Ben Tre

By boat

There is a ferry from Vinh Long Province to the northwestern part of the island. Again you may want to hire some sort of transport to cover the remaining distance to Ben Tre town. There is also Bus 8 from the ferry pier to Ben Tre. It seems frequent, costs about 25,000 dong for a 2-hr trip. You will need a taxi (moto ~ 20,000 dong for 10-min ride). Pay attention when arriving in Ben Tre as the bus goes to the outer bus station. Best is to stop at the roundabout after the two big bridges and Mat Kinh Dien Bien Phu optic shop and take a motorbike taxi (20,000 dong) to the town centre.

By bus

Direct minibus services from Ho Chi Minh City are to be found at Cholon and Mien Tay bus station.

• Bus from Mien Tay: 49,000 dong, 1½hr, air con, first bus around 6:30am

A bridge connects the city to My Tho so the bus ride is direct, without a ferry. On arrival at the bus station in Ben Tre, a very welcoming man with good English will try to get you to his guesthouse by showing books and stuff. In fact, the ride there takes you back where your bus came from, halfway to My Tho, about 10 km from Ben Tre. Make sure to get from the Ben Tre bus station into the town of Ben Tre, not elsewhere.

The town stretches along the river, so a bicycle or a motorbike are the best way to get around.

There are no real sights in their own right, but you could have a look at the unspoiled market or visit the rice wine factory on the south bank, 0.5 km west of the old bridge. You can also visit the inevitable coconut candy factory here. It's a must if you haven't been to one yet, since in this "factory" basically everything is done by hand.

Trung Tam Dieu/Ben Tre tour operation centre (closed during lunch) has some private tours in Ben Tre by boat or by bike and homestay tour. It also gives information on the city.

• Coconut Candy Factory

  address: 212B Dai Lo Dong Khoi
  There are apparently four factories across town. The shop selling the coconut candy (keo dua) is in the front and the factory is in the back. The visit of the factory where you see the women making the handmade candy is free (there is a second shop across the street).

• Explore the DeltaBoat trips are one of the nicest ways to negotiate the network of channels, but the land in between the waters is just as fascinating. It's fun to follow some of the small trails along the channels, crossing streams on very basic bridges and walking past fruit and coconut orchards.

• Coop MartFood, department store, game center.

The usual food stalls are found around the market. Be warned that one of the favourite soups in the delta, hu tieu, contains boiled intestines and liver. There is also a floating restaurant near the old bridge. Sweet bakery for breakfast? Go to the huge Coop Mart (8-22) just behind street Hai Ba Trung.

• Ninh Kiều quán

  address: 65A Đồng Khởi Blvd
  Big seafood restaurant right at the beginning of town. Very popular with Vietnamese office workers and families.

Coldest beer in Ben Tre? Go to the Oasis.

• Ben Tre Hotel

  phone: +84 75 382 2223
  address: 8/2 Tran Quoc Tuan

• Forever Green Resort

• Government Guesthouse

  phone: +84 75 382 6134
  address: 148 Hung Vuong

• Hai Long Hotel

  phone: +84 75 385 11236
  address: 500a2 Nguyen Thi Dinh Street, Phu Tan Ward
  20 rooms.

• Ham Luong Hotel

  phone: +84 75 381 8595
  address: Số 200 C, Đường Hùng Vương, P.5, TP
  One of the best hotels in Ben Tre with outside swimming pool, steam bath and sauna. Buffet breakfast is a mix of Asian and Western food. All rooms have Internet, TV with English channels. Laundry, fitness gym, karaoke, massage, jacuzzi, car rental, boat, bicycle, information service.

• Khach San Dong Khoi

  phone: +84 75 382 2501
  address: 16, Hai Ba Trung, Phuong 2
  Hot water except in cheapest rooms. Free Wi-Fi, restaurant, karaoke, massage.

• Khach San Phuong Hoang

  phone: +84 75 357 5377
  address: 28, Hai Ba Trung, Phuong 2
  Cold shower. Fan or air-con. Free Wi-Fi. Limited English-speaking staff.

• Nha Nghi 99

  phone: +84 75 383 1234
  address: 73, Phan Ngoc Tong, Phuong 2
  Air-con, no Wi-Fi, limited English-speaking staff.

• Oasis Hotel

  phone: +84 75 246 7799
  address: 151 My Thanh An
  Kiwi and Vietnamese owners. Free Wi-Fi, swimming-pool, English, Viet, Khmer spoken. Cold beer, local knowledge. Half day Mekong boat tours including coconut factory and cycling $28.

• Que Huong

  phone: +84 75 383 5888
  address: 38 Hai Ba Trung
  Good service, limited English and friendly. All rooms with hot shower and fresh towel.

• Viet Uc Hotel

  phone: +84 2753 511 888
  address: 144 Hùng Vương, Ward 3

• Trade Union Hotel

  phone: +84 75 382 5082
  address: 50 Hai Ba Trung

Buses leave from the outer bus station. There are get a minibus to My Tho or Ho Chi Minh City from inside town.

• Ho Chi Minh City - 70,000 dong, on Tran Quoc Tuan St north of the lake.
• My Tho - ~20,000 dong, on Dong Khoi St, bus stop near school
• Can Tho - 75,000 dong, 3hr, non air con 30 seater bus, leaves 4 times a day with the last one at 4pm

The boats leave between 08:30 and 09:00 every day. It takes a long time, but it's an adventurous and cheap option (expect to pay between 60,000-120,000 dong per person). They leave from the area east of the new bridge. Boats are light blue and will take you to:

• Tra Vinh
• Can Tho
• Vinh Long