Top 10 Ideal Tourist Destinations in Ben Tre

Con Oyster located in Hung Phong commune, Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province, about 10 km from Ben Tre city. The island features numerous coconut and fruit orchards. Like other tourist islands, Con Oyster offers diverse activities to visitors, allowing them to explore and learn about the life of orchard farmers. Visiting the pristine Con Oyster, you can participate in various exciting activities. Visitors can ride boats along the canals, observe boats laden with coconuts on the river, watch fishermen cast nets, and climb trees. Returning to the fruit orchards, visitors can bike along picturesque village roads, observe the life and activities of local people, admire the characteristic houses of the Mekong Delta, and visit handicraft workshops making coconut products... You may even have the chance to meet and exchange with Mr. Do Thanh Thuong, the first person in Ben Tre province to collect and preserve over 20 coconut varieties, contributing to the diversity of coconuts in Vietnam. Enjoying natural drinks and traditional countryside dishes amidst a coconut grove is an unforgettable experience.

Con Quy lies along the Tiền River, between the two communes of Tân Thạch and Quới Sơn, Châu Thành district, Bến Tre province. Everything on Con Quy remains untouched, as if untouched by human hands. Visiting Con Quy, tourists will enjoy a serene riverside space. Sitting on a boat, tourists will be taken to various tourist spots on the island such as Hồng Vân, Con Quy, Tân Con Quy,… While enjoying the fresh and green atmosphere of the Mekong Delta, tourists can taste the special fruits in the garden, sip fragrant honey tea, and enjoy the traditional Southern folk music. Following the green fruit tree-lined paths, you will reach handicraft workshops, coconut candy factories, witnessing each production stage and buying souvenirs for family and friends. The tour ends with a rustic meal featuring typical river specialties such as sour soup with snakehead fish, braised fish,... prepared by the skillful hands of local women.

Nguyen Dinh Chieu was a blind poet and patriot during the French colonial period. Although not born in Ben Tre, most of his life and artistic work were concentrated on this land. During his lifetime, he regarded this place as his second homeland, and the local people cherished him as a venerable father figure. The memorial site of the poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu is located where he passed away, in An Duc commune, Ba Tri district. The temple dedicated to Nguyen Dinh Chieu was established with the hope of becoming a place for future generations to return to, to learn about the hero who once glorified the land through his poetry, and to draw inspiration for the future. Upon arriving at the temple gate, tour groups will be welcomed at the guesthouse on the left. From the temple gate to the monument, there is a spacious courtyard adorned with meticulously decorated ornamental trees, providing a resting place for tourists to admire the overall scenery of the area. The temple itself is circular with three layers of roofs symbolizing the three professions of Master Do Chieu: teaching, medicine, and poetry. The bottom layer of the temple complex serves as an exhibition hall, displaying relics left behind and introducing the life and poetic career of Nguyen Dinh Chieu. Behind the temple area is the old church and the tomb area of the poet. Everything is built in traditional architectural style, blending harmoniously with the peaceful rural landscape surrounding the temple area. Visitors to Ben Tre should definitely visit the temple dedicated to Nguyen Dinh Chieu to light incense silently beside his tomb, allowing the heroic figure to illuminate the hearts of future generations.

Nguyen Thi Dinh, born in Luong Hoa commune, Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province, was the first female general of the Vietnamese People's Army. On August 30, 1995, she was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the President. After her passing, a memorial temple dedicated to her was established right in her homeland. The memorial area for General Nguyen Thi Dinh covers nearly 15,000 square meters, built in traditional Vietnamese architectural style with a triple gate, curved roof architecture, and exquisite carvings. In front of the temple is a ceremonial courtyard, covered with green grass to provide a comfortable feeling, with ornamental trees decorated in harmony with the architectural style of the structure, creating a beautiful landscape. Inside the temple is a bronze statue of her, standing 1.75 meters tall and weighing 1,025 kg, placed on a 1.5-meter high altar presented by the Ministry of National Defense. In addition to the temple, there is also a museum displaying artifacts, images, and documents illustrating the life and revolutionary career of Nguyen Thi Dinh for interested visitors to explore. The memorial area of Nguyen Thi Dinh is not only an ideal destination for tourists but also a historical meeting place for young people, a venue for women at all levels to organize exchange activities, meetings, seminars, reunions, as well as outdoor activities, camps,... for students to learn about their history.

Con Phung is a riverine islet amidst the Tien River, located in Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. Coming from Ho Chi Minh City, Con Phung lies at the gateway to Ben Tre province, welcoming visitors with lush green coconut boats swaying in the wind. This is where Mr. Dao Dua Nguyen Thanh Nam built the Nam Quoc Phat Pagoda and founded a sect called Dao Dua in the early 20th century. During the construction of that pagoda, workers found an ancient cup shaped like a phoenix, hence it became known as Con Phung, and has remained its popular name to this day. Legend has it that Mr. Dao Dua survived on coconut water during his meditation.

