Road transfer from Ho Chi Minh City Centre to Ben Tre: 2 hours
Begin today’s tour at 08:00 with a pickup at the hotel. The drive to Ben Tre takes about two hours and offers scenic views of Southern Vietnam. Situated in the Mekong Delta, Ben Tre is famous for its fruit orchards and traditional craftsmen working with coconut leaves and fibres.
Arrive around 10:00 and board a local vessel for a first glimpse of life in the Mekong Delta. Cross Cai Cam River and enjoy a visit to a coconut processing workshop and learn about the different uses of these versatile fibres in daily life. Hop on a vintage Lambro and continue to drive through sleepy village roads, stopping at family-run workshop specializing in coconut mats.
Continue by walking to Uncle Nhu’s house to visit his fruit garden. Learn about local fruit orchards and taste some of the local tropical fruits while engaging with Uncle Nhu. Next up, continue by sampan through the scenic waterways. Hop from the sampan onto a cruise and continue for lunch before cruising to Mrs. Mai’s house and check-in at the homestay
Spend the afternoon at leisure and relax with local activities such as rowing boats, catching shrimp, making grasshoppers from coconut leaves, or simply talking with the locals. Join the preparations of the evening dinner to savor an authentic Vietnamese dish, and fall asleep under a mosquito net.
Note: The bedding and mosquito net may be not as luxurious as a hotel and there is also no air-con; however, this is a great way to get in tune with nature and to experience life in the Mekong Delta.
Wake up with a simple breakfast prepared by the hosts and spend the morning at leisure. Choose to stay in and help the hosts to get a feel for what life is like living in the Mekong Delta, or cycle around the village. Visit other local houses and interact with the schoolkids or explore the countryside with an optional visit a soya sauce workshop.
Check out at 10:00 and transfer back to Ben Tre pier. Disembark the vessel and take a scenic drive towards Uncle Sau Khanh's house – a local farmer whose hobby is collecting archeological findings and antiques like ancient ceramics and sculptures. Conclude this trip by getting ready for the drive back to Ho Chi Minh City at 11:00