Ben Tre Mekong Delta Small-Group Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City

Ben Tre, the Land of Coconuts

Ben Tre province lies about 85 km south-west of Ho Chi Minh City, formed by large islands between branches of the Mekong as the river nears the sea. Coconut palms cover much of the land, which is why it is called the land of coconuts, and its orchards, canals and small workshops see far fewer visitors than the busier stops around My Tho. Many travellers looking for a less touristy Mekong Delta day trip from Ho Chi Minh City choose Ben Tre for exactly this reason.

The drive takes around 2 hours 30 minutes, with a coffee break on the way, and crosses the Tien River on the long Rach Mieu bridge, with wide views over the delta. The best time to visit Ben Tre is from December to April, when the weather is dry and sunny; the green rainy months from May to November bring lush scenery and plenty of fruit, with short afternoon showers.

The Mekong River and the Brick Kilns

From the pier you board a wooden boat for a long ride on the Mekong, sipping coconut water and tasting fresh fruit as you watch fishing boats, floating plants and riverside homes go by. The river here is wide and brown with fertile silt, the same silt that feeds the region's rice fields and orchards and gives the delta its extraordinary richness.

The boat stops at a cluster of traditional brick kilns, tall dome-shaped ovens built beside the water. Workers dig clay from the riverbanks, press it into bricks and tiles, dry them in the sun and fire them slowly for weeks, often using rice husks and coconut shells as fuel. Your guide explains each step of this craft, which has supplied building materials across the delta for generations. It is one of the most photogenic stops of the day.

Coconut Farm and Village Crafts

At a family-run coconut farm you discover how every part of the palm is used. Artisans husk and crack the nuts, press the white flesh for milk, and cook it with sugar into Ben Tre's famous chewy coconut sweets, which you can taste warm. Fibres become ropes and brooms, shells become bowls and utensils, and the leaves are woven into roofs and baskets.

You can also try weaving a sleeping mat on a simple wooden frame alongside the local women, a craft passed down in families. The farm also grows cocoa in the shade of the coconut palms, and you learn how the pods are opened, fermented and dried. These crafts are the heart of village life in Ben Tre, and the visit gives a real sense of how families earn their living from the land.

Village Lanes and a Family Lunch

Next you follow the shady village lanes by bicycle, or by tuk-tuk if you prefer, past fruit gardens, small canals and houses where neighbours wave hello. The paths are flat and quiet, and the ride is gentle and suitable for most guests. Your guide stops along the way to point out the plants, the fruit trees and the small family altars outside the homes.

Lunch is served at a welcoming local house: a southern Vietnamese set menu of several dishes, prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients from the area and served with rice and fresh herbs. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free meals can be prepared if you ask when booking. Halal food cannot be guaranteed in the countryside, but no-pork and vegetarian requests are easy to pass on; Ho Chi Minh City has halal restaurants for dinner.

Rowing Boat through the Coconut Canals

The day ends with the experience many guests remember most: a rowing boat ride along narrow canals framed by water-coconut palms, whose leaves meet overhead to form a green tunnel. A local rower guides the boat silently through the water, and the only sounds are birds and the splash of the oars. It is a calm, gentle ride that suits all ages.

Afterwards the vehicle drives you back to Ho Chi Minh City, and we drop you at your hotel in the early evening. The tour needs good weather and a minimum number of guests; if it cannot run, you will be offered another date or another tour. If you prefer to travel only with your own party, the private option offers the same route with your own guide and vehicle and a choice of start times.