Vietnam Ben Tre Tours

Life Along the Coconut Canals

Ben Tre occupies an island cut off from the mainland by four branches of the Mekong, and coconut palms cover much of it. Small boats slip along narrow canals shaded by water coconut and mangrove, passing brick kilns and stilt houses. Most visits combine a river cruise with a short stretch by bicycle or horse-drawn cart through the orchards.

Tasting the Coconut Trade

Workshops around town turn raw coconut into candy, oil and woven handicrafts, and a stop to watch the process is standard on tours here. Ben Tre sits close enough to Ho Chi Minh City for a single day out, though an overnight lets the canals empty of other boats by evening.