When it comes to immersing yourself in lush greenery and savoring a variety of enticing delicacies, there’s no better destination than Tien Giang and Ben Tre. Here’s a suggested itinerary to ensure you make the most of your journey.
**Transportation**
For those traveling from Saigon to Tien Giang (approximately 70 km), bus tickets are priced at 60,000 VND per ticket. The route from Ben Tre to Saigon (88 km) costs 67,000 VND per ticket.
If you prefer riding a motorcycle, simply follow National Highway 1 until you reach the Trung Luong intersection, which leads to the gateway of My Tho City in Tien Giang.
**Accommodation**
In Tien Giang, consider staying at hotels in Go Cong such as Lien Huong, Hong Thanh, and Hoa Hong, with prices ranging from 250,000 VND to 450,000 VND per night. In My Tho, there’s the Cong Doan hotel priced at 370,000 VND per night. In Ben Tre, options include Hung Vuong, Ham Luong, Viet Uc, and Oasis hotels, with prices starting from 400,000 VND per night.
**Suggested Itinerary**
**Day 1: Saigon – Go Cong – My Tho (Tien Giang)**
Upon arrival in Go Cong, visit the cluster of royal tombs, a rare architectural gem in the Mekong Delta dating back several hundred years. Then, head to Tan Thanh Beach, located 15 km east of Go Cong, where you can enjoy clam digging and sampan hunting. Don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in delicious round and plump white clams, prepared to perfection, offering a memorable dining experience.
In My Tho, make sure to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda on Nguyen Trung Truc Street in My An Hamlet, My Phong Commune. Built in the early 19th century, this is the largest Buddhist pagoda in Tien Giang Province, showcasing a unique blend of Asian and European architectural styles. A must-try local delicacy in My Tho is hu tieu, featuring soft and chewy noodles in a savory broth infused with the sweetness of simmered bones and the richness of dried shrimp.
**Day 2: My Tho – Cai Be – Four Islets – Ben Tre**
Cai Be Floating Market, bustling with hundreds of boats laden with various fruits, offers a vibrant atmosphere typical of the Mekong Delta’s floating markets. From here, explore traditional craft villages along the river, such as candy-making kilns, rice paper workshops, com (green rice flakes) processing facilities, handicraft workshops, and brick kilns.
Along the Tien River, the four islets – Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung – always attract tourists. While Long and Lan belong to My Tho City, Tien Giang Province, Quy and Phung belong to Chau Thanh District, Ben Tre Province. Therefore, a Tien Giang – Ben Tre tour is an opportunity for you to fully explore these “four treasures.”
Long Islet specializes in aquaculture on rafts and boat repairs due to its proximity to My Tho fish market. Here, you’ll also find lush orchards with delicious fruits like durian, longan, rambutan, seedless guava, oranges, and mangoes.
Lan Islet, also known as Thoi Son Islet, is the largest of the four. Following winding canals, small boats will take you past two coconut groves. Enjoy the rustic life as you enter fruit orchards, visit traditional houses with three or five rooms characteristic of the Mekong Delta, and create many fond memories.
Quy Islet, the smallest, also known as Cat Islet, still preserves much of its natural beauty. You’ll feel delighted sitting in airy stilt houses, admiring the white and purple water lilies on the water’s surface, sampling snakehead fish sour soup with water spinach or catfish steamed with mushrooms and squash, while listening to the vibrant tunes of traditional music.
Phung Islet is a pioneer in utilizing coconut trunks to make household items and has developed a unique coconut handicraft village. Here, you can admire the exquisite and elaborate architectural relics of the Coconut Religion established by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam in the 1960s. Voted as a typical tourist destination in the Mekong Delta region, Phung Islet’s tourist area is spacious, airy, and blends seamlessly with nature.
You can take a motorboat around the islets to visit coconut candy processing facilities, souvenir shops selling coconut products, or take a horse-drawn carriage to explore fruit orchards, stop by a thatched coconut house for tea with honey and kumquat, and indulge in tropical fruits.
**Day 3: Ben Tre – Saigon**
Take the time to visit the tomb of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chieu in Ba Tri District, the resting place of the great poet, patriot, and folk doctor. Or visit the Dong Khoi guerrilla village in Mo Cay District, where you’ll see primitive weapons used by locals during the resistance wars.
Vam Ho Bird Garden, located in My Hoa and Tan Xuan Communes, Ba Tri District, is home to nearly 500,000 storks, herons, and other wild birds, along with lush mangrove forests and a diverse vegetation carpet. This place opens up a fascinating natural space. There’s plenty to discover here, from walking through the forest, paddling through the mangrove forest, visiting the resistance base, crossing bamboo bridges, lounging on hammocks under the trees, and breathing in the fresh air of the Ba Lai River.
Visit the Cai Mon fruit orchard to enjoy the pleasure of exploring fruit orchards and tasting freshly picked fruits as gifts, especially Cai Mon durians. In addition to fruits, many orchards now also serve specialties of the Ben Tre countryside such as free-range chicken porridge, clam porridge, rice pancake with snails, etc.
**Cuisine**
This trip will introduce you to dishes like coconut fish stew, rice cake, Tan Phong snails, banana wrapped in coconut, fermented fish sauce, and sour salad. In Ben Tre, don’t miss out on dishes like smashed banana in coconut water, sliced rice cake soup, coconut worm, and various dishes made from coconut worms, such as grilled, steamed, curry-cooked, or steamed in a rice cooker.
**Souvenirs**
Go Cong is famous for ripe guavas and specialty shrimp paste. In addition, Tien Giang boasts a plethora of delicious fruits like Lo Ren milk apples, Cai Be oranges, and green-skinned pomelos. Ben Tre is renowned for coconut candies, My Long rice paper, Son Doc puffed rice cake, and beautiful coconut handicrafts.
**Conclusion**
Embarking on a journey through Tien Giang and Ben Tre is not just about sightseeing; it’s about immersing yourself in the vibrant culture and rich flavors of the Mekong Delta. From exploring floating markets to indulging in local delicacies and taking home unique souvenirs, every moment in this enchanting region promises to be unforgettable.