I'd like to give an insight into&nbsp;Hué, a tourist town that was once an imperial city and is famous throughout the country for its food! But what tourists often don't realise is that there are numerous wonderful sites just a few kilometres from this town that are seldom visited but are nonetheless authentic and magnificent&nbsp;

Hué and the riches of its surroundings

In this article, learn more about sailing days on the Mekong from the town of Can Tho.

On the Mekong from Can Tho

This article presents the different faces of Halong Bay, both inland and at sea.

Halong Bay, between sea and land

Blue Hmong, Red Dao, Black Lolo... The ethnic minority groups living in the misty mountains of Northern Vietnam form a true patchwork quilt of different cultures. Going to meet them is guaranteed to be an intense trip that would only equal coming into contact with other ancestral peoples.

Meeting the Hmong, Dao, and other Lolo ethnic groups

Lào Cai

Bắc Hà

Sapa

Thành Phố Ninh Bình

Bến Tre is both a province and a city on the Mekong Delta, South Vietnam. The island is famous for its coconut orchards and plantations.

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I got to see Bến Tre in the company of some Vietnamese friends whose parents live in a house close to one of the many canals that criss-cross the island. After a journey by bus through a landscape of wonderful rice fields edged with palm trees, we arrived at a house that was itself surrounded by coconut palms. The father explained to us in the garden that the huge piles of coconuts we could see more or less everywhere would be used to produce oil: an important resource for the region's inhabitants. After spending a little time chatting, we set off by boat to explore the beautiful canals of Bến Tre at sunset. It was a wonderful moment, simply unforgettable in fact: we sailed gently along through lush vegetation to the sound of lapping water – definitely an exotic, off-the-beaten-track kind of experience!

At first, I was disappointed by the city, which seemed to consist of nothing but major thoroughfares and tower blocks - and very little nature. However, as I ventured beyond the city, I discovered some absolute wonders. All you need to do is rent a scooter and go a little further! I learned how several different things are made: chopsticks, coal, bricks, tar, ropes, and brooms - and saw coconut being processed and then turned into sweets... a real tour of the local way of life! I loved it! Ben Trê is bursting with small workshops, some of which are simply right on the side of the road. All you have to do is cross the bridge, take a right on the exit and delve into the little neighborhood where the locals live. An immersive local experience is guaranteed!

Ben Trê is authentic, and is located on the Mekong Delta, which is just thirty minutes from Mi Tho by scooter. It's a good place to go for a taste of local life.

Bến Tre Holidays

Bến Tre: How to get there?

Bến Tre: See when to go?

Bến Tre: For how long?

Bến Tre: What to see nearby?

Vietnam: our articles for your holidays