group knitting baskets and 11 households purchasing coconut baskets, of which there are a few large-scale households, the rest take advantage of their leisure time to weave baskets. Many households have automatic conditions, buy ropes and coconut branches to weave baskets. Some households receive frames, ropes and coconuts from large-scale production of finished products. This job is solving jobs for about 1,500 employees. This is a light job, without funding, but provides a stable source of income for households, mainly for women.

To make a product, the craftsman has to go through many stages from rough preparation, to skillful work, firing, proportions. On average, to make a coconut basket, I have to take half a clock, including all stages such as spokes, frame columns, knitting, pinning, cracking and finally finishing the bottom of the basket. Coconut basket products also ask diligent questions and investment advice. The special feature of this art product is that it is environmentally friendly, bearing the flavor of the homeland of coconut.

3. What to Do –See – Eat at Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village – Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

According to local people, the source of raw materials for coconut stalks is mostly bought locally, priced from 10,000 to 12,000 VND/kg. On average, 1kg of coconut stalks can produce 10-12 baskets. Small baskets are delivered to traders 4,000 VND/piece, medium baskets 5,000/pcs, large baskets 6,300 – 6,500 VND/pcs. Households who buy raw materials for production by themselves earn a profit of 50%, while hiring laborers to weave baskets will divide the profit in half. Every year, some families make from 12,000 to 15,000 baskets of coconut stalks, earning an income of several tens of millions of VND, enough to cover their lives.

The products here are collected and sold by the establishment’s owner in tourist areas, Ho Chi Minh City and some localities across the country.

Although the coconut basket weaving here has been formed for several decades, it has developed quite strongly. Thanks to the diverse designs, it is increasingly popular in the market, especially at the end of the year due to the demand for gift baskets, so the product is consumed a lot.

Currently, the craft village is going through a period of ups and downs, the price fluctuates up and down, but mainly the product of Hung Phong coconut stalks has not yet had a really sure and stable output. This is considered one of the difficulties that the local authorities and people in the commune are still very worried about in the current period.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village – Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location… 

6. Visit Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village – Giong Trom (Ben Tre) by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. Those days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village – Giong Trom (Ben Tre)

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Hung Phong coconut basket weaving craft village – Giong Trom (Ben Tre) (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

My Long Rice Paper Village – Thing to See in Ben Tre

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

The famous My Long and Son Doc rice paper craft villages in Ben Tre province have existed for hundreds of years. But the taste of My Long Rice Paper still maintains its style, which is a famous specialty of the Mekong Delta. Although they are nearly thirty kilometers apart, the two craft villages are always mentioned together.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

My Long Rice Paper Village – Thing to See in Ben Tre

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: 

Spend-time: One and a half hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food: Yes   

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/my-long-rice-paper-village-ben-tre/

Address: Located in Giong Trom District, Ben Tre province

Added values: My Long rice paper with Son Doc puff pastry is a dish that crystallizes the ingenuity and creativity of Ben Tre people, and the many products that nature has bestowed on coconut land. My Long rice paper and Son Doc puff pastry are becoming more and more famous, well-received, and recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of the nation.  That is the pride worthy of the people of My Long Son Doc.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from My Long – Son Doc Rice Paper Village? Ben Tre City (7 km), Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village (25 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (21 km), Thoi Son Island (35 km), Cho Lach Flower Village (46 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (35 km),…

2. Travel Guide to My Long Rice Paper Village

My Long Rice Paper Village – Thing to See in Ben Tre

Every year at the beginning of the 10th lunar month, the My Long rice paper craft village is bustling with production activities for the Lunar New Year, operating for 3 months.  This can be said to be the happiest time of the year.

Traveling to Ben Tre to visit the craft village on this occasion, from afar, you can see along both sides of the front of the village road, in front of the yards of the baking households are rice paper rolls stretching straight out to be dried in the sun.  consecutively from house to house.  The aroma of the cake spreads into the atmosphere of the days approaching Tet, making everyone feel sobbing because Spring is coming very close.  Here, regardless of the elderly, children, young people, women, everyone participates in the baking job very meticulously and skillfully.

The name My Long (Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province) actually used to refer to a small market that bought and sold local specialties, the most famous being the attractive rice paper that was loved by many diners.  Every time someone mentions rice paper, people immediately think of My Long market, as well as the My Long rice paper brand that became famous throughout the Ben Tre region.

Famous for hundreds of years, but the birth time of My Long rice paper has not been specified.  Asking the people working in the village, they received a sincere and rustic saying that: “It’s a traditional profession, few people know when it started, only know that when I was just a toddler… I stumbled across stacks of rice paper in the street. When you grow up, you follow your career, that’s how you make a living…”

The point that makes the My Long rice paper difference is for those who enjoys it once also remember the richness in each piece of crispy cake with the taste of coconut. 

