The Best Things To Do in My Tho & Ben Tre

At first glance the destination has terrific potential as it’s just two hours from Saigon—imagine rural scenery and photogenic waterways within easy reach of the big city. On the downside, the tourist boat-trips are controlled by the Tien Giang Tourist Office who funnel all visitors through a set, uninspired program, one tourist stop (or trap, depending on your outlook) after the other.

Whether you choose to do the Mekong Delta boat trip arranged from Ho Chi Minh City or locally at the pier, the official boat takes visitors to the Dragon (Con Tan Long), Tortoise (Con Quy) and Unicorn (Con Thoi Son) islands to see the cottage industries, which can be interesting if you’ve never seen a tropical fruit orchard or coconut candy being made before.

In a typical itinerary, the first stop is a tasting of local fruits like jackfruit, pomelo, guava or perhaps some tea, local honey or banana liquor. Next up (and it’s all very hurried) is a quick ride in a sampan—a row boat piloted by ladies in conical hats— and, hats off to them, they navigate with ease down narrow waterways congested with other tourist boats. The women paddle quickly however, all too eager to dispose of you in order to queue for the next fare.

The Mekong Delta is famed for its abundance of coconut trees and coconut milk is an ingredient in the toffee-like candy. Buy a box at the candy factory (your next stop)—resistance is futile. Then it is time for lunch, which will vary depending on the tour you booked—it can range from basic and bland to decent, perhaps featuring a Mekong Delta speciality like elephant ear fish deep fried whole.

Then it’s back on a big boat to reach the bigger boat back to the mainland and you’re done.

There are several points worth noting. First, with all the infrastructure set up only for day trippers, counter to backpacker instincts, getting to My Tho independently and arranging locally isn’t cheaper, nor will it necessarily get you an up-close experience. Boats still must be booked through the tourist pier/Tien Giang Tourist Office. The price of the tour is artificially high and you’ll still be put on a large boat of ten to twenty seats. Organised privately, a standard My Tho boat trip for 3-4 hours costs around 400,000 to 500,000 for the boat.

If you plan on visiting the area around My Tho but venturing no further into the Mekong Delta, then organising your trip from Ho Chi Minh City is the cheapest option. Backpacker day tours offered from agencies in Pham Ngu Lao can cost less than 200,000 dong. Pricier tours may translate to smaller group size, faster minivan transfer instead of coach bus and a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda.

You don’t have to reach the islands by boat. Unicorn (Con Thoi Son) and Phoenix Island (Con Phung) are accessible by the bridge that connects My Tho to Ben Tre. Sure, boating around the Mekong is part of the experience but if you’re travelling by motorbike or bicycle, you’ll still be able to see the general Delta scenery by road. You can visit those tourist stops, or avoid them altogether.

For Dragon island (Con Tan Long), a cheap local passenger/motorbike ferry departs from the pier in My Tho (on Trung Trac along the Bao Dinh Canal, a block north of where it meets the Mekong). On the other side of the Mekong, Ben Tre is also excellent to ride around for scenery and a less crowded place for on-water exploration.

Unless My Tho removes the monopoly or improves their tourism infrastructure and product, in our opinion, it pales in comparison to the boat trips from Can Tho, where travellers can get an up close experience which can only really be garnered in a small sampan. A Can Tho trip can be done independently with an overnight: arrive to Can Tho and the hotel can arrange for a morning sampan ride to see the floating market and explore the waterways. The hotel takes a commission and the rest goes to the boat driver.

For those who don’t even have one night to spare and really want to get a taste of the Mekong Delta, My Tho is the ticket then. Just be aware of what you will be getting, at the very least, beautiful photos, some pleasant boating around and a belly full of addictive coconut candy.

Want to try and bypass the official boats? Everyone in town will be pushing you to them and signs at their office warn of using freelancers. Our previous research suggested walking along the river front east, to the junction with the Bao Dinh canal, to find sampans moored along here. In our most recent research trip in 2017, we didn’t find any body around nor did any one approach us. Perhaps it was just a glitch in the matrix, or the authorities have tightened their hold. It’s worth a try if you’re keen.

