Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 314

( 073-387 2742; 196 Ð Ap Bac; mains 45,000-150,000d; 8am-9pm) This friendly spot is down
a lane off the main road into My Tho from HCMC, with tables set alongside ponds amidst
lots of greenery, and excellent, beautifully presented seafood.
Getting There & Away
New bridges and roads have considerably shortened travel distances to My Tho. The bus
station (Ben Xe Tien Giang; 42 Ð Ap Bac) is 3km west of the town centre on Ð Ap Bac, the
main road to HCMC. Buses head to HCMC's Mien Tay bus station (35,000d, around 75
minutes), Can Tho (50,000d), Cao Lanh (32,000d), Chau Doc (51,000d) and Ca Mau
(123,000d).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ben Tre
075 / POP 120,000
Famous for its keo dua (coconut candy), Ben Tre's sleepy waterfront is lined with ageing
villas and is easy to explore on foot, as is the rustic settlement across the bridge to the
south of the centre. Located off the main trail, it receives far fewer visitors than My Tho
and makes a lovely stop on a Mekong tour.
Ben Tre Tourist ( 075-382 9618; www.bentretourist.vn ; 65 Ð Dong Khoi; 7-11am & 1-5pm)
rents out bikes and motor boats (US$12 per hour) and arranges excursions, including a
bike tour to coconut, guava and grapefruit groves.
Hung Vuong ( 075-382 2408; 166 Ð Hung Vuong; d/tw/ste 350,000/370,000/530,000d; ) has
an attractive riverfront plot plus large clean rooms while Nam Son ( 075-382 2873; 40 Ð
Phan Ngoc Tong; mains 20,000-60,000d) is famous for grilled chicken.
Buses leave regularly from the bus terminal 5km northeast of town for HCMC
(67,000d, last bus between 4pm and 5pm), Can Tho (55,000d), Ca Mau (103,000d) and
Ha Tien (134,000d). The last buses to HCMC depart between 4pm and 5pm.
Slow boats can be rented at the public pier near the market from 90,000d per hour.
TOP OF CHAPTER