population: 1.5 million

extension: 2,484 square kilometers

Museums

If you are in Ben Tre and interested in visiting museums, one place you may want to visit is the Ben Tre Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the province. Additionally, you could consider visiting the Coconut Museum, which highlights the importance of coconut farming to the region. If you are interested in similar types of museums, you may also want to check out the Ho Chi Minh City Museum or the War Remnants Museum, both of which are located within driving distance from Ben Tre.

Food

Some of the most recommended, popular, and typical dishes to eat in Ben Tre, Vietnam are:

1. Cơm tấm sườn: broken rice served with grilled pork ribs, often accompanied by pickled vegetables, a fried egg, and fish sauce.

2. Bánh xèo: crispy rice flour crepes filled with shrimp, bean sprouts, and pork, served with lettuce and herbs for wrapping and dipping in fish sauce.

3. Bánh ít lá gai: small pyramid-shaped dumplings made from sticky rice and filled with pork or shrimp, wrapped in screwpine leaves and served with fish sauce.

4. Chè trôi nước: glutinous rice balls filled with mung bean paste and served in a sweet ginger syrup.

5. Canh chua cá lóc: sour fish soup made with snakehead fish and vegetables such as tomatoes, pineapple, and okra, seasoned with tamarind and fish sauce.

6. Bánh chuối nướng: grilled banana cake made from mashed bananas, coconut milk, and rice flour, often served with sesame seeds and coconut flakes on top.

These dishes are beloved by locals in Ben Tre and reflect the region's unique culinary traditions.

Activities

Some fun activities that local people enjoy in Ben Tre include taking a boat tour along the Mekong River to see the coconut groves and visit local villages, visiting the night market to sample local street food and buy souvenirs, cycling through the countryside to explore the rice paddies and fruit orchards, and attending a traditional music and dance performance at a local temple or community center. Additionally, you could consider trying your hand at making coconut candy, a famous local specialty, by visiting one of the many small workshops that produce it.