3. What to Do –See – Eat at My Long Rice Paper Village

Rice for coating the cake must be delicious, medium fragrant, not too dry, thoroughly washed and ground into powdered water. Previously, to get coconut milk, people had to grate the coconut and then squeeze out the juice, but now, thanks to the coconut press, the process is also much less arduous.

After pressing coconut milk, it must be brought to a boil in a pot, let it simmer until it becomes thick, then mix it with rice and then put it in a flour mill.  Any house with a miracle is milled with a traditional stone mortar; If not, put it in a modern blender so that the coconut milk is evenly absorbed with the water powder, for every 10kg of rice, for 14-16kg of coconut.  Mixing cake batter usually has to be done by experienced people.  When the dough is mixed properly, the new cake will not stick to the mold when it is coated, and it is easy to turn over when drying.

The process of coating the cake is the most difficult stage, the water powder will be scooped into each patch and poured evenly on the surface of the cloth stretched over the pot of water so that the cake is cooked by steam.  When the cake turns from opaque white to clear, lift it out with a bamboo tube, then spread it evenly over the coconut vermicelli and dry it in the sun.  The person making the cake must be familiar with the hands, so the finished rice paper will be round and the thickness will be even.

Sun drying also requires meticulous care, not all types of sun are exposed, if the sun is small, the cake will not dry, if the sun is too hot, the cake will be broken.  The standard dried cake is when you hold it in your hand, it feels smooth, there are no convex and concave air holes… Having witnessed it with your own eyes from the time you mixed the dough, coated the cake, dried it, etc., you could see that the cake was created from ingenuity and feats and was very delicate.

In addition to the traditional cake with coconut milk, the craft village also creates many types of rice paper such as rice paper with milk and egg yolk, salty cake with sausage and dried shrimp or gingerbread. But the most popular with tourists from all over the world is still the traditional coconut cake. The rice paper from My Long has its own characteristics with both fatty and spongy flavors, placed on the charcoal oven to give off a fragrant aroma, making anyone who comes to Ben Tre must definitely try it.

Currently, My Long rice paper craft village has more than 150 bakeries. Because it is a village that has been handed down for hundreds of years, there are households who are in the 2nd and 3rd generation making this rice paper craft. Each generation is passed down the secret to making delicious, unique cakes.  Every villager making My Long rice paper is skillful like a real artist. Since then, My Long rice paper has been handed down to this day. At the end of 2018, My Long traditional village of rice paper was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage. Since then, contributing to the brand of My Long rice paper is increasingly expanding the consumption market.

Despite many ups and downs, the people of the craft village still burn furnaces to light fires, grind flour, roll cakes, etc., persisting with the years.  The rustic, faithful nature of the craftsman, of the cake with the intact flavor of coconut has made the culinary culture of the coconut countryside, completely worthy of being honored as a national intangible cultural heritage craft village family.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of My Long Rice Paper Village

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location… 

6. Visit My Long Rice Paper Village by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. Those days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice My Long Rice Paper Village

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of My Long Rice Paper Village (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

Ben Tre Night Market – Thing to Learn in Ben Tre

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

Ben Tre’s night market has become a new cultural feature that is a place of exchange and entertainment, serving shopping needs as well as highlighting the image of Ben Tre. This is one of the new attractions in Ben Tre that is very popular with tourists because the typical beauty of the night market has made the journey to visit Ben Tre richer.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

Ben Tre night market during the morning time. Keep walking the riverside, you will see more locals foods, fruits and Mekong life.

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: Free

Spend-time: One hour (approx)

Hours: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Food: Yes

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/ben-tre-night-market-mekong-delta/

Address: Located on Phan Ngoc Tong and Hung Vuong streets (from Ben Tre 1 bridge to Nguyen Hue street), Ben Tre City.

Added values: If you have the opportunity to travel to Ben Tre, do not forget to visit the night market. Come to the market to feel how beautiful Ben Tre is at night, to enjoy delicious local cuisine, to buy some pretty gifts, and to see the western city with its sweet background, even at the quiet night.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Ben Tre Night Market? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Ben Tre City Center (1o minutes), Son Doc Rice Paper Village (15 minutes), Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village (3 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (8 minutes), Thoi Son Island (15 km), Cho Lach Flower Village (41 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (9 minutes),…

2. Travel Guide to Ben Tre Night Market

Meeting the needs of shopping, sightseeing, and enjoying nightlife as well as creating more tourism products to retain tourists when coming to Ben Tre; The night market has been organized and operated by the industry and trade industry since 2012. The location of the market is located at an extremely convenient place for business, food, and night excursions located at the end of Hung Vuong Street, along the banks of the poetic Ben Tre river, behind Ben Tre Trade Center.

