"Coconut Land" Tourism - Building special products

 Ben Tre is one of thirteen provinces and city in the Mekong Delta - consisting of three islands – Bảo, Minh and An Hóa, embraced by four of the nine tributaries of the gentle Mekong River: Tiền, Hàm Luông, Ba Lai and Cổ Chiên rivers. It is dubbed as the Land of Coconuts with a system of interlaced canals, has created the tourist brand "Eco-waterway coconut land" - A safe, friendly and quality destination.

Cù Lao Minh consists of four districts: Chợ Lách, Mỏ Cày Bắc, Mỏ Cày Nam and Thạnh Phú, creating a eco-waterway tourist route "From the river to the sea" known to many tourists and travel agencies. In particular, the province's tourist industry is rebuilding a specific tourist route, a eco-waterway tourist route that can only be experienced in the Coconut Land of Bến Tre. It is the route to the coconut floating market, the large cococraft village on the Thom river – Mỏ Cày Nam and the Chợ Lách Cultural and Tourist Village.

Coconut Homestay

Mỏ Cày Nam district has the top coconut growing area and output in the province with handicraft villages, fiber, desiccated coconut. Mỏ Cày Town will be oriented to become a "coconut city" and built on the foundation of an ecological urban area with cultural identity, associated with coconut trees. This place is convenient for both road and waterway traffic - the intersection of National Highway 60 and 57. Special national relic "Đồng Khởi relic" in Định Thuỷ commune - displays coconut shells, machetes, home-made guns, self-made bombs and mines, guerilla - fighting villages; national relic of Tuyên Linh Pagoda in Minh Đức commune. Thom river connects two big rivers, Hàm Luông and Cổ Chiên, bustling with coconut floating market - day and night; production facilities of handicrafts from coconut; boat building craft village in An Định commune; green skin pomelo cooperative groups; organic coconut gardens; Coconut Homestay using materials from coconut trees,…

Ornamental flower village and Cai Mon seedings

Chợ Lách district - "Cái Mơn - the kingdom of ornamental flowers", "the land of good fruit trees" or "the largest seedling production area in the country" is a new rural district with many OCOP (one commune one product) products which are considered local specialties such as: rambutan, durian, green-skin pomelo, mangosteen, bonsai, seedlings - ornamental flowers,... of 31 traditional villages with famous and long-standing brands. Besides, the district is rich in spiritual life and many ancient religious architectural works: Kim Long pagoda, Cái Mơn ancient church, Cái Nhum church... Currently, the district has many attractions, homestays, accommodation facilities are operating such as: Hoàng Duy, Năm Công ornamental gardens...(Hưng Khánh Trung B), Lâm Nga hanging flower (Vĩnh Thành), Nguyễn Gia ecotourism (Tân Thiềng) and homestay Năm Hiền (Chợ Lách Town), Ba Ngói eco-tourism site (Vĩnh Bình), Đại Lộc (Sơn Định), Jardin Du Mekong (Hòa Nghĩa),,, Trương Vĩnh Ký commemorated stele, Cái Mơn bio-technology application area. Especially, Chợ Lách Culture and Tourist Village consists of 4 communes: Long Thới Commune: Rooster Mekong Resort; Vĩnh Thành Commune: Cái Mơn largest ornamental flower village in Chợ Lách and the fruit gardens of Bảy Thảo and Minh Thanh …; Phú Sơn commune: producing all kinds of colourful-paper flowers; Vĩnh Hòa commune: seedlings, ornamental flowers and special fighting cocks farm. The Village of Culture and Tourism has installed a lighting system in An Hòa hamlet, Long Thới commune; expanding district road 34, 35 and 37; concreting 2 dike roads at Đông Kinh and Lân Đông hamlets (3.5km) to make a new road for electric vans and bicycles; building piers at Lân Đông hamlet and  at Kinh Bảo Vàng bridge, welcome gates to Culture and Tourist Village in Vĩnh Nam, Đông Kinh, An Hòa hamlets...

