18 Tempting Specialties of Bến Tre You'll Crave For

Bến Tre, the land of rivers and orchards, has given birth to many enticing dishes inspired by coconuts. Locals even say that the fair skin of Bến Tre girls is attributed to regularly drinking coconut water since childhood. Explore 18 Bến Tre specialty dishes with Klook when you visit.

If you love rich and authentic national flavors, Klook has plenty of culinary experience tours for you to choose from.

Coconut rice is one of the most famous Bến Tre delicacies. To prepare this fragrant dish, a lot of effort and time are required. The rice is soaked in coconut water for absorption, then cooked directly inside coconut shells. When cooked, this Bến Tre specialty has a delightful coconut aroma, perfect when paired with savory dishes like shrimp stir-fry or braised pork.

Coconut worms are the favorite appetizer in the Mekong Delta. Originating from Bến Tre, the land of expansive coconut orchards, these coconut worms are found in the heart of the coconut tree. Locals skillfully turn them into various dishes—fried, grilled, or even enjoyed raw. While this Bến Tre specialty is unique, it's not recommended for those unfamiliar with eating larvae!

Many might struggle to imagine what cut noodle cake soup is just from its name. Essentially, it's duck noodle soup with a ginger fish sauce dip. The characteristic cloudy broth, created by rice flour, is the distinct feature of cut noodle cake soup. In Bến Tre, locals often enjoy it with a bowl of rich duck blood pudding for added flavor.

Mỹ Lồng rice paper is a popular Bến Tre specialty often bought as a unique gift. Unlike typical rice papers, Mỹ Lồng rice paper is fragrant and crispy, turning a beautiful golden color when cooked, with a hint of coconut richness. It pairs exceptionally well with fresh spring rolls.

Sour soup with snakehead fish and banana blossom is a renowned delicacy in Bến Tre, the land of coconuts. With simple ingredients like snakehead fish, banana blossom, herbs, and spices, this dish creates a tantalizing and memorable flavor that lingers in the taste buds.

Bến Tre's unique specialty features a delicious dish made from a pest that harms coconut trees—the coconut rat. These rats extract sweetness from fresh and dried coconuts, resulting in savory and rich meat. Coconut rat can be prepared in various ways such as grilling, steaming, or curry. However, the most delectable way, according to culinary enthusiasts, is steaming coconut rat meat with rice.

While sizzling pancakes are a common dish in Southern Vietnam, rice snail sizzling pancakes are unique to Phú Đa islet, Bến Tre. The abundance of natural rice snails in this area contributes to the distinctiveness of this dish. With white, tender snail meat and the aromatic blend of chili and lemongrass in the pancake filling, it surpasses traditional shrimp and meat versions. Diners can savor the sweetness of snails, the freshness of herbs, and the salty touch of fish sauce in every bite.

When it comes to the land of coconuts, Bến Tre, asking about catfish simmered in coconut water is a must. This dish is a distinctive delicacy in the culinary culture of the locals, not only in Bến Tre but throughout the Mekong Delta. The catfish from Bến Tre boasts vibrant colors from the river, making every preparation enticing, but it's most delectable when simmered in coconut water. This special fish dish is served with fresh garden greens and a bowl of freshly steamed white rice, creating an incredibly delicious combination.

For the people of the Mekong Delta, fermented fish hotpot stands out as one of Bến Tre's most remarkable delicacies. If you've had the chance to taste this hotpot, the flavors of the Mekong Delta will linger in your memory. The key ingredients for this unique hotpot include catfish or snakehead fish, half a kilogram of delicious pork belly, squid, shrimp, corn, and a bit of fermented fish sauce, along with half a kilogram of pork bones to make the broth.

Coconut core is the upper part of the coconut tree trunk, located deep within the tree. The salad is made from key ingredients such as coconut core, pork belly, shrimp, onions, carrots, chili, peanuts, and more. The preparation is quite similar to other shrimp and meat salads, but the crunchy and fragrant taste of the coconut core adds a unique touch. When served with shrimp crackers and dipping sauce, it becomes a delightful appetizer for family gatherings.

Smashed banana delight is a signature treat from the land of coconuts, adored by young students and enthusiasts. Using ripe bananas, the delicacy is baked until the irresistible fragrance fills the air. When eaten, it combines with the dense coconut essence, creating a memorable experience for those who venture far from home. This snack is often sold by street vendors and can be a bit challenging to find these days.

