Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam. The island is part of Kien Giang province. The district of Phu Quoc includes the island proper and 21 smaller islets.  Moreover, it is also the largest town on this island, whose total area is 574 km².

Situated in the Gulf of Thailand 45 km west of Ha Tien on the Vietnamese mainland and 15 km south of the coast of Cambodia, Phu Quoc is ringed with some of most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, and offers the best seafood in the country. Phu Quoc island and its beaches was voted to be "The Most Cleanest and Beautiful Beach of World" by ABC News as from the end of February, 2008. Bai Sao is located on a private gulf so that there is always small rippling emerging on the coast. Sand has a spotlessly white color and sea is pure as crystal. This is one of seaside resort still reserves its natural beauty. Tourists are free to enjoy sea and go fishing. After that, restaurant will prepare a hearty, harmonious meal from fishes that customers have caught.

Mekong & Phu Quoc island (5 days, 4 nights)

Duong Dong town is known by its dried seafood and native dogs. They are wild animal but have been trained as hunting dogs by local people. Incredible ability in catching fishes or snakes makes this type of dog become well-known in the world. You should take a chance to participate a night fishing- squid journey. It is one of the most attractive activities here. Phu Quoc, however, home to the best fish sauce (nuoc mam), fermented fish sauce in the world, also reputedly known to produce high quality pepper.  Pepper cultivation is located inland in the center of the island. It brings a specific aroma, hot, strong taste that is deeper than other places. Phu Quoc has a monumentally impressive pearl reservation. Local people established separately a village to rear as well as collect pearls.
With a poetic scenery, fresh air and uncommonly special seafood, Phu Quoc not only is a peaceful convalescence paradise but also satisfied almost fastidious tourists with its produce.

• 2 days Mekong with transfer to Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc Island 

One of the typical specialties in Phu Quoc Island is herring salad which is a nutritious dish. It is not very difficult for fishermen to catch this kind of fish as herrings are abundant in Phu Quoc Sea. The dish is processed quite simply. After being scaled, cleaned and sliced, herrings are mixed with the lemon juice, sliced chilies and onions to clean all fishy smell and keep raw meat color. The dish is served with vegetable, coconuts and girdle cakes. Herring salad is more delicious when being dipped with the fish sauce made of chili, garlic and fried peanuts. Phu Quoc fish sauce is well known nationwide for its flavor and quality, which much enhances the good taste of the dish.

• 3 days to the Floating Markets

Herring salad rich in protein is a favorite dish for locals and tourists alike.

Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba Island is one the popular attraction for traveler when they join Halong Bay tours. Usually tourist spend one night overnight on cruise and one night overnight in Cat Ba Hotel. Cat Ba island is one of the largest island, belong to Hai Phong city with an area of 280 km2, included Cat Ba National park, complex of beautiful bay, Cat Ba center town.
Cat Ba Island view from the peak of National Park

Cat Ba island has a variety of natural ecosystems with limestone, forest, beach, cave… Original Cat Ba is the place of fisherman. They live in Cat Ba town and floating villages around the island. Today Cat Ba become one of famous attraction for tourist.  Tourist arrive here and join many activities on the island: Trekking through Cat Ba National Park, Biking through village with mountain landscape, kayaking to explore the bay, swimming in natural beach… Vietnam travel
There three beaches in Cat Ba island: Cat Co beach I, Cat Co beach II, Cat Co beach III

Cat Ba National Park founded in 1986, covered an area of 98 km2 with 109 km2 of land area and 52 km2 of sea.  There are 1,561 species of flora from 186 families, 406 species of trees. There are 279 species of fauna, included 53 manual species. 160 bird species, 274 species of insect. There are 178 coral, 900 fish, especially Cat Ba island is a home land of langurs, it going to disappear in the world. Today there are only 68 langur in the National Park.

There are 68 langurs left in Cat Ba National park

Cat Ba National Park

Tourist is easy to get to Cat Ba island when they join Halong Bay tours. Halong Bay cruise will drop you in Gia Luan or Beo tourist wharf then take the shuttle bus to Cat Ba town. Optional from Hanoi ( 160 km to Cat Ba ) tourist will take bus and drive to Hai Phong (50 km to Cat Ba island )city then transferred by ferry to Cat Ba town ( not recommended for tourist, It take long time to get to Cat Ba island. Drive to Halong City then join boat trip to Cat Ba island. You will be enjoyable with Halong Bay view) Huong Hai Sealife Halong bay
Cat Ba National Park has various types of animals, trees, insect, fishes...

Cat Ba island welcome 350,000 tourists every year. There various type of services in Cat Ba island: hotel form 3 star hotel to 5 star hotel or resort in Cat Ba island, driving motor or biking to explore Cat Ba island, kayaking to explore the bay, drinking some beer in the bar, joining massage services. Food in Cat Ba is perfect with various of seafood.