The eco waterway tourist itinerary (Sông Thom) and Chợ Lách Culture and Tourist village will be prominent tour, attracting tourists in the near future, specifically the 2 days / 1 night program as follows:

Day 1:

Depart from Ben Tre City to Chợ Lách. Stop at Chợ Lách Cultural and Tourist Village, ride a bicycle or take electric van to visit Cai Mon ornamental flower gardens and Bay Thao durian garden, Lan Dong paper flower village , experience the cock-farm… Continue to Long Thoi commune, rest and have lunch at Rooster Mekong Resort. Afternoon, cruise on Ham Luong river, visit Cai Ga islet. Back to Mo Cay Nam, on the way, visit the memorial stele of Truong Vinh Ky, Cai Mon church, Cai Mon biotechnology application area. Dinner and overnight at Coconut homestay.

Day 2:

Breakfast, visit Tuyet Phung coconut candy kiln and special national relic "Đồng Khởi relic" Định Thuỷ commune, Mỏ Cày Nam; row sampan in the coconut water canal, experience handicrafts and small-scale coconut processing, boat  trip on the Thom River, visit the coconut floating market, cycle around the craft village, An Thanh commune market... Get in the car, go to the tourist destination - Thành Long Coconut Garden, Thành Thới B Commune, have lunch, visit the temple of Whale, admire the bridge and Cổ Chiên River. End program. Continue the journey to Trà Vinh - Khmer culture.

With cultural values and potentials, in the coming time, Cù Lao Minh in general and the Chợ Lách – Mỏ Cày Nam tourist program will promote its strengths in tourism. In the near future, Bến Tre tourism will show up and has new shirt, attracting more and more domestic and foreign tourists.

Source: dulich.bentre.gov.vn

Solutions for the recovery and development of Ben Tre tourist activities in the present context

 In the first quarter of 2021, the tourist activities in the province continued to meet many difficulties because the epidemic has broken out again and spreads in the community. However, this time falls on the occasion of the New Year and the Lunar New Year. So people are afraid of the epidemic, and thus limit their travel. Therefore, the number of tourists coming to Ben Tre for sightseeing and experience has decreased a lot - compared to the same period.

It can be said that Covid-19 epidemic has caused a lot of damage to the tourism industry of Ben Tre. Up to now, one in 22 travel companies has been temporarily approved for suspension. The others still operate normally but there is no visitor or just a limited number if any. One in 45 tourist hotels, guest - houses have announced its suspension; and such as 11 in 40 homestays  have announced of its suspension; 7 in 41 tourism services tourist destinations, restaurants. International tour guides have to change to one or do other jobs. The number of tourists to Ben Tre in the first quarter of 2021 reached approximately 150,000, decreasing by 68% compared to the same period; the number of domestic tourists were 150,000, declined by 44% compared to the same period; there were no international tourists. The total revenue from tourism in the first quarter of 2021 was estimated to be 143 billion VND, decreasing by 64% compared to the same period. The occupation of accommodation on average in the province was only accounted for 25 – 35%. Exceptionally, several large hotels such as Ham Luong, Viet Uc, Coconut Hotel, Forever Green Resort reached an occupation of 40 – 55%.

In addition to the effects of the epidemic, tourism enterprises have also met difficulties in their operation such as environmental pollution due to the construction of dykes to prevent saltwater, medical report, security, conversion of land use purpose from agricultural to commercial land, service land, increase in water price….

To promptly share, support tourism enterprises and businesses in the province that are affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, the tourism authorities have coordinated with the relevant state agencies to swiftly carry out, instruct the implementation of support policy of central and local authorities for organizations, individuals being affected by Covid-19. Additionally, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourisms also presided and co – ordinated with relevant state offices and a tourism enterprises to organize meeting the 4th Special subject (business -coffee) in 2021 to promptly seek and difficulties, solve problems for tourism agencies from Covid-19 epidemic. At the same time, they have shown solutions to stimulate the tourism and attract tourists coming to Ben Tre, when the Covid-19 is controlled.

