Ben Tre
A former city on Bảo Island in the Mekong Delta, known for canal boat rides, cycling through coconut groves and coconut candy workshops.
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Bến Tre is a former city in the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam, on Bảo Island. Its former province is being merged into Vĩnh Long province. The city lies about 87 km from Ho Chi Minh City by National Highway 1 and National Highway 60, and National Highway 60 runs through it. The land is flat and crossed by canals. Visitors come for the coconut candy workshops in Mỏ Cày, Châu Thành and Cồn Phụng.
The trip suits a slow pace: boat rides along the canals, cycling through coconut-growing areas and time in rural communities. Rain falls mostly from May to November. The dry season runs from December to April, but northeast winds then push salt water up the rivers, affecting farm crops and household water. Expect heat and humidity all year, with an average temperature near 28 °C and humidity around 80% in 2020. Low-lying wards and communes flood at high tide. Cần Thơ lies about 121 km away by National Highways 60 and 57.
Ben Tre in five
- Sleep one night instead of a day tripThe best hours here are early and late, when the lanes and canals are quiet. A night in Ben Tre gives you a bicycle morning before the tour buses from Ho Chi Minh City arrive.
- Cycle a coconut-grove isletCu Lao Long is one of the islets reached by short ferry, with tree-lined paths and small cafes. You can carry a bicycle aboard, and many hotels lend bicycles to guests.
- Visit a coconut candy workshopThe province has more than 300 coconut candy factories, and tours let you watch the process. Taste the original candy, a simple blend of coconut milk and sugar, before you buy gifts.
- Treat Ben Tre as part of a Delta loopBen Tre links naturally with Tra Vinh and Can Tho on a slow route south. If you only have two nights in the Delta, compare it with Can Tho first.Can Tho or Ben Tre
- Eat coconut dishes at lunchCoconut rice, coconut-braised shrimp and a salad of coconut hearts are local staples. Ask for the day's dish, and keep spice and shellfish allergies in mind.
Need to know
- Getting there
- About 2 hours by road from Ho Chi Minh City
- Getting around
- Bicycle, ferry and taxi; guided motorbike tours
- Best base
- Ben Tre town, or a homestay on an islet
- Time needed
- 1 night; 2 with an islet homestay
- Famous for
- Coconut groves and candy workshops
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry, pleasantJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Dry, TetFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, Tet
- MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh34°Low25°Dry, hotMarchClear
Best
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh34°Low26°HottestAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- MayRain25 rainy daysHigh33°Low26°Rains beginMayRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 255 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains begin
- JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Wet seasonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 264 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet season
- JulyRain28 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Wet seasonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 314 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet season
- AugustRain29 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Wet seasonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 288 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet season
- SeptemberRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet, high tideSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 368 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, high tide
- OctoberRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Wet, floodsOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 402 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, floods
- NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Rains easeNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 189 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains ease
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, coolerDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
Average daily high and low in Ben Tre, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ben Tre
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Ben Tre
05:39 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°24°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed31°24°83%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Thu31°24°82%Thursday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Fri31°24°82%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Sat30°24°78%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Sun31°24°71%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 71%.
Updated 03:21 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Cu Lao Long isletshort ferry from Ben Tre townTree-lined paths, coconut groves and cafes that suit a bicycle.
- Coconut candy workshopwithin the provinceWatch coconut milk and sugar cooked and cut into the local sweets.
- Can Thoa separate Delta stopThe floating market city, usually the next stop south.Read the guide
Before you go to Ben Tre
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Rules for Ben Tre, checked
- Visa rules depend on your nationality. Check whether you need a visa or an e-visa on the official portal before you book.Source
- Declare cash and goods above the legal limits on the customs form on arrival. Check the current limits with Vietnam Customs before you travel.
- Dial 113 for police, 114 for fire and 115 for an ambulance anywhere in Vietnam.
- Low-lying wards and communes flood at high tide, so time boat trips and riverside walks around the tide.
Plan around Ben Tre
The biggest Delta city and floating market
Read the guideCan Tho or Ben TreWhich Mekong base fits your days
Read the guideCan Tho in 2 daysA river and islet itinerary
Read the guideChau Doc travel guideBorder town and Tra Su forest
Read the guideHo Chi Minh CityThe usual starting point
Read the guideBest time to visit VietnamWeather by region and month
Read the guideAll of VietnamEntry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideBen Tre FAQ
Is Ben Tre worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a quiet look at Delta life with bicycles, canals and orchards. It has no single headline sight, so it rewards a slow day. Choose Can Tho instead if the floating market is your priority.
How far is Ben Tre from Ho Chi Minh City?
About two hours by road, which makes it a popular first stop on a Delta route. Buses, private cars and organized tours all run there. Leave early to beat the afternoon traffic back.
Can you visit Ben Tre as a day trip from Saigon?
Yes, and many tours do it, but you spend much of the day in the vehicle. One night on the spot gives you a calm morning on the lanes and canals before the day groups arrive.
What is Ben Tre famous for?
Coconuts. The province is called the coconut capital of Vietnam, with huge groves and craft villages that make candy, oil and shell handicrafts. The coconut sweets are the thing to take home.
When should you go to Ben Tre?
Dry months from December to April are best for bicycle lanes and ferries. The rest of the year is wet and humid, with high tides and some flooding at the end, but the lanes are greener and quieter.