This place has more than 200 very bustling stalls including garments, souvenirs, fruits from the countryside, and a very diverse and rich dining area. This is a market where business households in Ben Tre City are encouraged by the state to develop services to serve people, especially tourists from all over the world coming to Ben Tre.

3. What to Do – See – Eat at Ben Tre Night Market

The market on the street has many restaurants – large hotels from one to four stars of Ben Tre such as Restaurant – hotel Ham Luong, Viet Uc, Hung Vuong, Dai An … and many other hotels in the city ​​center. These hotels are about a few hundred meters from the night market, so it is very convenient for tourists to walk for sightseeing and shopping. Besides, visitors can feel the beauty of the night by the shimmering lights on both sides of the river connected by the beautiful Ben Tre bridge, with both modern and poetic shapes; Visitors can take a walk on the bridge to see the night view of the city and breathe in the fresh air from the countryside, which will make visitors feel more relaxed and comfortable when staying in Ben Tre.

On the other hand, the tourist’s hobby of going to the market is shopping, mainly getting the feeling of walking around and looking at the products from the people’s lives here. With the hospitality of the shopkeepers, visitors can choose for themselves a souvenir to give to their loved ones or make a souvenir for themselves during a trip to the homeland of Ben Tre coconut. Or you can buy fruit from gardeners who bring it directly to the market for sale, which you can choose, enjoy on the spot or bring back to your hotel.

Many times, we encounter foreign guests entering these night market stalls to visit and shop; Although the language is different, the goods are described by hand, but with the mutual understanding and experience between tourists and sellers, they can also buy the items they like. They exchange information about goods and then how to calculate money is also quite interesting, only a Casio calculator and a few operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division both parties understand exactly the amount to be paid and how much to give back. It’s a fun transaction and creates scenes where tourists and locals both laugh back and forth so cutely and intimately.

In addition, tourists coming here can also rent bicycles at the hotel to freely roam around this fun shopping center and night market. Because this is a market area where trucks are not allowed, it is very safe for visitors, especially foreigners. A group of young people strolled together to buy fruits sold at the top of the market while walking, eating, talking and laughing happily, sometimes stopping by a shop to try on a shirt, or a hat or ask friends to take a photo. When walking to the end of the market, the legs also get tired, the food and beverage area at the end of the market will solve the empty stomach at night for visitors; This is a stop to enjoy specialty dishes amidst the noisy atmosphere of the market by the quiet space of the gently flowing Ben Tre River. How interesting it is!!!

Ben Tre night market is also a tourism product that serves both local people and tourists’ entertainment and shopping from all over the world, which has further contributed to the development of tourism in the province, especially the preservation of tourism. 

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of Ben Tre Night Market

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…

6. Visit Ben Tre Night Market by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice to Visit Ben Tre Night Market

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of  Ben Tre Night Market (4k)

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

Ben Tre Market – Where to Shop & Eat in Ben Tre

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

Ben Tre is the land of green coconut trees covering an entire land of the region. From the coconut tree, the people here have made many delicious dishes with the typical flavor of Ben Tre land. It is often said that if you want to know what that land has, you should go to the market. It will be clear and so true that the Ben Tre market is full of goods for both locals and tourists.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

A corner of Ben Tre market

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: Free

Spend-time: One hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – Dust

Food: Yes

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/ben-tre-market-mekong-delta/

Address: The East door is located in 30 Hung Vuong, Ward 1, Ben Tre. The West door is located in Street 30/4, Ward 2, Ben Tre.

Added values: Ben Tre Market is a very famous market. The atmosphere here is always noisy, busy, and crowded like a festival. Coming to this place, in addition to sightseeing, you can also enjoy the specialties of Ben Tre.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Ben Tre Market? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Ben Tre City Center (1o minutes), Son Doc Rice Paper Village (14 minutes), Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village (11 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (7 minutes), Thoi Son Island (15 km), Cho Lach Flower Village (41 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (9 minutes),…

2. Travel Guide to Ben Tre Market

Inside the Ben Tre market

For tourists who visit, the area selling snacks is very interesting. These are not luxury shops, there are no beautiful high tables and chairs, only carts and plastic chairs, but the stalls here have existed for no less than 10 years, there are people who have been here for nearly 40 years just carrying the goods. Coming to Ben Tre Market, tourists will have the most authentic rustic experience.

3. What to Do – See – Eat at Ben Tre Market

The best street foods from coconut milk in Ben Tre market

Walking around Ben Tre market in the morning, in addition to the meat, fish, and vegetable shops, the area near the riverbank is an area dedicated to snacking goods with crowded buyers. Going from the beginning to the end of the market, tourists will find a full range of snacks that Ben Tre people love very much, of which the most impressive is the tea. The tea here is very rich with many different types of tea such as white bean tea, black bean tea, common tea, noodle soup, white bean cake, … served with coconut sugar syrup and coconut milk. The sweet taste of tea, when cooked with granulated sugar, the aroma of beans, and pandan leaves combined with the fatty taste of coconut milk, creates a delicious taste. A full cup of tea like that costs only 5,000 VND – 10,000 VND.