However, in general, the operation of tourism enterprises and businesses, despite of the difficulties, is gradually recovering, and business agencies in the province still continue to exploit the domestic tourist market. Tourists travel to tourist destinations, accommodations… and increase much on the weekends. Currently, tourist agencies always focus on the embellishment of their places, facilities, upgrade and expand facilities, equipments and develop programs, products and services to serve tourists on the occasions of Hung Vuong's death anniversary, April 30 and May 1, and summer holidays.

In the near future, to recover the tourism activities after Covid-19 epidemic, tourist government will concentrate on developing and implementing the missions, solutions as follows:

First, continue to focus on the propaganda and approach for tourism businesses in the province to effectively implement measures on the prevention of Covid-19 in accordance with the guidance of competent local and central authorities. Coordinate with relevant officers to guide, implement the support policy of Central Government for organizations and individuals affected by Covid-19 epidemic.

Second, focus on the implementation of Proposals, programs, plans on the development of tourism that are approved such as: Plan No. 02-DA/TU of the Provincial Committee on the development of tourism in Ben Tre towards 2030; Action Program No. 22/CTr/TU of the Provincial Communist Party and Plan No. 4573/KH-UBND of the People's Committee on the promotion of tourism to the key economic sector; Plan on the implementation of project of the development of tourism towards 2030; Plan on the establishment of Cho Lach Cultural and Tourism Village; Plan on the Weekend Market; Plan on the Smart Tourism…

Third, focus on the communication, promotion and introduction of the tourism image of Ben Tre as a safe – friendly – quality destination on the media, press, Internet, publications and through events, festivals, fairs, seminars, symposiums on tourism at the province and others throughout the country such as: Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival, Vinh Long Tourism Festival organized for the 2nd time in 2021 in Vinh Long, Tourism forum among Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces, cities in the Mekong Delta organized for the 2nd time in Dong Thap; The week of Culture – Tourism – Cuisine – Commerce organized by the Eastern tourist group of Mekong Delta in 2021 (expected to take place in September 2021 in Ben Tre); promote the information technology application, carry out digital transformation in the communication, advertisement, promotion for tourism.

Fourth, mobilize tourism businesses to develop a diversity of products, types of tourism, featuring eco-tourism of the land of Coconut; strengthen the linkage, cooperation for the development of tourism products, tours in the province, intra, and inter-region; develop tourism in association with the conservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, historical relics, festivals to exploit, serve and attract tourists.

Fifth, organize training classes, and improve knowledge and skill for tourist staff, workers… to meet the demand of localities and agencies.

Sixth, focus on the implementation of Linkage and Cooperation Program of the Eastern Group of Mekong Delta and Linkage and Cooperation Program among Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces, cities of the Mekong Delta. Participate and coordinate with other provinces, the city to sign on the linkage and cooperation in developing tourism to jointly organize events, festivals and famtrips in order to promote, introduce, advertise tours, routes and tourism products, which contribute to the promotion of tourism activities of Ben Tre province in particular, and to the recovery and development of the Mekong Delta region and throughout the country in general after the Covid-19 epidemic. Promote IT in the regional for linking quick and prompt information exchange.

Seventh, continue to effectively perform the state management of tourism such as guiding, appraising and recogniting tourist attractions, accommodations that are qualified,  star rating for tourist accommodations, and services to serve tourists…Coordinate with functional and local officers to promptly guide, remind tourist enterprises and businesses in the locality to fully comply with the laws. Tighten the inspection; promptly enforce penalties for unhealthy competition. Promptly implement, policies on the support of  tourism development of the Central Government, and the province. Especially, continue to effectively enforce the Resolution No. 12/NQ-HDND on the support of community tourism within Ben Tre province to assist, solve a part of difficulties for organizations, individuals doing business on tourism at present.

