Ben Tre City Center
Easiest base: cafes, a riverside walk and bus links. The orchards are 15 – 30 min away by road.
South Vietnam
Ben Tre
- Best time
- Dec – Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2 days 1 night
- Avg. cost
- $35 – $60/day
- Airport
- 90km from Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Tre Overview
Ben Tre is known as Vietnam’s coconut land, built on river islands with canals, orchards and small workshops. It suits families, couples and slow-travel fans who want the delta without big tour crowds.
Highlights of Ben Tre:
- Coconut workshops: Watch coconut candy and other coconut products made by hand in small family workshops. Most stops last 30 – 60 min and include tastings.
- Rowboat and canal rides: Ride a sampan through narrow palm-lined canals. Choose small groups for quieter water.
- Cycling village lanes: Cycle shaded lanes and orchards around the town. A bicycle costs only a few dollars a day, and mornings are coolest.
- Orchard homestay: Book one night in a homestay for home-cooked river fish and fruit. Tours and homestays can be booked as a 2-day trip from Saigon.
Best Time to Visit: Dec – Apr is the dry season with lower humidity. Sep – Nov brings rain and higher water. Start tours before 10:00 to avoid midday heat.
Weekend and Tet homestay rooms fill early, so book your room and tour a few days ahead.
Where to stay in Ben Tre
Where to base yourself, by travel style.
Chau Thanh Orchard Villages
Homestays among coconut and fruit trees. Book meals and boat rides with your host; you need a ride from town.
Riverside Islets
Quiet island stays with boat access and coconut groves. Basic rooms and longer transfers, so plan meals and transport.
When to visit Ben Tre
Temperature, rain and crowds by month.
January
25.9°C ~ 79°F
5 days of rain
Crowds: Busy
February
26.3°C ~ 79°F
2 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
March
27.5°C ~ 82°F
3 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
April
28.6°C ~ 83°F
11 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
May
28.3°C ~ 83°F
25 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
June
27.2°C ~ 81°F
27 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
July
26.8°C ~ 80°F
29 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
August
26.8°C ~ 80°F
29 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
September
26.4°C ~ 80°F
29 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
October
26.3°C ~ 79°F
27 days of rain
Crowds: Quiet
November
26.4°C ~ 80°F
19 days of rain
Crowds: Moderate
December
26°C ~ 79°F
11 days of rain
Crowds: Busy
Getting to Ben Tre
Times, costs and booking links.
Step 1: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) Land here, then head into Ho Chi Minh City
Tan Son Nhat Airport is only 7 – 8km from Ben Thanh Market in District 1, but traffic sets the time. Off-peak the ride takes 20 – 25 min; in rush hour or rain allow 45 – 60 min.
- Best option: GrabCar or a metered taxi (Vinasun, Mai Linh) from the official stand. Metered fares to District 1 run about 170,000 – 280,000 VND ($7 – $11), and the app shows the price before you ride.
- Bus: Bus 152 costs 6,000 – 10,000 VND and takes 50 – 70 min; bus 109 costs about 15,000 – 20,000 VND to District 1. Both suit light luggage and daytime arrivals, and bus 152 stops running around 19:00.
- Terminals: T1 and T3 handle domestic flights and T2 handles international ones. Tell your driver which terminal you are at, or the pick-up point will be wrong.
- Late arrival tip: After 23:00 buses stop and app prices spike, so pre-book a transfer. Ignore touts in the arrivals hall.