Coming to Ben Tre, tourists can find coconuts anywhere, but the special thing in this market is that visitors can enjoy and learn about many different types of coconuts: Siamese coconut, pineapple coconut, Tam Quan coconut, Grape coconut,… at pretty cheap prices without fear of being ripped off. Siamese coconut is a type of coconut that is grown quite commonly, but do not ignore other types of coconut, although the fruit is small, it will surprise visitors with its great taste.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tours with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of Ben Tre Market

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…

6. Visit Ben Tre Market by yourself

The South gate of Ben Tre market faces the Ben Tre boat station where you can hire a boat for Ben Tre daily tours and small canals with sampan

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice to Visit Ben Tre Market

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of  Ben Tre Market  (4k)

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

Vietnam coconut Kingdom – A Must-See in Ben Tre

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

Ben Tre is known as the land of coconuts or the land of three green coconut islands.  Coconut trees, one of the perennial industrial trees, can be seen among the crops grown on the land in Ben Tre leading in terms of arable land in the country.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

Travel Guide to Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals in Ben Tre, My Tho, Cai Be, Vinh Long Mekong Delta

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: Free

Spend-time: One or two days (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food: Yes   

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/vietnam-coconut-kingdom-ben-tre/

Address: Located in the center of Ben Tre city, Ben Tre province

Added values: The coconut tree in the process of developing on the land of Ben Tre island has been associated with the daily life of the people, contributing to the cultural identity of the land and the people of Ben Tre. Today’s Ben Tre coconut garden is generally developing in the direction of an ecological garden associated with a variety of crops, giving high efficiency and attracting tourists when coming to Ben Tre coconut garden.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Vietnam coconut Kingdom in Ben Tre? Son Doc Rice Paper Village (7 km), Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village (3 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (5 km), Thoi Son Island (15 km), Cho Lach Flower Village (26 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (13 km),…

2. Travel Guide to Vietnam coconut Kingdom in Ben Tre

Vietnam coconut Kingdom – A Must-See in Ben Tre

In Ben Tre, immense coconut groves are concentrated in the western districts such as Chau Thanh, Cho Lach, Mo Cay, and Giong Trom.  The province has more than 70,000 hectares of coconut land, yielding nearly 600 million fruits per year, leading the country. The coconut processing industry in Ben Tre has developed quite quickly with diverse products, consuming about 85% of the total amount of coconut harvested in the area.  Returning to Ben Tre, coconut and coconut products are present throughout the villages.

Coconut trees not only bring economic benefits, increase income for Ben Tre people from coconuts and other materials, coconut tree trunks are also the main wood not only used to build houses, make beds, and make household goods & bridging because coconut wood is strong and not inferior to other woods.  Coconut wood can be used for up to several decades.  Today, coconut wood also creates hundreds of handicraft products and household goods sold to tourists and exports. Coconut leaf stalks… if in the past it was only to light a fire or to sweep the house with a bunch of brooms, today fresh coconut leaves are used to knit flower baskets, gift baskets; bamboo shoots braided knitting all kinds of lanterns for interior decoration… Coconut shells make activated carbon and are raw materials for making many kinds of handicrafts.  Currently, coconut trees are exploited very thoroughly, contributing to increasing income, improving people’s lives, and creating jobs for workers in Ben Tre.

Coconuts for fighting against the enemy and keeping the village:

During the wars against France and the United States, coconut tree trunks were an important material used in the construction of bomb shelters in Dong Khoi’s hometown.  After Dong Khoi in 1960, the people’s armed forces of Giong Trom district used to use many coconut tree trunks over 10 meters long to form rafts, float down the river, knock down Binh Chanh bridge, cut off the traffic artery on provincial road 26.  Ben Tre town to Giong Trom – Ba Tri district (now provincial road 885), preventing and slowing the enemy’s advance from Ben Tre town to sub-regions 1 and 2 of Giong Trom district and Ba Tri district.  The old coconut tree was used as a guard station for the enemy, as a pole to hang the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam. Under the flagpole, the flagpole had exploded – dropped an American helicopter, etc.

In the early years of the re-establishment of peace, although coconut was sometimes treated “badly”, or “neglected”, but in general, coconut still holds the leading position in crops and especially,  in the history of the land. Coconut trees are not only pride, but also always occupy an important position in the minds of generations of Ben Tre people.

