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Known as the land of coconut trees, Ben Tre offers a variety of delicious local dishes awaiting your exploration. Below, we introduce the specialties of Ben Tre that you must try when you visit. Rest assured, they won't disappoint you.
List of 14 Famous Specialties from Ben Tre
1. Ben Tre Coconut Rice
Ben Tre Coconut Rice (Photo by ST)
Irresistible with Ben Tre Coconut Rice (Photo by ST)
This is one of the famous specialties in Ben Tre that you should indulge in when you have the opportunity to visit. Nowadays, this coconut rice dish is becoming increasingly rare due to its elaborate cooking process and time-consuming nature. Achieving the perfect balance between coconut water and rice is crucial for cooking delicious coconut rice. Any deviation can result in the rice being too sticky or too hard, altering its flavor. Enjoying Ben Tre Coconut Rice is best when served hot; if left for too long, the rice grains may turn pale yellow.
2. Smashed Bananas
Specialty Smashed Bananas from Ben Tre (Photo by ST)
Next on the Ben Tre culinary list, let's explore the dish of smashed bananas. A rustic and famous specialty of the coconut land. To enjoy smashed bananas, you need to find street vendors on the roadside because it's unlikely to find this dish in restaurants or eateries.
Visit Ben Tre to savor water-pounding bananas with coconut essence (Photo by ST)
With just an oven and a few bananas, you can enjoy this specialty at home. However, the deliciousness of Ben Tre smashed bananas can't be replicated. The bananas used here must be ripe Xiêm bananas with a transitioning yellow peel. If the bananas are too ripe, they will become sticky and lose their deliciousness when baked. When eating, dipping them in thick coconut essence is a delightful experience, making it a perfect afternoon snack.
3. My Long Rice Paper
Specialty My Long Rice Paper
My Long is renowned for its incredibly delicious coconut rice paper, both rich and fluffy, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who tastes it. Just placing it on the charcoal stove emits a captivating aroma, inviting diners to savor the delicacy.
Ben Tre Specialty – My Long Rice Paper (Photo by ST)
Appearing for a long time and until now, 'My Long rice paper' has become a valuable domestic consumer brand and is loved by many people.
4. Rice Noodle Soup with Shredded Rice Paper
Specialty Rice Noodle Soup with Shredded Rice Paper (Photo by ST)
In the list of specialties in Ben Tre, without mentioning rice noodle soup with shredded rice paper, it would be a significant omission. The name of this dish comes from being made from rice flour kneaded according to a unique formula that creates dough blocks. Then, it is cut into strands using a knife; the term 'shredded' here means cut, hence the name rice noodle soup with shredded rice paper.
Wheat flour cut into strands (Photo by ST)
Nowadays, rice noodle soup with shredded rice paper is not only found in Ben Tre but also in many other provinces. When eating, remember to order an extra cup of fermented rice wine, it will be very interesting. To enjoy this specialty, you should go to the Lac Hong market area from 4 pm to 8 pm. Or right under the Cá Lóc bridge, Ward 8, Ben Tre also has a quite delicious version of this dish.
5. Sơn Đốc Rice Cracker
Sơn Đốc Rice Cracker – Ben Tre Specialty as a gift (Photo by ST)
Considered as the pride of the people of Sơn Đốc, rice cracker carries the aroma of glutinous rice harmonizing with the delightful coconut scent in every piece, leaving an unforgettable memory for anyone who tastes it. When baking the crackers, the baker needs to quickly roll and turn them to ensure they are hot, crispy, and evenly baked without burning. Here are some addresses where you can buy rice crackers as gifts:
Street vendor selling rice crackers (Photo by ST)
- Sơn Đốc Market: Hưng Nhượng commune, Giồng Trôm district, Bến Tre.
- Út Nhỏ's Rice Cracker Oven by Mrs. Đặng Thị Anh: Hamlet 2, Hưng Nhượng commune, Giồng Trôm district, Bến Tre.
6. Field Crab Porridge
Local Specialty - Field Crab Porridge (Photo by ST)
The field crab, a gift from nature to the hardworking people of the Mekong Delta, holds a special place in the heart of Bến Tre locals. Among the rustic specialties, the field crab porridge stands out as a must-try dish when visiting Bến Tre.
There are many restaurants serving field crab porridge in Bến Tre (Photo by ST)
After catching field crabs, the shells are removed, and the claws are used to make the broth, preserving the authentic flavor of this dish. The ground crab meat is turned into crab paste. To add variety, people often include fish, meat, mushrooms, duck embryos, and shrimp in the porridge. Along National Route 60 bypass, you can find numerous eateries offering this delightful dish.
7. Sour Soup with Bream and Pickled Bamboo Shoots
Specialty - Sour Soup with Bream and Pickled Bamboo Shoots (Photo by ST)
Bạc Liêu is renowned for its unique sour soup with bream and wild betel leaf, and in Bến Tre, the sour soup with bream and pickled bamboo shoots is equally delectable. Despite its long name, one taste is all it takes to leave a lasting impression. Locals recommend enjoying this dish right after it's cooked for the best flavor, as overcooking can make the fish too soft and prone to breaking apart.