If you find one in the morning kick off, try for 100,000 dong per hour, suggested trip length being 3-4 hours. In the afternoon, once all the tour groups have bailed, you may be able a three hour trip for around 200,000 depending on your bargaining ability and ability to feign lack of interest. Be clear on the price and itinerary before getting into the boat and don’t pay until you’ve returned to My Tho. If you are also being accompanied by a guide, clarify if the fee is included in the overall price. Communicating all this will be a challenge since English remains limited in My Tho.

Vinh Trang Pagoda

Dating back to 1849, Vinh Trang Pagoda is a large, peaceful Buddhist temple around one kilometre north of My Tho city’s centre and it’s worth the visit if you’re in town, especially during the morning prayers.

The pagoda brings together Chinese, Vietnamese, Khmer and European architecture, and has various Buddha statues, including a large scale standing Amitabha, reclining Buddha and big bellied laughing Buddha.

Vinh Trang has a number of impressive features like the ornate gate, built by craftsmen from Hue, and detailed woodwork within—look for the dragon’s tongues running down the wooden pillars on each side of the altar. Bricks and mortar aside, the temple will be memorable if you can arrive when the monks are chanting, around 10:00 in the morning, which is followed by drumming and a procession to the dining hall for a vegetarian feast fit for a monk—buckets of soup included—at around 10:45. The monks chant a prayer at the table before commencing.

Vinh Trang Pagoda is sometimes a stop on Mekong Delta day trips from Ho Chi Minh City, usually the more expensive small group tour—check on inclusions when booking. If you’re really into temples, it will be worth choosing a tour that includes it, hopefully arriving in time for the chanting and procession to the meal. In fact, for us it was the highlight as Vinh Trang was the only stop on our tour that didn’t include hoards of other tourists.

The temple does good work with homeless and disadvantaged children. Admission is free, and donations are much appreciated.

 

updated 2-2019

PRICE LIST FOR 4 SEATER
ROUTE (1WAY or RETURN)	4 SEATER TOYOTA  ALTIS, HONDA CIVIC
Sai Gon ⇒ Mui Ne	75 USD
Muine ⇒ Saigon	75 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Vung Tau	67 USD
Vungtau ⇒ Saigon	67 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Long Hai	79 USD
Longhai ⇒ Saigon	79 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Ho Tram	79 USD
Hotram ⇒ Saigon	79 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Da Lat	165 USD
Dalat ⇒ Saigon	165 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Nha Trang	175 USD
Nhatrang ⇒ Saigon	175 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Phan Rang	175 USD
Phanrang ⇒ Saigon	175 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Da Lat	89 USD
Dalat ⇒ Muine	89 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Vung Tau	89 USD
Vungtau ⇒ Muine	89 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ NhaTrang	95 USD
Nhatrang ⇒ Muine	95 USD
Nha Trang ⇒ Mui Ne	95 USD
Muine ⇒ Nhatrang	95 USD
Cam Ranh ⇒ Mui Ne	95 USD
Muine ⇒ Camranh	95 USD
Your Scheduals	Send your request
The price is including all tole fees, gasoline, mineral waters and towels

 