3. What to Do –See – Eat at Vietnam coconut Kingdom in Ben Tre

Vietnam coconut Kingdom – A Must-See in Ben Tre

In folklore, coconut is often divided into two names: Vietnamese (The local coco) coconut and Siamese coconut. The local coconut is the native coconut variety with large fruit, copra is the main ingredient; Siamese coconut (Thailand) is a coconut variety of imported origin, small fruit, green shell, mainly used for refreshment. In addition to Siamese coconut, Tam Quan coconut, small fruit, yellow shell, water are not only ingredients for refreshment, but also used as a medicinal decoction to treat many incurable diseases.  As for the soft coconut, the fruit is smaller than Siamese coconut, Tam Quan coconut, gray brown or green shell.

Every month, when it comes to breaking coconuts (also known as coconut litter), the gardener hires workers to snatch coconuts (also known as coconut breakers) to pick up dried coconuts and brown coconuts.  Tanned coconut is a type of coconut that is still green on the outside, but the inside of the coir is golden brown, shake it vigorously with your hands to hear the water “creaking”, this type of coconut is classified as a dry coconut.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of Vietnam coconut Kingdom in Ben Tre

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location… 

6. Visit Vietnam coconut Kingdom in Ben Tre by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice Vietnam coconut Kingdom in Ben Tre

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Vietnam coconut Kingdom in Ben Tre (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

Ben Tre Foods & Restaurants You Must Eat in Ben Tre

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

In Vietnamese culture, eating and drinking is an art, it not only meets the basic requirements of people but also has a close relationship with the lifestyle and national traditions, which is very clearly shown through the tools used in the meal, how to behave with people while eating. Therefore, eating and drinking also proves the history and formation of the culture of Vietnam. The dishes through each stage speak to the life and people of that period and of the land – where each dish was born.

Food, in other words, eating is an indispensable activity in every travel trip. Traveling offers the perfect opportunity to try new and exciting foods from different parts of the world. You can enjoy for yourself the unique flavors that you have never tasted in your life. Ben Tre foods & drinks are the link connecting the characteristics of the cuisine of the river with the tourists who have visited. Not only famous for its fruit-laden orchards, but this land also has countless delicious dishes that delight people to enjoy.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

1. Ben Tre Floating Restaurant

This rather grand-looking floating restaurant is set on a giant dragon boat and features three floors. The menu includes a dizzying array of Vietnamese dishes, including seafood, clay pots and hotpots. Prices are on the high side, but it’s a good location to draw the river. Address: Near Hung Vuong street, phone: 075-382 2492, hours: 10am-10pm, price: 50,000-200,000d.

2. Thuy Pizza

Adding a welcome touch of innovation to Ben Tre’s largely uninspiring dining scene, this friendly place attracts a healthy contingent of travellers and curious locals. The pizza is as good as can be expected in a small-town delta, and owner Thuy is friendly and keen to practise her English. Address: 51 Ngo Quyen street, hours: Noon-10pm, price from 65,000d.

3. Nam Son

Centrally located, this place attracts a lively local crowd thanks to its popular grilled chicken, best washed down with draught beer. Address: 40 Ð Phan Ngoc Tong, phone: 0275-382 2873, hours: 11am-10pm, price: 26,000-60,000d.

4. Phu Le Rice Wine Factory

In Ba Tri District, the Phu Le Rice Wine Factory is one place where tourists can get hands-on experience with local crafts and products. Made by Mrs. Loan, a master distiller, rice wine has become a family tradition for this small community. Producing about 40 liters of wine per week, the factory exports the beverage to bars and restaurants throughout the area.

5. Elephant Ear Fish (fried giant gourami)

The guests will be served a crispy and beautifully fried Elephant Ear Fish (Gourami), displayed majestically on wooden holders. A server helped us take the meat from the body, which we rolled into fresh spring rolls and enjoyed with the traditional fish-sauce-and-chilli combo.

6. Coconut candy

You can’t talk about Ben Tre without mentioning coconut candy. The best Coconut candy is produced in Mo Cay district. It is soft, tasty, greasy and slightly sweet in a unique way that you can’t find anywhere else. They use a combination of coconut and other fruits like durian and peanut to create a more flavorful candy that will leave your mind unforgettable experiences. Making coconut candy is considered an art, with the secret recipe being only transmitted in the family.

7. Coconut wine

It is another specialty of Ben Tre. Unlike other wines, drinking coconut wine won’t make you get drunk but just a little groggy and something special in the throat. The wine is cool and sweet with coconut flavor. Ask the local or your accommodation staff to buy the genuine coconut wine.

8. Flat banana

The selected banana must be the green Siamese banana that has just turned maturity. A banana after being sliced across will be baked on a coal fire for 5 minutes. Then they take it out, put it into a plastic bag and flatten it, then put it on the flame again until the banana turns yellow. It is often served with coconut milk, which is quite tasteful. You can eat this food “Chuối đập” at Truc Giang lake in the center of Ben Tre city.

