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.
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