PRICE LIST FOR 7 SEATER & 16 SEATER
ROUTE (1WAY or RETURN)	7 SEATER TOYOTA FORTUNER TOYOTA INNOVA	16 SEATER FORD TRANSIT MERCEDES SPRINTER
Sai Gon ⇒ Mui Ne	85 USD	95 USD
Muine ⇒ Saigon	85 USD	95 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Ke Ga	85 USD	95 USD
Kega ⇒ Saigon	85 USD	95 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Phan Thiet	85 USD	95 USD
Phanthiet ⇒ Saigon	85 USD	95 USD
Sài Gon ⇒ Vung Tau	85 USD	95 USD
Vungtau ⇒ Saigon	85 USD	95 USD
Sài Gon ⇒ Ho Tram	85 USD	95 USD
Hotram ⇒ Saigon	85 USD	95 USD
Sài Gon ⇒ Long Hai	79 USD	89 USD
Longhai ⇒ Saigon	79 USD	89 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Binh Chau	105 USD	125 USD
Binhchau ⇒ Saigon	105 USD	125 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ La Gi	85 USD	95 USD
Lagi ⇒ Saigon	85 USD	95 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ CoCo Beach	85 USD	95 USD
Cocobeach ⇒ Saigon	85 USD	95 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Nha Trang	175 USD	200USD
Nhatrang ⇒ Saigon	175 USD	200 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Phan Rang	175 USD	200 USD
Phanrang ⇒ Saigon	175 USD	200 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Da Lat	165 USD	179 USD
Dalat ⇒ Saigon	165 USD	179 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ My Tho	53 USD	60 USD
Mytho ⇒ Saigon	53 USD	60 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Can tho	85 USD	95 USD
Cantho ⇒ Saigon	85 USD	95 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Ben Tre	77 USD	87 USD
Bentre ⇒ Saigon	77 USD	87 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Cao Lanh	83 USD	90 USD
Caolanh ⇒ Saigon	83 USD	90 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Vinh Long	78 USD	87 USD
Vinhlong ⇒ Saigon	78 USD	87 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Can Gio	65 USD	75 USD
Cangio ⇒ Saigon	65 USD	75 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Rach Gia	127 USD	135 USD
Rachgia ⇒ Saigon	127 USD	135 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Ha Tien	145 USD	155 USD
Hatien ⇒ Saigon	145 USD	155 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Cat Tien	83 USD	93 USD
Cattien ⇒ Saigon	83 USD	93 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Chau Doc	115 USD	127 USD
Chaudoc ⇒ Saigon	115 USD	127 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Tay Ninh	75 USD	87 USD
Tayninh ⇒ Saigon	75 USD	87 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Vung Tau	87 USD	95 USD
Vungtau ⇒ Saigon	87 USD	95 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Da Lat	90 USD	100 USD
Dalat ⇒ Muine	90 USD	100 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Nha Trang	95 USD	105 USD
Nhatrang ⇒ Muine	95 USD	105 USD
Da Lat ⇒ Nha Trang	90 USD	100 USD
Nhatrang ⇒ Dalat	90 USD	100 USD
Your Scheduals	Send your request
The price is including all tole fees, gasoline, mineral waters and towels

 

 

LIMOUSINE 9 SEAT D'CAR

EXPERIENCE WITH THE VIP LUXURY LIMOUSINE 9 SEAT

  FORD TRANSIT D'CAR

updated 2-2019

ROUTE(1WAY or RETURN TRIP)	PRICE USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Mui Ne	128 USD
Muine ⇒ Saigon	128 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Coco beach	128 USD
Cocobeach ⇒ Saigon	128 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ La Gi	128 USD
Lagi ⇒ Saigon	128 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Phan Thiet	128 USD
Phanthiet ⇒  Saigon	128 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Ke Ga	128 USD
Kega ⇒ Saigon	128 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Da lat	245 USD
Dalat ⇒ Saigon	245 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Nha Trang	289 USD
Nhatrang ⇒ Saigon	289 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Vung Tau	95 USD
Vungtau ⇒ Saigon	95 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Long Hai	100 USD
Longhai ⇒ Saigon	100 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Ho Tram	109 USD
Hotram ⇒ Saigon	109 USD
Saigon ⇒ Rach Gia	165 USD
Rachgia ⇒  Saigon	165 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Kien Giang	179 USD
Kiengiang ⇒ Saigon	179 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ My Tho	95 USD
Mytho ⇒ Saigon	95 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Can Tho	128 USD
Cantho ⇒ Saigon	128 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Vinh Long	115 USD
Vinhlong ⇒ Saigon	115 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Cao Lanh	128 USD
Caolanh ⇒ Saigon	128 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Chau Doc	165 USD
Chaudoc ⇒ Saigon	165 USD
Saigon ⇒ Cat Tien	139 USD
Cattien ⇒ Saigon	139 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Moc Bai	109 USD
Mocbai ⇒ Saigon	109 USD
Sai Gon ⇒ Tay Ninh	115 USD
Tayninh ⇒ Saigon	115 USD
Vung Tau ⇒ Moc Bai	189 USD
Mocbai ⇒ Vungtau	189 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Vung Tau	145 USD
Vungtau ⇒ Muine	145 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Nha Trang	169 USD
Nhatrang ⇒ Muine	169 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Cam Ranh	169 USD
Camranh ⇒ Muine	169 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Dalat	149 USD
Dalat ⇒ Muine	149 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Binh Duong	148 USD
Binhduong ⇒ Muine	148 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Can Tho	252 USD
Cantho ⇒ Muine	252 USD
Da Lat ⇒ Nha Trang	128 USD
Nhatrang ⇒ Dalat	128 USD
Your Scheduals	Send your request
The price is including all tole fees, gasoline, mineral waters and towels

