10 Best Things to Do in Ben Tre: A Local Guide to the Mekong Delta
Ben Tre is called the “Land of Coconuts” for a reason. Just two hours from Ho Chi Minh City, this corner of the Mekong Delta is a maze of narrow canals, coconut groves and quiet villages where traditional crafts are still part of everyday life. But what is there actually to do once you get there?
Here are the 10 best things to do in Ben Tre — the experiences our guests love most, and the ones we include in almost every Ben Tre tour we run.
1. Glide Through Water-Coconut Canals by Sampan
This is the classic Mekong Delta moment, and Ben Tre does it best. You leave the motorboat behind, step into a small hand-rowed sampan and drift through canals so narrow that the water-coconut palms almost meet overhead. It’s quiet, green and completely different from the busy river outside.
Every one of our boat tours includes a rowing-boat section. If you want to spend most of your day on the water, read our guide to a boat trip in Ben Tre.
2. Visit the Old Brick Kilns
Rising out of the fields like giant beehives, the old brick kilns of Ben Tre are one of the most photogenic sights in the delta. At some kilns you can still see artisans shaping bricks by hand from river clay, using the same methods families have used for generations. Step inside one of the domes — the curved brick walls and the light coming through the opening make it feel like a small cathedral.
3. See How Coconuts Become Candy, Oil and More
In Ben Tre, nothing from the coconut goes to waste. At a family workshop you’ll watch coconuts being husked, split and peeled by hand, then see the flesh turned into coconut milk, oil and the famous chewy coconut candy (kẹo dừa). The husks, shells and leaves become rope, fuel, brooms and handicrafts.
Of course, there’s tasting involved. Want to try it at home? See our recipes for coconut candy and coconut oil.
4. Try Weaving a Traditional Sleeping Mat
Mat weaving is one of the most traditional crafts in the Nhon Thanh area. Families weave colourful sleeping mats from sedge grass on simple wooden handlooms — and they’ll happily let you sit down and try a few rows yourself. It’s harder than it looks, and a lot of fun.
5. Make Your Own Rice Paper
Rice paper is everywhere in Vietnamese food, but few visitors ever see how it’s made. In the villages around Ben Tre, local families still steam thin rice batter over a wood fire, then lay each sheet on bamboo racks to dry in the sun. On our Thuan Dien village tour, you’ll get to make a few sheets yourself. Read more in How To Make Rice Paper.
6. Listen to Đờn Ca Tài Tử Folk Music
Đờn ca tài tử is the traditional amateur music of southern Vietnam, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. In a garden by the river, local musicians play the moon-shaped lute and guitar while you sip honey tea and snack on tropical fruit. It’s one of the most relaxing moments of any Mekong Delta tour.
7. Cycle Along Shady Coconut Lanes
Ben Tre is flat, green and full of small concrete lanes that wind between coconut groves, fruit gardens and village houses — perfect for cycling. You’ll pass kids on their way to school, farmers drying coconuts and little bridges over the canals. Our Cycling through the lush coconut jungle tour combines a relaxed bike ride with a rowing boat back.
8. Ride a Tuk-Tuk Through the Villages
Not into cycling? Hop on a local tuk-tuk (a motorbike with a covered cart) and let the breeze do the work. It’s an easy, fun way to cover more ground between villages, and it’s included on most of our private tours.
9. Eat Mekong Delta Food by the River
Lunch is a highlight of any day in Ben Tre. Try the local specialities: crispy fried elephant ear fish rolled into rice paper with fresh herbs, grilled river prawns, and dishes cooked with coconut. At our riverside restaurant you can even learn to roll your own spring rolls or make a crispy bánh xèo pancake.
10. Stay Overnight in a Village Homestay
Most visitors come to Ben Tre for a day. If you have time, stay the night. After the day-trippers leave, the village slows right down — you can cook dinner with your host family, walk around the hamlet at sunset and wake up to the sounds of the countryside. Take a look at our Ben Tre homestay tour.
How to Do It All on One Ben Tre Tour
You don’t need to plan all of this yourself. Our private tours combine several of these experiences into one easy day, with a local guide and flexible start time:
- Ben Tre: Visit Mekong Delta Region — boat trip, brick kiln, coconut candy, folk music, mat weaving and tuk-tuk. The best all-rounder for first-timers.
- Explore the tranquil village – Thuan Dien — local market, quiet canals and hands-on rice paper making.
- Cycling through the lush coconut jungle — for active travellers.
- Live like a local: Homestay in Ben Tre village — 2 days, 1 night.
Only have one day? Our Ben Tre one-day itinerary shows how to fit the highlights in. Coming from the city? Read Ben Tre from Ho Chi Minh City: The Complete Day Trip Guide.
FAQ: Things to Do in Ben Tre
Is Ben Tre worth visiting?
Yes — especially if you want a quieter, more local side of the Mekong Delta. Ben Tre’s small canals and craft villages feel much less crowded than the main tourist stops, and it’s an easy day trip from Ho Chi Minh City.
How many days do you need in Ben Tre?
One full day is enough to see the highlights on a Ben Tre tour. If you want to slow down and experience village life in the evening, stay one night in a homestay.
What is Ben Tre famous for?
Coconuts above all — coconut candy, coconut oil and endless coconut groves. It’s also known for its water-coconut canals, brick kilns, mat weaving and southern folk music.
How do I book a tour in Ben Tre?
Message us on WhatsApp or call +84 918 652 239, or use our contact page. Tell us your date and group size, and we’ll suggest the best route for you.
From quiet sampan rides to hands-on crafts and riverside lunches, there’s far more to do in Ben Tre than most travellers expect. Come and see it with a local team — contact us to plan your Ben Tre tour.
Written by Mr. Lộc – Nam Bo Tours