9. Broken rice (Com Tam)

Tourists say Com Tam here is better than in Saigon. The meat is usually roasted pork, sliced thin, in addition to chicken ram, small rind, fried egg quarters, cucumber, tomatoes, pickles… Both make this dish eye-catching and rich-nutrition.

10. Coconut rice

This is quite sophisticated and requires patience. To cook this dish, the rice should be carefully selected, the rice is covered with coconut milk, drained and put in the coconut water. In addition, the coconut used to cook this dish must be Siamese Coconut. Coconut rice is usually served with roasted shrimps. Places to eat famous coconut rice in Ben Tre: floating restaurant Ben Tre.

11. Snail pancake

Banh xeo (pancake) is not such a strange dish to the Southeast region, but Snail pancake is a special dish of Phu Da, Cho Lach district – Ben Tre. This is the rare place which has the most quantity of rice snails. Every year, April and May in the lunar calendar are the season of breeding for Rice snails, especially in the Mid-year festival (5th of May in lunar year).

12. Duck noodle

Duck noodle in Ben Tre is usually cooked with duck and used with ginger sauce. Such noodles are cut into small pieces. Duck meat has white color and soup has a good taste that you will never forget if you try it one time only. You can find one of the best duck noodle restaurants in Ba Mu bridge market, Nguyen Hue, Ward 4, Ben Tre city or on Dong Khoi street.

13. Sea snail in coconut milk

It is one of the favourite Ben Tre street foods. The locals often cook snails in coconut milk with the mixture of lemongrass, garlic and chilli. You will not only have a taste of coconut in the snails but also have a part of the experience in eating like a local.

14. Coconut worm

If you are looking for a new experience, coconut worms will be the best idea. This is the most popular dish for the locals. The worm is found in the coconut tree, then deep-fried, grilled, or even eaten alive with fish sauce. Its taste is pale and greasy, really interesting to try once in your life.

15. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tours or Can Tho daily tours with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

16. Pro Tips

Here are our tips for easing your mind (and stomach) around food-handling environments that you may not be used to.

Make sure the food is freshly cooked. If you’re eating hot street food, it’s always safest (not to mention more delicious) to eat food you can see being cooked to order.

Look for lines and busy stalls. Busy street food stalls are an indicator of popularity, and their high turnover rate means the food is never sitting out for hours and developing dreaded bacteria. Yes, long lines can be discouraging when you’re hungry after a full day of exploring, but it’s not worth the risk of grabbing precooked food from the empty spot next door.

Eat when the locals are eating. The last and most important element here is when to eat. You’re likely already on a weird eating schedule while you’re traveling, but it’s important to try and adjust to the eating times of where you are. A bowl of pho might be lunch for Americans, but it’s breakfast for the Vietnamese. This ensures that you’re eating freshly cooked food and that you can find the best and most popular places to eat.

If you can’t drink the water, then you can’t eat the salad. Most people get so hung up on not drinking the water or skipping ice in drinks that they don’t think about all of the other ways in which water is used in food service. Fruits and vegetables tend to be washed with tap water in most places, rather than the filtered water that locals drink—or sometimes it’s not washed at all. If you’re really craving some produce, try fruits you can peel or cooked veggies.

Trust your gut. If you’re unsure about the food or the way that it’s being prepared, then keep moving. Eating street food all over the world doesn’t make you an expert. Every stall and every country are different, and sometimes the rules can be harder to follow. When something doesn’t look, smell, or feel right, don’t eat it! Trust your judgment. Chances are that there’s another spot close by that’s making something more delicious.

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, sampan (small boat) ride in small canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Orchard & Flower Village…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages – What to See in Ben Tre

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

Ben Tre province is famous for being the land of immense green coconut trees, so the craft village producing handicraft products is also quite diverse and rich. There are 3 famous mat weaving villages in Ben Tre including: Nhon Thanh, An Hiep and Thanh Thoi B.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ben Tre Visitor Guide

An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages – What to See in Ben Tre

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: 

Spend-time: One and a half hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food: Yes     

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/an-hiep-mat-weaving-villages-ben-tre/

Address: Located in An Hiep, Nhon Thanh, Ben Tre province.

Added values:  Hoping for a bright future for this craft village, because the development of a traditional craft village not only brings economic profits, creates jobs for local workers, but also preserves the local people’s unique traditional culture values.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from An Hiep mat weaving villages (Ben Tre)? Ben Tre City (12 minutes), Son Doc Rice paper village (27 minutes), Ben Tre Brick Factory (2 km), Thoi Son Island (21 km), Vien Minh Pagoda (24 km), Ben Tre Coconut Candy (17 km),…

2. Travel Guide to An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages

An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages – What to See in Ben Tre

Weaving mats here has existed for a long time and helps many households in the commune to have a stable life. Mats made by Craft Villages can be purchased by traders on-site and sold throughout the province, in addition to being supplied to traders to bring to neighboring provinces for sale.