 

FOR RESERVATION PLEASE CONTACT:

working hour:8:00am-5:00pm(Monday-Saturday)

+84 252 3500 286

  +849 3979 0983(WhatsApp,Line,Viber,Zalo)

info@mytamtravel.com

sales@mytamtravel.com 

tam.greendragon@gmail.com

 

LUXURY LIMOUSINE PRESIDENT

VIP LIMOUSINE PRESIDENT 7 SEAT PASSENGER WILL COMPORTABLE MORE THEN D'CAR FOR TRANSIT

ROUTE(1WAY)	PRICE
Sai Gon ⇒ Mui Ne	200 USD
Mui Ne ⇒ Sai Gon	200 USD
Your Scheduals	Send your request
The price is including all tole fees, gasoline, mineral waters and towels

FOR RESERVATION PLEASE CONTACT:

working hour:8:00am-5:00pm(Monday-Saturday)

+84 252 3500 286

  +849 3979 0983(WhatsApp,Line,Viber,Zalo)

info@mytamtravel.com

sales@mytamtravel.com 

tam.greendragon@gmail.com

 

  

 

BUS SERVICE (AERO TOWN ISUZU SAMCO)

RENTAL 45 SEATS (AERO SPACE, UNIVERSE)

 

BUS PRICE LIST FOR  29 SEATS AND 45 SEATS

ROUTE (1WAY or RETURN)	Price 29 seats AERO TOWN ISUZU SAMCO VND	Price 45 seats AERO SPACE, UNIVERSE VND
Sai Gon ⇒ Mui Ne	4.300.000	6.800.000
Mui Ne ⇒ Sai Gon	4.300.000	6.800.000
Mui Ne ⇒ Da Lat	4.300.000	6.800.000
Da Lat ⇒ Mui Ne	4.300.000	6.800.000
Mui Ne ⇒ Nha Trang	4.700.000	7.300.000
Nha Trang ⇒ Mui Ne	4.700.000	7.300.000
Mui Ne ⇒ Cam Ranh	4.300.000	6.800.000
Cam Ranh ⇒ Mui Ne	4.300.000	6.800.000
Your Scheduals	Send your request
PLEASE FILLING OUT YOUR SCHEDUAL HERE !

*  The price you see is the price you pay as all toll fees, petrol, driver expense are inlcuded, there are no additional charges.

 

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XE DU LỊCH 7 CHỖ VÀ 16 CHỖ

 

HÃY VIẾT LỘ TRÌNH CỦA BẠN VÀ 

 

 

XE LIMOUSINE 9 CHỖ D'CAR

 

 

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XE LIMOUSINE 19 CHỖ

 

 

HÃY VIẾT LỘ TRÌNH CỦA BẠN VÀ 

XE 29 CHỖ VÀ 45 CHỖ

 

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