Travelers to Thanh Phu often not only visit Con Bung Beach but also come to Huynh Phu Ancient House. This house, located in Dai Dien commune, Thanh Phu district, Ben Tre province, is a unique wooden architectural masterpiece typical of the Mekong Delta region, left by Mr. Huynh Ngoc Khiem (1843-1927). According to historical records, the house was likely built around the late 1880s or early 1890s of the 19th century. Constructed from the finest wood materials with exquisitely carved patterns, the three-section house architecture of the southern people follows the style of ancient wealthy houses, surprising viewers with its magnificence and grandeur. Recognized as a national architectural artistic relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism of Vietnam in 2011, Huynh Phu Ancient House is a must-visit for architecture and culture enthusiasts of the southern region.

In Ba Tri district, Ben Tre province, besides the tomb area of Nguyen Dinh Chieu in Ba Tri town, there is also the tomb of the great scholar Phan Thanh Gian in Bao Thanh commune. Phan Thanh Gian was the first doctorate holder in Cochinchina. He committed suicide after the three provinces of the Mekong Delta fell into the hands of the French. There were many conflicting opinions about whether he betrayed the country to the enemy. However, he was later exonerated and commemorated with a tomb. The memorial tomb of him is located in Bao Thanh commune, Ba Tri district, his hometown. The temple was inaugurated in 2004, with the area in front of the temple consisting of a tomb area with walls, an altar, and a cement courtyard with a solemn gate. At the temple, there is a full-body bronze statue of Mr. Phan Thanh Gian (height 2.1 m) that has been restored and erected, transferred to the temple after a long time placed in the center of Ben Tre city. Visitors to the Phan Thanh Gian Temple have the opportunity to light an incense stick and listen to the controversial life story of this great scholar who bore an unjust verdict for hundreds of years.

Located approximately 70 km from Ben Tre city, Bung Islet is in Thanh Hai commune, Thanh Phu district. Visiting Bung Islet, travelers feel relaxed and peaceful because the scenery here is still very pristine, and the local people are friendly, hospitable, and eager to serve in a 'hospitality is priority' manner.Bung Islet Beach is famous for the winding snail road and natural swimming pools. The snail road is formed by Mother Nature when each wave brings snail shells onto the long sandy beach. The natural swimming pools are created by the swirling currents of the ocean, usually appearing during low tide, and are locally known as 'sinkholes.' These pools are often very flat, clean, safe, without mud and snail shells, and quite shallow, making them an ideal bathing place for children and non-swimmers. Not only does Bung Islet offer natural landscapes, but during the years of the resistance war against the United States, the sea and mangrove forests of Bung Islet served as countless secret base A101. Therefore, Bung Islet is also a spiritual tourism destination. When visiting Bung Islet, tourists often go to Ong Nam Hai Tomb. Opposite Ong Nam Hai Tomb is the Memorial Park of the Ho Chi Minh Sea Route - a project commemorating and honoring the soldiers on countless ships. Here, tourists not only enjoy entertainment but also have the opportunity to learn about the country's history and immerse themselves in the heroic atmosphere of a glorious era.

Cai Mon is located in Cho Lach district, Ben Tre province, known for its year-round freshwater area with abundant fruit orchards such as mangosteen, rambutan, etc. Visitors not only get to see fruit-laden orchards but also have the opportunity to hand-pick and enjoy fresh fruits right on the spot. Orchard owners provide on-the-spot dining and charge by weight when taking fruits home. Moreover, similar to eco-tourism areas on islets, orchard owners in Cho Lach also serve local specialties of Ben Tre countryside, such as free-range chicken porridge, baby clam porridge, rice pancake with snails from Con Phu Da island. Additionally, at Cai Mon, there are also points for visitors to witness bonsai crafting. Cho Lach ornamental flower village is among the famous flower villages in the Mekong Delta region, resembling Dalat in the river and canal area with countless flowers showcasing their beauty, which will captivate visitors' hearts.

Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary is located in Ba Tri district, Ben Tre province. This sanctuary represents a unique ecosystem, typical of the brackish mangrove forests along the coastline of the Mekong River delta, with high biological value and ecotourism development potential. According to statistics, Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary has a very large variety of species; the most abundant include egrets, little egrets, herons, and gray herons...; the lower shrubs are the world of snipes, plovers, and sandpipers...; below are the habitats of wild animals such as bats, civets, snakes, squirrels, pythons... If you are lucky enough to visit during the day, you can witness the fascinating sight of flocks of birds hunting for food or returning to their nests. Not only birdwatching, but visitors can also stroll through the forest, paddle through the mangrove forest, visit the resistance base area, cross the rustic bamboo bridges, and relax on swinging hammocks. After enjoying the fascinating natural landscapes of the Southern region, visitors can savor rustic dishes made from freshly caught shrimp, fish, and turtles from the nearby ponds.