Waxy coconut is a specialty of the Mekong Delta, cultivated in select regions like Bến Tre and Trà Vinh. A single waxy coconut can be relatively expensive, around 200,000 VND. Unlike the common coconut, waxy coconut has a thick and soft kernel. Inside the coconut, there's a layer of 'wax,' formed by absorbing coconut water, creating a spongy and elastic texture. To save costs, consider purchasing one coconut and sharing it with friends to enjoy together.

Adding to the list of must-try specialties from Bến Tre is the Sơn Đốc puffed rice cake. The harmonious blend of fragrant sticky rice, the richness of coconut, and the sweetness of sugarcane creates a rustic Sơn Đốc puffed rice cake with a heartwarming taste. Holding the puffed rice cake in your hand and savoring it slowly allows you to fully appreciate the essence of this delicious treat and the effort put in by those who crafted it.

When mentioning Bến Tre, one cannot overlook the famous coconut candy. This Bến Tre coconut candy has gained nationwide acclaim for its uniquely rich and aromatic flavor. Each candy is meticulously wrapped, offering a relatively long shelf life. Due to its affordability, it is often chosen as a gift for friends when traveling to Bến Tre. Joining a tour exploring the Mekong Delta provides an opportunity to discover the unique process of making Western coconut candy.

In Bến Tre, coconut cake is a popular and humble treat made from coconuts, deeply rooted in the lives of locals for a long time. This petite cake, fitting in the palm of your hand, resembles a tube, similar to bánh tét. To create a delicious coconut cake, it is crucial to select necessary ingredients. The chosen glutinous rice must be sticky, pliable, and aromatic. Coconut milk is mixed into the rice, along with a pinch of salt and sugar, all expertly kneaded by hand. When savoring this iconic dish, you'll experience the perfect blend of the saltiness of salt, the richness of coconut, and the soft, aromatic glutinous rice.

Grilled mudfish delight promises to be the standout dish on the lavish dining table that Bến Tre locals offer you. This specialty dish exudes a rustic, fresh, and irresistibly enticing charm that is hard to resist. This unique combination delivers a distinctive flavor that is challenging to find anywhere else.

The main ingredient of this dish is snakehead fish, caught live and carefully processed to ensure hygiene. The fish is then skewered and grilled, using straw to create a flavorful and rich outer layer. When indulging, the grilled snakehead fish brings a distinctive aroma with natural sweetness. Paired with some fresh herbs, vermicelli, and garlic chili fish sauce, it guarantees a satisfying and never-ending feast.

Visiting the land of coconut trees in Bến Tre without acquiring the fragrant coconut wine with its deep and intoxicating taste is a major omission. Bến Tre's coconut wine, renowned for its mild spiciness and irresistible sweetness, is meticulously crafted from selected coconuts, making it a type of wine you can't find elsewhere. When in the Mekong Delta, don't forget to bring a bit of the Southern flavor to gift your loved ones and friends from #teamKlook!

Coconut jam is a rustic delicacy imbued with the flavors of Bến Tre's coconut land. It's not just ordinary jam but a harmonious blend of the delicious aroma from the soil of the Southwestern region. When savoring, you'll experience the sweet taste of sugar mingling with the chewiness and distinctive aroma of coconut. This delightful treat captivates the little ones and pairing it with a cup of tea makes it an unmatched high-class delicacy.

From ancient times until now, the land of coconuts has always been one of the captivating destinations for tourists, both domestic and international, due to its unique culture and specialties. Perhaps, it's the exuberance in the character of the people of the Mekong Delta that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who visits. If you're not confident about traveling domestically,

The Mekong Delta has many more places and experiences awaiting your exploration, such as the Tra Su Cajuput Forest, Chau Doc, An Giang, 25 Delicious Dishes Proudly Representing Can Tho, My Khanh Tourist Village, 12 Tours to Explore the Charming Mekong Delta, Travel Guide to Ben Tre, Chau Doc Hang Pagoda,... and countless other interesting activities available only on the Klook Blog.

Embark on a journey to the Mekong Delta to savor the unique specialties of Ben Tre, dear friend!