Ben Tre – The Mekong's Coconut Kingdom

Ben Tre Province is known as the Land of Coconuts – its rivers and canals are shaded by thousands of towering coconut palms, and the province is Vietnam's leading producer of coconut-derived products. The experience of gliding through narrow water coconut (nipa palm) canals by small wooden sampan or kayak, listening to birds and watching village life, is quintessentially Mekong. Coconut candy factories – where molten coconut milk is hand-stretched and cut into chewy sweets – are fascinating to watch. Other highlights include visits to a traditional honey bee farm, a rice paper workshop, and brick-making yards along the Ham Luong River. Ben Tre is best combined with My Tho for a full Mekong day tour from Saigon (90 km, 2 hours).