To solve the mentioned problems on the solutions to attract tourists within the province at present, it requires the cooperation of relevant functional authorities at different level from province to district, commune, and most importantly, the involvement of tourism enterprises by themselves, who directly conduct the tourism business. Solutions set out above require to be coordinated in a well-balanced and uniform methods in order to gain practical effects. If it works in such a way, the tourism activities of Ben Tre will soon recover after Covid-19 epidemic is under control./.​

Source: dulich.bentre.gov.vn

Ben Tre tourism service activities at night

 In order to serve tourists for staying in a locality when they join in an experience and enjoyment travel itineraries.Tourists often find out the suitable service activities at night so that they can meet the needs without wasting their time in trip that is really essential.Coming to Ben Tre, the hometown of Coconut Land, the service activities at night are not much; The typical activities are introduced to help tourists choose them when they stay at night in Dong Khoi Homeland.When tourists have their needs for entertainment such as watching art performances, the travel companies will take or pick you up to the Provincial Culture - Cinema center (April 30, Ward 4) to watch the Water Puppet program, "Singing - Sac bua Phu Le" or come to the Provincial Museum (Hung Vuong Street, An Hoi Ward) to enjoy and exchange the Southern amateur music on weekends; For watching the movie service, let's go to the Galaxy Cinema Ben Tre (Co.op Mart Ben Tre Supermarket).Karaoke is also an indispensable type for tourists who like participating in singing such as: Karaoke Bum, karaoke Cozy; karaoke Diamond; karaoke Ut An; ...

Electric car or van on  city tour in the center of Ben Tre city 's the area.

Visitors wish to shop, go to Sense City Trade Center (Tran Quoc Tuan street, ward 4); GO trade center (Highway 60, Phu Tan ward) or go to Ben Tre night market (Hung Vuong street, An Hoi ward). If you want to be more beautiful, you can go to Viet SIAM Health Care Facility, which is a qualified facility to operate its business.

Food and beverage is also indispensable during the period of your stay. Let's enjoy the typical dishes of the Homeland of Coconut that have recognized as restaurants, facilities for customers, tourism such as:TTC Floating or garden restaurants; TTC Palace Ben Tre; Viet - Uc Restaurant; Ben Tre Rirverside; Diamond Stars Ben Tre; An Nam Restaurant; Pho Loc Restaurant; Hung Vuong Restaurant; Con Phung Tourist and some fastfood services lovely such asJollibee, Lotteria, ... The coffee shops: Hemo, Lo Gach, Vuon Hong, Lang Van, ...Some transportation services which are participated in the accompanying services such as electric car for sightseeing in City tour; The tourism boats serve the services of sightseeing, eating and drinking, such as: Bao Duyen, Nam Bo,...(Ben Tre City), Mango Home (Giong Trom); Cai Ga, Nguyen Gia (Cho Lach); Chin Song (Thanh Phu); Cai Cam (Mo Cay Bac)

A group of skilled cooksis frying Vietnamese pancake at Con Phung countryside market (photo C.Phung)​

To meet the requirements of taking souvenir photos both day and night, you can come to Ben Tre Museum; An Hoi Park with the work of 13 sets of stone instruments; Dong Khoi Ben Tre Park; My Hoa Park; Tran Van On Park (Truc Giang Lake; Hung Vuong Riverside ) combining with the image of Ben Tre bridge.

At present night-time products are still limited, some services are only available until 22-23 hours and not enough to meet the needs of tourists to stay at night in Ben Tre. So the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also advised the Provincial People's Committee to carry out some projects to develop night tourism in Ben Tre according to Plan 6445 / KH-UBND dated December 2, 2020 on implementing the Prime Minister's Decision No. 1129 / QD-TTg dated July 27, 2020 approving the Night Economic Development Project in Vietnam such as: The Weekend Fair Project; Implementing the project of Coconut Country Night Street; Implementing the Ben Tre tourism development project up to 2030;Some decisions to develop the night tourism.Hopefully, Ben Tre tourism from now on to 2030, will have more investors to come and invest more products to achieve the goal of making Ben Tre tourism become an important economic sector in 2025 to a spearhead one in 2030./.

Source: dulich.bentre.gov.vn

“Coconut Land” Tourism - Awaken potentials of Binh Dai district

With a 27km coastline of  Ben Tre province and being located on An Hoa island, bordering Chau Thanh district in the north-west -  Tien River in the north, Ba Lai River in the south-west and the East Sea in the east, Binh Dai is one of three coastal districts with great economic potential (especially the aquaculture and fishing). Tourism - a non-smoke industry - has also been seen as the district's advantage in recent times to attract tourists.