In 2008, the Executive Board of the Vietnam Craft Village Association officially recognized it as a Craft Village with 50 participating households. To create a beautiful and durable mat requires a lot of elaborate and hard work, from choosing raw materials to drying and weaving.

An Hiep handicraft village was formed in the 1950s, after decades of development with many ups and downs, the traditional mat weaving has not been lost over time. Mats in An Hiep mat village are not woven with sedge like Ca Mau mats but use u vu (a typical plant here). Mats woven with this plant are much more durable and beautiful than sedge plant. In addition to mat u vu, local people also experiment with many other plants, including sedge mats, water hyacinth mats, etc.

3. What to Do –See – Eat at An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages

However, due to the trend of the market economy and low-priced products, the local traditional mat weaving is gradually being lost because many households have changed jobs. In recent years, tours to the outskirts of Ben Tre city, including An Hiep Nhon Thanh commune, have developed strongly, opening up new opportunities for the mat weaving village. Some households in the Craft Village have boldly linked up with travel companies to make stops and visits for tourists to learn, visit and take photos.

Currently, An Hiep has become a tourist destination in Ben Tre with its very own local characteristics so that visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the local culture, as well as the outstanding traditions of Ben Tre province. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about and participate in the making of a traditional mat with the same locals.

Not only contributing to the construction of a new countryside, but also creating a unique tourism product, connecting tours to the outskirts of Ben Tre city, contributing to the development of river tourism combined with craft village tourism, promoting economic development of tourism in Ben Tre.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ben Tre city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ben Tre. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ben Tre daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location… 

6. Visit An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. Those days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ben Tre village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ben Tre.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ben Tre homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ben Tre or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ben Tre responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ben Tre food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ben Tre cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cai Mon durian, Phu Le Rice Wine, coconut wine, coconut candy, coconut rice, snail pancake, elephant ear fish, Coconut Worm, Young Coconut Salad with Shrimp & Pork…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ben Tre in the rainy season, as Ben Tre always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ben Tre tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ben Tre brick & pottery kiln, Coconut Candy Traditional Village & Small Canals, mighty Mekong river cruise, educational tour and community tour in Ben Tre, Ben Tre homestay 2D1N, cocohome homestay, Ben Tre cycling tours, Son Doc Puff Rice Paper Village, Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village, Vam Ho bird sanctuary, Cai Mon Ornamental Flower Village in Cho Lach, Ben Tre Museum, An Hiep Nhon Thanh Mat Weaving Villages, Ben Tre Night Market, Phung Island (Phoenix islet), Thoi Son Island, Turtle Islet (Con Quy)…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ben Tre province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

La Han (Arahant) Pagoda – What to see Soc Trang Hidden Gem

Posted on by Thomas Vietnam

Soc Trang City is famous for its sweet and attractive Pia cake, which captivates long-distance travelers. Coming to Soc Trang, visitors also have the opportunity to explore the beautiful temples of this land including the La Han (Arahant) pagoda.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Soc Trang Visitor Guide

La Han Pagoda – What to see Soc Trang Hidden Gem

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: Free

Spend-time: One hour (approx)

Hours: Dawn – Dusk

Food: Yes

Shop: Yes

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/la-han-pagoda-soc-trang/

Address: Located at 131 Dien Bien Phu, Cau Den hamlet, ward 8, Soc Trang town.

Added values: Soc Trang La Han Pagoda is a beautiful spiritual destination in Soc Trang province. Coming here, visitors can not only admire the temple with its ancient and superficial beauty like a castle on the western land but also feel peace and dispel the worries of daily life. 

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from La Han Pagoda? Or maybe you found it too long a drive here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Nga Nam Floating Market (59 km), Som Rong pagoda (3 km), Bat pagoda (5 km), Bowl Pagoda (16 km), Khleang Khmer Pagoda (3 minutes), Soc Trang Market (2 km), Soc Trang Museum (4 minutes),…

2. Travel Guide to La Han Pagoda

La Han Pagoda – What to see Soc Trang Hidden Gem

Legend has it that in the past, the Hoa people in the village wanted to pray for the people’s peace, good weather, and good business, so they set up a thatched hut to worship the Buddhas, in which there were pictures of 18 Arhats. Therefore,  the temple has such a name.

Soc Trang Arhat Pagoda was built in 1952. In the beginning, this temple was just a house of leaves and planks. In 1956, a storm passed and the temple was badly damaged. After that, people rebuilt the pagoda with bricks for sure.

