After breakfast, the guide and driver collected us at 7:30am and it was a 2- hour drive to Ben Tre province crossing Rach Mieu bridge. Our first visit was at a brick kiln to see how to make bricks traditionally by printing and baking. Those brick kilns are opened in summer time only when there is enough sunshine to dry bricks.
We also visited a coconut processing workshop located along the canals where we drank fresh coconut water.
Upon arrival in Hung Vuong Pier, we boarded a motorized boat on Ben Tre River – one of the tributaries of the Mekong river – while sight-seeing every day activities along the river such as fishing and boats transferring fruits, flowers and rice to local markets and some even bigger coconut factories!
We stopped the boat to visit a coconut candy factory (o bought so much haha) and met some local musicians who performed traditional music. We also sampled some local fruit.
We hopped off the boat and took a Tuk-Tuk (motorized cart) to lunch at a local riverside restaurant. After lunch, we took a rowing-boat (Sampan) along a beautiful water palm creek. We got to say hello to locals…although did it quietly as many were having post-lunch naps on their sampans!
We rejoined our driver to go to Can Tho city which was another 3.5hrs driving and included a slightly nerve racking car ferry. We are staying one night at an ecolodge here which is locally run and pays living wages to locals. I won’t name it as unfortunately our experience hasn’t been amazing – but that was influenced by a very short notice change due to their renovations running over. So, I don’t think it’s reasonable to take this as an accurate reflection. The view has helped soften the blow of no food for me lol
Mel's Travel Blog 