Bream fish is abundant in Bến Tre (Photo by ST)
To create a delicious sour soup with bream and pickled bamboo shoots, mastering the art of seasoning is crucial. It's about achieving the right balance, not too sour or too sweet. For a delightful experience, you can visit the restaurants within the Trà Sư cajuput forest area to savor this dish.
8. Coconut Rat from Bến Tre
Irresistible Coconut Rat Dish from Bến Tre (Photo by ST)
A unique specialty found only in Bến Tre province, the coconut rat resembles a field mouse but with sharper teeth used for damaging coconut trees. These rats often live in trees and are quite intelligent, requiring skilled hunters to catch them.
Bến Tre's Coconut Rat has a wonderfully aromatic flavor (Photo by ST)
Coconut rats can be prepared in various ways such as grilling, steaming, curry, etc. However, the most delicious is still steamed coconut rat meat in a rice cooker, a choice favored by many discerning eaters. For those who are 'weak' or 'fearful' of rats, we advise against trying it.
9. Rice Snail Pancake
Experience the specialty Rice Snail Pancake in Bến Tre (Photo by ST)
Bánh xèo is a dish very familiar to Southern people, and Bến Tre is no exception. Rice Snail Pancake is a specialty of Phú Đa Islet that you should try whenever you visit.
White snails (Photo by ST)
White snails have translucent white meat, a rich and fragrant taste, and are often used to create various dishes. When eating, diners will distinctly feel the sweet taste of the snails mixed with the flavors of herbs, making you want to keep eating without getting tired.
10. Coconut Worm
Coconut Worm - Unusual dish in Bến Tre (Photo by ST)
Coconut worm dish is an extremely exotic specialty in Bến Tre, a 'contraindication' for those with weak hearts, not brave enough to eat this dish. With creative minds and skillful hands, the people of Bến Tre have created many delicious dishes from coconut worms, from frying, grilling to eating raw. However, the fried coconut worm dish is the most enjoyed by many people.
11. Bến Tre Coconut Wine
Bến Tre Coconut Wine (Photo by ST)
Thanks to an incredibly abundant source of coconuts, the locals here have created a unique and distinctive drink for the Bến Tre region, known as coconut wine. To make this perfect drink, one must choose mature coconuts, full of water, plump, and fragrant.
Coconut wine can be bought as a gift (Photo by ST)
Especially, the outer husk of the coconut will be smoothed to create a beautifully shiny surface. A Bến Tre specialty as a gift that you should remember.
12. Bến Tre Coconut Candy
Bến Tre coconut candy is famous throughout the country (Photo by ST)
A type that almost everyone in Vietnam has heard of and tasted is coconut candy. Bến Tre is the primary producer of this candy with numerous processing workshops. Nowadays, to meet the preferences of customers, various types of coconut candies have been created by combining different flavors. Soft coconut candy has a rich fragrance and sweetness, enough for those who are far from home to reminisce about their homeland. Here are some addresses in Bến Tre where you can buy coconut candy.
Coconut candy workshop in Bến Tre (Photo by ST)
– Bến Tre Coconut Candy – Mrs. Hai Tỏ's Brand: 379C Nguyễn Văn Tư, Bến Tre City, Bến Tre.
– Vĩnh Tiến Limited Company: 60A4, Neighborhood 1, Phu Tan Ward, Ben Tre City, Ben Tre.
– Thanh Long Coconut Candy: 212B Dong Khoi Boulevard, Phu Khuong Ward, Ben Tre City, Ben Tre.
13. Ben Tre Spring Rolls
Ben Tre Spring Rolls – Specialty of Ben Tre (Photo by ST)
If you crave for delightful rolls, the Mekong Delta is the homeland of this cuisine. Among them, shredded pork skin rolls stand out as a quintessential dish. From a popular snack among the youth, it has evolved into an irresistible specialty when visiting Ben Tre.
Ben Tre shredded pork skin rolls with an irresistibly delicious flavor (Photo by ST)
Apart from vegetables, vermicelli, and shredded pork skin, an essential ingredient contributing to the flavor of this dish is the roasted rice powder. If you want to savor the distinctive shredded pork skin rolls of the Southwest region, you can visit Mrs. Hai's traditional shredded pork skin rolls shop right next to Ben Tre market. Give it a try; it's sure to leave you impressed.
14. Ben Tre Coconut Core Rolls
Ben Tre Coconut Core Rolls (Photo by ST)
In the list of famous specialties in Ben Tre, coconut core rolls also hold a prominent position. This delicacy is not only delicious but also rich in nutrients, particularly beneficial for digestive health.
The first impression of those who indulge in dishes made from this coconut core is the sweet and crisp taste while chewing, delivering a refreshing sensation in every bite. Stir-fried coconut core with shrimp is the most popular dish among the locals in Ben Tre.