Tourism potentials of Binh Dai are diversified with two beaches of Thua Duc and Thoi Thuan and many casuarina, mangrove anh lowland-salt forests, plus mango, longan, watermelon fields, salt fields, shrimp lakes; or Chay Muoi islet with sandy beach and sea-snail bank 1.5m high, 6,000-7,000m long to hold back sea-wave (unique dyke in Viet Nam country); or fishing port associated with the dry-fish processing village and Nghinh Ong Nam Hai Festival, Binh Thang commune ... The homestays are welcoming guests such as: Homestay Ut Trinh, Tam Hiep Commune; Ba Tu islet Homestay in Thoi Thuan commune and Thua Duc commune's Forest Keeper homestayare also gradually being promoted and exploited better and better.

The tourists take photo in Thua Duc Beach

Long Thanh, Long Phung Temples are national-level architectural one. Ba Lai Dam (the largest dam in the country) and Van Phuoc Pagoda are the places for historical, cultural and spiritual research with very nice views. The cuisine of Binh Dai district is also very rich and attractive with many dishes of brackish and salty waters such as shrimp, crab, fish, clams, oysters and many dishesto be processed from fresh seafood ...

It can be seen that the destinations and activities of tourism in Binh Dai district are quite diverse from relaxation, spiritual, experience tourisms. However, the tourist spots still face many difficulties and service quality is not yet guaranteed and connected to complete tours for tourists.

The tourists visiting in Binh Dai District

To awaken the potentials and develop tourism in Binh Dai district becoming a spearhead economic sector need to be surveyed, built and promoted many things. It is necessary to increase the propagation of Politburo Resolution No. 08-NQ / TW; Action Program No. 22-CTr / TU dated 20/7/2017 of the Provincial Party Committee; Plan No. 4573 / KH-UBND dated October 9, 2017 of the Provincial People's Committee; Action Program No. 17-CTr / HU of the District Party Committee for the political system and people to realize that tourism playing an important role, contributing to economic development and making Binh Dai people hospitable and dynamic.

A corner of Thua Duc Beach

Looking on the Ben Tre map, Binh Dai district has 3 tour itineraries: Con Tam Hiep (community tourism), Phu Long islet(freshwater ecotourism) and Thua Duc - Thoi Thuan  salty ecology. With their own characteristics, the diversified types of tourism can be connected 2 or 3 programs into 1day or 2days /1night tours to attract tourists to travel and experience agricultural tourism products and study about the farmer's life here:

1/. The first itinerary: Going to Binh Dai district, crossing An Hoa bridge, visit Dinh Long Thanh, Long Dinh commune (National level relic). Cruise on the Tien River, land at Tam Hiep Islet, rest at Ut Trinh homestay, eat, experience going- fishing, visit beekeeping gardens, statue sculpture sites and enjoy herb jelly. Rowing on the water palm canals and cycle around the village road under the green longan gardens.

2/. The second itinerary: Visit Huynh Tan Phat Temple, Phu Long islet - type of agricultural resort, fruit garden. Experience freshwater ecotourism, scent coconut garden. Cruise, visit Ba Lai dam and Vam Ho bird sanctuary.

3/. The third itinerary: Binh Dai Sea, visit the fishing port and Binh Thang dry fishing village. Van Phuoc Pagoda, “Forest keeper" Farmstay, De Dong market - Thua Duc commune. “Ba Tu islet" Homestay,  sea bathing atThoi Thuan beach beside the “Viet snail" dyke.

Surely, Binh Dai tourism will improve competitiveness and attract tourists. Tourism investment in Binh Dai district not only develops economic but also brings environmental benefits, ensures long-term and sustainable development of relaxation, rural tourism and community based tourism. It also contribute to the socio-economic development target of Binh Dai district./.​​​

Source: dulich.bentre.gov.vn