Ben Tre travel guide

Ben Tre is a little province in the east of Mekong Delta, being wedged between two main arms of Tien River. Ben Tre shares borders with Tien Giang, Tra Vinh and Vinh Long. It has one township also called Ben Tre and 7 other small districts, including Ba Tri, Binh Dai, Chau Thanh, Cho Lach, Giong Trom, Mo Cay and Thanh Phu. The province also accounts for the greatest part of Khmer ethnic population of the region. Read more: Mekong river cruise
Ben Tre is known as the land of coconut and also the cradle of “Dong Khoi” (“simultaneous insurgency”). Recording some of the fiercest stages of the American-Vietnam War, Ben Tre is heard by most students of the two countries’ history.
The sleepy and laid back Ben Tre is usually bypassed by most visitors coming to the delta. Considering its unparalleled beauty and historical significance, however, this picturesque area is definitely well worth a visit.

• Mango 2 days Ben Tre – Cai Be – Sa Dec
• Mango 2 Days Can Tho – Vung Liem – Ben Tre
• Mango 2 days My Tho – Mo Cay – Cai Be

Sights & Attractions

Phoenix Island
A visit to Bentre should include a boat trip to its several secluded islands. The first to be mentioned is the beautifully named Phoenix Islands (Con Phung). The island covers an area of 28 ha, emerging amidst the Tien River. Con Phung draws tourist attention mainly due to a coconut candy home factory located here. It is interesting to watch the entire manual making process of these Vietnamese fragrant sweets and taste some. The island is also famous with its coconut handicraft village.
The next stop is Dragon Island where you may fill your stomach with luscious tropical fruit and enjoy a yummy lunch with local specialties, typically included elephant ear fish, crispy southern spring rolls, sweet- sour soup and rice or noodles. On Unicorn Island, you may relax with honey tea and enjoy a local music performance of “Don ca tai tu”, a form of folklore opera in southern Vietnam.

Ben Tre travel guide

Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary
Vam Ho is a natural reverse area in Ba Tri District, around 57km from Ben Tre Township, accessible by road and boat. The sanctuary is home to thousands of stocks, cranes, herons and many other rare bird species. A network of arroyos was dug to water and protect the area from risks of fire.
The reserve also boasts rich flora (mainly mangroves) and fauna (bats, snakes, pythons, etc). It is best visited from 4 to 5pm everyday as the birds coming back to their nests after a day searching around for food. It may get very noisy with their flap of wings and their loud voices, but definitely a scene you may see once in a lifetime.

The historical relics & memorials
Ben Tre is homeland of the greatest female figure in Vietnam modern history, Madam Nguyen Thi Dinh. Her temple and memorial complex can be found in Phong Dien Hamlet, Luong Hoa Commune, Giong Trom District.
General Nguyen Thi Dinh was the soul of Dong Khoi revolutionary, first broke out in Mo Cay District of Ben Tre (1959), then spread out to the all other provinces of Mekong Delta. She was also the founder and leader of the renowned Vietnamese “long hair army” or “female guerilla troops”. You may also visit the Dong Khoi traditional house in Mo Cay District and relics of the Ho Chi Minh Trail on sea in Thanh Phu District.

Food & Drink
Numerous fruit orchards can be found in Cai Mon-Cho Lach, Tien Long and Chau Thanh districts: mango, longan, papaya, durian, jackfruit, rambutan, you name it. Interestingly, it is often sold to tourists not in kg but “belly sold” that means you pay a certain amount then pick up and eat to your full. The orchard owners may also offer you a delicious lunch of chicken specially raised by letting walk freely in the large orchards and find food themselves. Mussel rice is also a popular delicacy here.
Ben Tre is especially famous for coconut cake that is made from sticky rice mixed with black bean and rolled in strips of nipa young leaf. Making this cake is a time consuming and painstaking job. Rice is carefully chosen and soaked for several hours. Locals have to get up early to wash rice, extract young coconut milk and prepare wrappings. Cakes are fasten in clusters of a dozen and boiled for hours. The secret of making coconut cake is kept strictly and passed from generation to generation of the families.
A very popular drink not only in Ben Tre but around Mekong Delta in general is snake wine. It is supposed to be good for men and only men are allowed to taste them. Other widely available drinks are coconut alcohol and honey tea. Strolling around the bee farming villages in Mo Cay, Chau Thanh, Cho Lach and Giong Trom districts, you will be invited by vendors to visits their homes and taste some.

Getting there & away

There are two main ways to get to Ben Tre by road. From Ho Chi Minh City, you may follow the National Highway 1A to Trung Luong junction in My Tho- Tien GIang, turn right into National Highway 60 to Rach Mieu Ferry. Total distance is 86km and the ferry crossing takes around 22 minutes, ferry run 24 hours.
The second way is to travel from Can Tho to Vinh Long on National Highway 57. After crossing Dinh Khao Ferry to land on Cho Lach District, then continue to Ben Tre Township. Total distance is 50.7km.
Ben Tre can also be visited by boat down the Tien River.