Mekong - Ben Tre travel guide - Rusty Compass

An independent travel guide to Mekong - Ben Tre with candid reviews and recommendations. No sponsored content, no advertorial.

Mekong - Ben Tre
travel guide

Mekong - Ben Tre Introduction

| 28 Aug 2012
Last updated 28 Aug 2012

For Vietnamese, Ben Tre is famous for its coconut candy. For baby boomer western tourists, Ben Tre is the city that US troops  "destroyed" to "save" in fierce conflict in 1968.

Happily, coconuts abound in modern day Ben Tre and there are few signs of the terrible battles that wrought such misery here four decades ago. Ben Tre is a great place for a short one night foray into the Mekong Delta, or a good starting point for an extended expedition to include other places like Tra Vinh, Vinh Long and Can Tho.



A new bridge across the Mekong River opened just a few years ago and brought Ben Tre within easy reach of Saigon for the first time. Travellers have been reasonably slow to discover Ben Tre and while there's not a lot happening here, it's a good spot for exploring the Mekong river, the surrounding orchards and it boasts a charming waterfront with some old Chinese shophouses and warehouses.
Mark Bowyer
Mark Bowyer is the founder and publisher of Rusty Compass.
Support Rusty Compass
Rusty Compass is an independent travel guide. We’re focused on providing you with quality, unbiased, travel information. That means we don't receive payments in exchange for listings and mostly pay our own way. We’d like tourism to be a positive economic, environmental and cultural force and we believe travellers deserve disclosure from publishers. Spread the word about Rusty Compass, and if you're in Saigon, pop in to The Old Compass Cafe and say hi. It’s our home right downtown on Pasteur St. You can also check out our unique tours of Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney at www.oldcompasstravel.com Make a financial contribution using the link below. Even small amounts make a difference. Thanks and travel well!