Tra Vinh - Authentic Mekong town Ultimate travel guide 2025
- Mekong ZigZag
- Apr 23
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
If you're spending a few days exploring the coconut wonderland of Bến Tre, and find yourself with a free day, consider this your sign to head off the beaten path.
Trà Vinh, just a couple of hours away, is a cultural gem nestled quietly in the Mekong Delta. With its rich Khmer heritage, peaceful countryside, and welcoming local communities, it offers a refreshing contrast to more touristy hubs.
This one-day itinerary takes you through scenic backroads, local industries, and cultural highlights, offering a deeper connection with life in the Delta.
We recommend exploring Tra Vinh by scooter to fully enjoy nature.
Scooters are available for rent from us at just 200,000 VND per day — a convenient and enjoyable way to discover the charm of the area at your own pace.
Alternatively, if you prefer, we can arrange a taxi for you.
With a taxi, even though you might skip some local spots that goes through small alleys (for example instead of taking ferry, you will pass a bridge on the highway). But despite that, you can still easily visit the standout spots like the Khmer Pagodas, Khmer Cultural Village, and the local market (take a walk inside the market), ensuring a comfortable and convenient way to explore these unique attractions.
Here is our detailed guidance on traveling from Ben Tre to Tra Vinh by scooter.
Step 1: Catching Ferries from Bến Tre
Two spots on this routes:
🅐 Sơn Phú ferry port
🅑 Ferry port to Mỏ Cày
GOOGLE MAP GUIDANCE: 📍Ferry Departure Location
There is a faster way to reach Trà Vinh from Bến Tre—by taking the Hàm Luông Bridge and driving down the main highway. But here's the thing: while it might shave a bit of time off your trip, it comes at a cost—less scenery, more traffic, and some serious mid-morning heat. The highway is wide, exposed, and not the most pleasant stretch to ride through once the sun is high.
That’s why we recommend a more immersive route: traveling via local ferries and backroads. This journey takes you through lush greenery, peaceful villages, and winding riverside paths. It’s slower, yes—but in the best way. You’ll get to soak up the true spirit of the Mekong Delta.
And let’s be real—riding your scooter onto a tiny local ferry with baskets of fruit, school kids, and chatting aunties is a one-of-a-kind experience you’ll remember long after the trip. It’s not just a way to get somewhere—it’s part of the adventure.
Step 2: Arriving in Trà Vinh
GOOGLE MAP GUIDANCE: 📍Explore Trà Vinh
As you make your way from Bến Tre to Trà Vinh, the journey itself becomes part of the experience. Skipping the fast (and hot) highway via Hàm Luông Bridge, you’ll take the ferry route instead — cooler, quieter, and full of charm. This path winds through lush green backroads and riverside villages, with a few memorable stops:
Scenic & Cultural Stops on the way Ben Tre to Trà Vinh
🅐 Small Coconut Processing Factory:
On your way, you might come across a small local coconut factory—a perfect place to witness how coconuts are peeled, cracked, and processed. It’s simple, raw, and incredibly insightful.
🅐 → 🅑 Bonus Stop: Flower House
Between the coconut factory and the rope house, make a short detour to visit a charming local home surrounded by vibrant flowers. It's a quiet, photogenic spot that gives you a feel for everyday rural beauty in the Delta.
📍View on map: 10°06'22.5"N 106°22'25.5"E
🅑 Small Local Coconut Fiber Rope Making House:
Next, a visit to a local house where coconut husks are transformed into ropes. Unfortunately, you can only take a look outside since the local people working here do not (or are not happy to) allow you to come inside and take a look.
🅒 Sedge Field – The Golden Grasslands:
After passing Cổ Chiên bridge that connects from Trà Vinh to Bến Tre, you’ll be able to reach a field of sedge grass, laid out in the sun to dry. Used for weaving mats and mattresses, these golden fields are strikingly beautiful and speak of a livelihood deeply rooted in the land.
P/s: On our day trips in Bến Tre, you’ll likely to visit a local family-run mat-weaving house, where the tradition of crafting sedge mats has been passed down for over three generations:
🅓 Riverside Dike Route:
Don’t miss this stunning stretch of road that hugs the river, where you’ll spot Mekong boats ferrying rice straw and other goods. It’s one of the most peaceful drives in the region—perfect for photos and quiet reflection.
Exploring Trà Vinh:
By the time you roll into Trà Vinh, you’re already immersed. The town welcomes you with Khmer pagodas, vibrant markets, and scenes of everyday Delta life. It’s unhurried and genuine—a place where cultures mix, time slows down, and the journey is just as beautiful as the destination.
🅔 Bạch Đằng Market:
Start your exploration at this bustling local market. It’s the beating heart of Trà Vinh. You’ll find colorful produce, fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and street food stalls. A great spot to people-watch and maybe pick up a local snack or two.
🅕 Hủ Tiếu 87:
Fuel up at this popular noodle shop known for its wonton hủ tiếu and other seafood-based noodle soups. Light, flavorful, and deeply satisfying—perfect after a morning on the road.
🅖 Chùa Chim – Our favorite Khmer Pagoda:
This Khmer pagoda is inviting for its peaceful atmosphere. With intricate carvings, antique Buddha statues, and quiet rows of tall, ancient trees standing in a straight line, it’s a true hidden gem highlight of the trip to not skip, a true serene and spiritual stop.
🅗 Khmer Cultural Village:
For a deeper dive into the region’s Khmer heritage, head to the Khmer community village. You’ll get to see traditional Khmer traditional houses, colorful wall paintings on the street - mural villages, and perhaps even catch kids playing around and locals practicing traditional crafts or music.
🅘 Rice Fields & Coconut Groves:
Before heading back, we do very much recommended to not skip this spot. Take a moment to enjoy one last scenic spot where lush rice paddies blend seamlessly with coconut trees. It’s the quintessential Mekong Delta landscape and the perfect end to a soul-refreshing day.
Other spots you can visit while you are in Tra Vinh:
Chùa Sóc Cục
Nice design, with a more local feel, serene and quiet.
Chùa Âng
The most well-known pagoda in Tra Vinh, large, nice architectures and ponds, many monks living here, a bit touristic but undeniably beautiful
Tấn Hằng Hotel
Need a quick nap after lunch? This clean, quiet hotel offers short stays—perfect for a mid-day refresh
Heading Back to Bến Tre
By late afternoon, start making your way back through the same route, catching the sunset as you cross the ferries, or this time, chose Ham Luong bridge since the weather it's much cooler then. You’ll return to Bến Tre with a camera full of memories and a heart full of appreciation for this overlooked corner of Vietnam.
Final Thoughts
Trà Vinh may not be on every traveler’s radar, but that’s exactly why you should go. Just a day trip away from Bến Tre, it offers a calm, culturally rich experience that captures the soul of the Mekong Delta. Whether you’re into local food, quiet countryside roads, or meaningful cultural interactions, Trà Vinh is absolutely worth the detour.
Tips: Bring sunscreen, water, and a light scarf or hat for sun protection. And don’t forget your camera - this route is incredibly photogenic!
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