Not only famous as the land of coconut groves, Ben Tre is also renowned for its ecotourism, with famous destinations such as Phung Islet (Coconut Monk Islet), Oc Islet, Qui Islet, Tien Islet, and more.

Known as a province in the Mekong Delta with a mild climate favorable for wet rice agriculture, Ben Tre is also a land of diverse fruit trees such as oranges, tangerines, durians, bananas, rambutans, mangosteens, custard apples, and star apples. Furthermore, Ben Tre has ideal conditions for developing ecotourism because it still preserves the pristine nature of the countryside orchards and a fresh ecological environment amidst the vast green of coconut groves and fruit gardens.

Famous Tourist Destinations in Ben Tre

Ben Tre Tourism: Phung Islet (Coconut Monk Islet)

Located in Tan Thach Commune, Chau Thanh District, on an islet floating in the middle of the Tien River. At Phung Islet, visitors can take a motorboat along the islet to visit coconut candy production facilities and workshops making souvenirs from coconut wood and shells. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage to visit orchards, stop to rest under a coconut-leaf-roofed house to sip honey tea with kumquat, enjoy tropical fruits, and listen to “Don Ca Tai Tu” (Southern amateur music).

Phung Islet houses the Coconut Religion (Đạo Dừa) relic area on an area of about 1,500m². Currently, the architectural items built during the time of the Coconut Religion founder, Nguyen Thanh Nam, are preserved in their original state: the Nine-Dragon Courtyard; the Peace Tower (Cửu Trùng Đài)—where the Coconut Monk sat to preach and spread his religion. The tower has a unique architecture with mosaics of dragons and phoenixes made from broken pieces of plates, bowls, and tea sets, along with a large incense burner. Nguyen Thanh Nam called himself the “Messenger of Peace,” advocating for peace among all religions and living solely on fruits (not eating other products). Here, there are many souvenirs ranging from colorful masks, photo frames, and carts to kitchenware like bowls and spoons—mostly crafted from coconut.

Ben Tre Tourism: Dong Khoi Guerrilla Village

Located in Dinh Thuy Commune, Mo Cay District, Ben Tre Province, 15km from Ben Tre City. This was the site of the first uprising of the Dong Khoi movement in 1960. There is an exhibition house displaying all types of self-made primitive weapons used during the two resistance wars against the French and the Americans. Ben Tre is building the Dong Khoi relic area to recreate the image of a village that was once the revolutionary cradle of the South.

Visiting this place, Vietnamese people feel as though they are reliving the heroic history of their ancestors.

Ben Tre Tourism: Oc Islet (Snail Islet)

Oc Islet is more than 10km from Ben Tre City, with a length of 8.3km and a width of over 1km. This is the largest islet on the Ham Luong River. Originally a small, low islet where many snails clung to the submerged plants on the alluvial soil and multiplied rapidly, it became a significant resource for the local people, thus earning the name “Oc Islet.” It wasn’t until the beginning of the 19th century that people came to clear and settle on the islet. During the resistance period, many families on Oc Islet sheltered revolutionary cadres during the darkest and most difficult days. Coming to Oc Islet, tourists can also enjoy seafood from the brackish water and various specialty fruits.

Ben Tre Tourism: Qui Islet (Turtle Islet)

This is a 65-hectare islet located on the Tien River between Tan Thach and Quoi Son communes in Chau Thanh District, 22km from Ben Tre City by river. On Qui Islet are orchards planting fruits such as sapodilla, longan, and pomelo. When cruising the Tien River, tourists often stop at Qui Islet to enjoy delicious fruits and various types of shrimp and fish.

Ben Tre Tourism: Tien Islet (Fairy Islet)

Located on the Ham Luong River in Tien Long Commune, Chau Thanh District, 23km from Ben Tre City by road and 15km by river. With an area of 7 hectares, the shores of Tien Islet consist of sandy soil, and a large sandbank is revealed whenever the tide goes out. Every year, on the occasion of the Doan Ngo Festival (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month), tens of thousands of visitors from within and outside the province, including Saigon, flock here to swim, play, and enjoy fruits from the local orchards.

Ben Tre Tourism: Cai Mon Fruit Orchard

Located in Vinh Thanh Commune, Cho Lach District. Cai Mon Fruit Orchard is a pure Southern Vietnamese village with narrow paths covered by green canopies heavy with sweet fruit. Cai Mon village specializes in supplying seedlings such as durian, mangosteen, Cat mango, “tieu” longan, langsat, citrus fruits, and various ornamental plants shaped like deer, phoenixes, and dragons. Coming to Cai Mon is coming to authentic orchard tourism.

Ben Tre Tourism: Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary

Vam Ho is a mangrove area where many wild plants grow into forests, serving as a sanctuary for thousands of storks, night herons, and many other types of birds. The bird population at Vam Ho consists of 84 species belonging to 35 families and 12 orders. The sanctuary receives over 2,000 visitors annually, with the peak season being when birds return to nest and breed from April to October of the lunar calendar. This land is located in My Hoa and Tan Xuan communes, Ba Tri District, about 52km from Ben Tre City and 120km from Ho Chi Minh City by road (100km by water).

Ben Tre Tourism: Tuyen Linh Pagoda

Tuyen Linh Pagoda in Minh Duc Commune, Mo Cay District, was built in the year of the Rooster (1861), during the 14th year of King Tu Duc’s reign. Initially, the pagoda was named Tien Linh, presided over by Venerable Khanh Phong and made of bamboo and leaves to worship Lady Sam. Tuyen Linh Pagoda is where Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac, the father of President Ho Chi Minh, stayed several times. The longest period Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac stayed here was from 1927 to 1929. During the two resistance wars, Tuyen Linh Pagoda served as a hiding place and nursery for revolutionary cadres, leading it to be bombed, destroyed, and burned twice by the enemy. The pagoda has been restored many times and was rebuilt in 1999 on the old foundation. However, not many artifacts associated with its past remain. Every year on May 19th, a festival takes place here with many cultural exchange activities and meetings to celebrate President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday.

Ben Tre Tourism: Tuyen Linh Pagoda

Ben Tre Tourism: Temple of Poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu

Nguyen Dinh Chieu (alias Manh Trach, pen name Trong Phu, and later Hoi Trai after he became blind) was born on July 1, 1822, in Gia Dinh province. He passed the baccalaureate exam in 1843. When the three eastern provinces fell to the French, refusing to live in the occupied zone, he and his family fled to Ba Tri, Ben Tre. Here, he taught students, practiced medicine for the people, and composed poetry. Every year, July 1st is the traditional cultural festival for the people of Ben Tre to remember the most patriotic poet of Southern Vietnam and Vietnam in general during the anti-French period. The festival is held solemnly but remains vibrant with activities such as martial arts performances, lion dances, festival drumming, Don Ca Tai Tu festivals, costume competitions for characters in the “Luc Van Tien” story, cooking competitions for death anniversary meals, art photography exhibitions, calligraphy, poetry recitals, and Cai Luong performances.

In addition, Ben Tre has many interesting spots for traveling, including beaches, gardens, many fruit specialties, and cultural relics, all favorable for developing ecotourism and river orchard tourism…