See the main branches of Mekong river and daily life around Ben Tre (85 km from SaiGon).
Depart: 08:00hrs
We have about 2 hours transfer to MyTho, the first town on the main branch of Mekong. On arrival to MyTho city, we will drive to Rach Mieu suspension bridge with its panorama view of the Mekong surrounds 4 islands here. From this bridge, the Mekong travel approximately 50km to the ocean. These islands include ThoiSon, TanLong, Con Qui, Con Phung which stretch out more than 15km on the Mekong river. Looking further to your left, this main branch of Mekong will split into CuaDai and CuaTieu estuary to the ocean. Further on to the toll gate, you will pass BaLai river, another small branch of Mekong that flow to BaTri town, a famous area with thousands of birds living in the mangrove forest.
On arrival in BenTre, we will get on board for one hour cruise on Bentre river, a tributary of Ham Luong – the 4th branch of Mekong river. Sit back and relax on board, drift down the busy branch of the HamLuong and into the peaceful canal. We visit a brick kiln and a coconut shell husking workshop. See the daily life of farmers and try the hard work taking shell of the coconut that is unique to the region.
As our boat cruise inner the natural waterways, we visit a coconut-candy workshop, a main product that made BenTre famous. We disembark at a local market of NhonThanh commune and start our walk 500m on village road, explore the market products. We visit a farmer workshop making sleeping mats, an old tradition hand weaving sedge mat or rush mat. Then, the Mekong adventure is on, see what life is really like for locals by explore this quiet island by bicycle or more relaxing way by hop on a Lambretta triporteur an old 1960 traditional tricycle in south Vietnam. This Lambretta adventure will be winding around the coconut palms, bitter melon or cucumber farms to a farmer house that we break for lunch and relax.
In the afternoon, we explore a bit more of coconut farms and fruit orchards of this village on foot. Its about 700 m promenade through the village, and the villagers will welcome us on their wooden sampan for a paddling on small waterway. This hand-rowing sampan slowly cruise under the canopy of water coconut palms along the canals. Our boat will pick us again and cruise back to the boat landing in BenTre town. Then we drive back to Saigon.
If time permitting, we will stop in BenLuc for a short walk to the rice field, see the process of planting rice and harvest the crop. Our tour end in Saigon around 5:00 pm.
Tour price: 4,830,000 vnd (US$ 210) / solo person. 2,620,000 vnd (US$ 115) / person (2 people). 2,350,000 vnd (US$ 100) / person ( 3 people). 1,930,000 vnd (US$ 84) / person (4 to 8 people).
Services included: Boat trips & entrance fees. Lunch and seasonal fruits. Transport : A/c bus with cold drinking water. (Two 0.5L bottles per person) Guide: Experienced tour guide. Hotel pick up and drop off ( within District 1 only. Otherwise, extra charge is applied)
Pictures below: Start Mekong delta tour BenTre cruise right at the town center, a branch of HamLuong river and we see central market, coconut processing factory, brick kiln on the river bank. Then we turn to smaller waterways with lots of water coco palms….
BenTre river cruise – local brick kiln factoryCruise in BenTre river and turn into a small waterway to NhonThanh communeAn old style vehicle Italian Lambretta ride around BenTre countrysideMats weaving at a local family in NhonThanh commune – BenTre
BenTre is particularly famous for its keo dua (coconut candy). Many women work in small factories making these sweets. Pictures below show the process of making coconut candy. However, there are some other candies and snack are also very tasty. Take our mekong delta tour BenTre and try all of these good stuff.
Coconut husking with a sharp knife in upright position.Stir coconut milk to make candy in BenTreWrap coconut candies in rice paper in BenTre
