Wrapping coconut candy factory workers Vietnam

Vietnam: Coconut sweet making factory, Bến Tre

Date: 25 October 2019

I was enjoying my day tour of the Mekong Delta, especially the canal boat ride through a narrow river stream. After that activity, I had to re-group and get back on our boat which would take us to another island on Tien River.

Dat Dua island Ben Tre Vietnam
Dao Dua, means coconut religion… but this was no place of worship
Dat Dua coconut candy Ben Tre Vietnam
We were being guided to a factory that manufactures candy made using coconut milk
Coconut dehusking Vietnam
One of the tour guide staff demonstrated de-husking a coconut… which I didn’t need to come to Vietnam to see since I help my mother with this back in Kerala

After they break open the coconut, they grate it and then extract coconut milk from the grated coconut.

Making coconut candy Ben Tre Vietnam
The coconut milk is then boiled (along with added sugar) and churned until it thickens
Coconut candy dough Ben Tre Vietnam
The thickened ‘dough’ is rolled flat and thin strips are cut
Wrapping coconut candy factory workers Vietnam
Once cut into squares, the pieces are individually wrapped by hand (using some child labour too)
Snake wine sample Ben Tre Vietnam
The factory was also handing out samples for banana wine and ‘snake wine’.
Sweets snacks Ben Tre Vietnam
The rest of the factory was a shop floor selling all sorts of other food products

So essentially, two stops on this “sightseeing” tour were basically places where the main objective was to get tourists to spend. Oh well.

After we were done with the factory tour, we moved on to a small resort for lunch.

Island Ben Tre Vietnam
Lunch was included in the tour cost
Snake crocodile ostrich meat Vietnam
Even though the restaurant we were at offers snake, ostrich, and crocodile meat…
Chicken spring roll rice Vietnam
… we were served rice, spring rolls, fried chicken, beans and soup
Tree sleep hammocks Ben Tre Vietnam
They had hammocks tied to trees where visitors could rest post lunch
Resort island Ben Tre Vietnam
This was more of a resort suited for team offsites and family gatherings
Miranda xaxi Vietnam
I tried this sarsi-flavoured Miranda… to me it tasted like root beer
Vietnamese fishing Ben tre
By 3pm, we were done with tour

We were taken back to our vans and it was a long drive back to Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh City).

Road Saigon Vietnam
By the time we got back to Bui Vien street, it was around 5pm
Thanh Cong travel Saigon
Before I headed back to my hotel, I bought my bus ticket to Mui Ne, a place I would be going to in a few days

The day tour was fine, Vinh Trang Pagoda in Bến Lức was okay but I what I enjoyed the most is the canal ride through the river stream. It was peaceful and a simple joy. I would recommend these tours just for that small boat ride.

Now enjoy the vlog I made of this Mekong Delta day tour!

Next posts in this series:

Vietnam: Cao Dai temple in Tây Ninh

Vietnam: Cu Chi Tunnels, a must do attraction from Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office

Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City’s Book Street, Opera House

Vietnam: Nguyen Hue Street and Saigon Riverwalk

Vietnam: Taking bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne

Vietnam: Po Shanu Cham Towers, Hindu temple near Mui Ne

Vietnam: Mui Ne Sand Dunes Sunrise Tour – visit to Bao Trang desert (White Sand)

Vietnam: Mui Ne – Red Sand dunes and Fishing Village

Vietnam: Mui Ne’s Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien)

Vietnam: Leaving Mui Ne, returning to Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam: Tan Dinh Market and Pink Church; night ride to District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam: Views from Bitexco Financial Tower observation deck

Vietnam: Saying goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City

Previous posts in this series:

Vietnam: Bến Tre canal boat ride, Tien River (part of Mekong Delta tour)

Vietnam: Vinh Trang Pagoda in Bến Lức

Vietnam: Bui Vien Street — Ho Chi Minh City’s nightlife area (for tourists)

Vietnam: War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam: Independence Palace and Norodom Palace Exhibit

Vietnam: Ben Thanh Market and Mariamman Hindu Temple, Ho Chi Minh City

Flying from Phuket to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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