By 1990, residents and Buddhists everywhere contributed to rebuilding a new and more spacious temple. The bridge of the pagoda consists of a ground floor and a first floor, the campus is large and beautiful.

3. What to Do – See – Eat at La Han Pagoda 

La Han Pagoda – What to see Soc Trang Hidden Gem

The temple possesses a unique architecture, large space, and beautiful grounds, which is a great place for tourists from all over the world to visit and make pilgrimages on the occasion of the big full moon or Tet holiday.

Today, this temple is increasingly famous, attracting a large number of tourists from near and far. To get to the temple, you go in the direction of Ton Duc Thang street, then turn right onto Dang Van Vien street and then follow the direction of Black Bridge for about 200m to reach the pagoda.

Arhat Pagoda is built into 2 floors: the upper floor worships Shakyamuni Buddha, Thirteen Arhat, Thai Thuong Lao Quan, and Bodhisattvas; The lower floor worships Thien Hau Nuong Nuong, Bach Hau Cong, Ong Than and Tien Co, and Tien Huu. The front yard of the temple worships Phuoc Duc Lao Ong, the statue of Buddha and Goddess of Mercy, along with scenes such as a lotus pond, Puta mountain, a bowl of lights, statues of dragons flying and dancing, a pair of unicorn pearls, and also a lake. It can be said that this is one of the landscapes of Soc Trang. The pagoda has a large campus, with many unique architectural styles, especially the image of “Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix” shown next to the mountain of Puta tower.

On the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the first lunar month, these days, the pagoda organizes a procession of lights, lanterns, and blessed cakes to bring good things to everyone, encouraging the spirit to work enthusiastically during the year. On the Vu Lan festival in the 7th lunar month every year, the pagoda organizes to give salt and white rice for poor families. With the spirit of “collecting from society, using for society”, the Board of Directors regularly deducts money from charity incense to buy white rice to help the poor, sponsors the fund of gratitude houses, charity houses, funds for the poor, funds for poor smart students, and distribute to families of flood victims and poor bereaved families. Every year, the Board of Directors also supports the operating expenses of Duc Anh supplementary school on Mac Dinh Chi Street, Ward 4, Soc Trang city, and the welfare fund for teachers here….

 It can be said that Arhat Pagoda is a beautiful spiritual destination and has a different beauty compared to other Khmer temples in the region. If you have the opportunity to travel to Soc Trang, remember to visit the pagoda to enjoy the scenery and take some commemorative photos.

One of the most special highlights of the Soc Trang Arhat Pagoda is the special design of the walls. Instead of traditional golden walls, the pagoda built solid and superficial stone walls. From a distance, the temple looks like a fairy castle in the middle of the peaceful Mekong Delta region.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Soc Trang center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Soc Trang. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Soc Trang daily tours with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of  La Han Pagoda       

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…

6. Visit La Han Pagoda by yourself

La Han Pagoda – What to see Soc Trang Hidden Gem

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Soc Trang village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Soc Trang.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice to Visit La Han Pagoda 

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of  La Han Pagoda (4k)

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips

Soc Trang Khmer pagodas are solemn places, so you should choose beautiful clothes that are still polite and discreet. In the temple grounds, there are many animal statues such as elephants, snakes, etc. If you go with the children, please remind them not to climb because these are sacred symbols of the Khmer people.

The monks don’t ask for money, although donations won’t hurt.

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

If you plan to extend your tour to Soc Trang homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

When visiting the Soc Trang or doing any customized tours, choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets. Safety is a priority!

Soc Trang tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Bat pagoda, Chen Kieu (Bowl) pagoda, Dung islet, Ghe Ngo boat race festival, pink trumpet tree road, Clay pagoda (Chua Dat Set), Khleang pagoda, Nga Nam floating market, Phat Hoc 2 pagoda, Soc Trang central market, Soc Trang museum, Som Rong pagoda, popular and clean homestays and hotels in Soc Trang…

Soc Trang food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Soc Trang cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cong Cake, Pia Cake, Bun Nuoc Leo Soc Trang’s Noodle Soup…

Bring the raincoat if you travel to Soc Trang in the rainy season, as Soc Trang always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Soc Trang, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you

Photo of the day

When people ask me what to see in Mekong today. I tell them view our MekongDelta365.

Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory & Villages
March 27, 2021
PHOTO BY THOMAS VIETNAM, MEKONG COLLECTION
Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory & Villages

Nowadays, there are more and more green and responsible tours which are meaningful and educational as well. This is why Can Tho noodle factory is getting popular for both Vietnamese and foreigners to come and explore the cuisine culture and the typical local life in Can Tho, Mekong Delta.