Ben Tre to My Tho: Drive Guide, Stops & Hidden Gems

Travelling from Ben Tre to My Tho means crossing the Tien River twice - once at the Rach Mieu Bridge just south of Ben Tre, and later at the newer My Thuan Bridge near the finish. The only road option is National Route QL60, a well-paved two-lane highway that hugs the river's north bank.

The entire journey covers 44 kilometres and typically takes between 50 minutes and 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on bridge traffic and weather. It is entirely flat, rarely exceeding 5 metres above sea level, which explains the endless rice paddies and coconut groves that flank the road.

Ben Tre and My Tho are the twin anchors of the Mekong Delta's coconut industry - the province grows more than 130,000 hectares of coconut palms, and that agricultural wealth shapes almost everything you'll see from the car window.

Fuel stations cluster around both city outskirts, but the 44 km stretch has only two reliable options: one at the Ben Tre end near the Rach Mieu Bridge approach, and another just before My Tho at the An Thai Trung intersection. Petrol prices in the delta run 5–10% higher than in Ho Chi Minh City, so filling up in Ben Tre is cheaper if you're heading further west.

If you're renting a motorbike, expect to pay 150,000–200,000 VND per day; a self-drive car rental costs 800,000–1,200,000 VND. Toll fees apply only on the My Thuan Bridge - 25,000 VND for cars and 10,000 VND for motorbikes.

• Road quality: Newly asphalted in 2023, potholes rare except after heavy rains
• Speed limit: 60 km/h through villages, 80 km/h on open sections
• Mobile coverage: 4G from both Viettel and Vinaphone, but dead zones near the river

Traffic is mostly local: buses, lorries hauling coconuts, and the occasional tourist van. Unlike the chaos of Saigon, drivers here are slower and more courteous, but watch for motorbikes cutting across without looking.

For tips on spotting unexpected detours, check this how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities guide.

The road is safe by Vietnam standards, but heavy rain (especially from May to October) can cause flash flooding on low-lying sections. In the dry season, road conditions are excellent, but the sun can be intense - bring water and sunglasses.

For young children, the best stop is the Ben Tre Coconut Garden Eco-Homestay, which has a playground and a petting zoo with goats and rabbits. Pets are not allowed inside the ecotourism areas, but they can rest at the parking lots of most restaurants - just keep them on a leash.

• Rest stops: Ben Tre city center, An Thai Trung market, My Tho riverside
• Fuel checkpoints: before Rach Mieu Bridge, at An Thai Trung
• Fatigue tips: Stop every 30 minutes, stretch at river overlooks

For longer breaks, the My Tho Rest Stop at the end of the route has clean toilets and a coffee shop with an open view of the river. The entire drive is short enough that fatigue is rarely an issue; the bigger hazard is getting distracted by the scenery.

Just past the Rach Mieu Bridge, stop at the coconut candy workshops around Hung Vuong Street in Ben Tre - they offer free tastings and charge 30,000 VND per box. The route then runs parallel to the Tien River, where you'll see floating fish farms and shrimp ponds dug into the riverbanks.

Mango and durian orchards dominate the stretch between An Hiep and My Tho, and many orchards open their gates for a 20,000 VND entry fee. For a true hidden spot, take a left at the An Thai Trung market onto a dirt road signed 'Dong Tam Snake Farm' - it's 2 km off the main road, and here you can see snakes and crocodiles as well as buy traditional herbal medicine.

Local commerce is geared toward agriculture: you'll pass bamboo handicraft stalls and small factories producing rice paper and rice wine. At My Tho's riverside market, vendors sell fresh pomelo and kumquat, and you can take a sampan ride through the Tan Thach islets for 100,000 VND per person.

• Coconut candy: 30k VND/box
• Orchard entry: 20k VND
• Sampan ride: 100k VND
• Snake farm: 50k VND