Tours
Explore Ben Tre: the "Coconut Island"
Through our partner company Mango Cruises we are able to display the natural beauty of Ben Tre, the Mekong river which flows through it, and the friendly local people who call Ben Tre their home.
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Our tour programming is authentic and a true natural excursion through Ben Tre province. Furthermore, it is a co-operative Mekong Delta tour because we showcase and work with numerous local families, versus "other operations" which simply exploit locals to operate and sell a tour. We have a limited number of boats that operate our tours 365 days per year which means that regardless of when you visit us, you will enjoy our authentic Ben Tre tour program with a small footprint not a mass impact on the communities we showcase. The "other operations" will use words like "less touristy, small group, skip the line" etc. but what they fail to mention is that 90% of those programs patronize the same tour area, the same lunch stops and the same visits in a circular conveyor belt of mass tourism.
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Private Ben Tre Day Tour
Our Ben Tre day tour showcases the amazing local people, their daily work, the villages they call home and the peaceful rivers they use as a part of their daily lives. We offer a non-commercial, unfabricated excursion into the Ben Tre area guided by our warm and friendly local team. As a private tour, you and one of our top local guides will navigate the local waterways on our day cruiser, enjoy rowing through a lush quiet canal, cycling and real family run businesses.
Joining Coconut Island Day Tour
Connect with fellow travelers and guests of Mango Home Riverside as you join with others and immerse yourself in the local “riverine” culture. Our Joining Coconut Island Day Tour is unlike other tours as we explore only the real and natural side of Ben Tre. Activities include cycling, time on our day boat, rowing boat and walks to a local coconut plantation and visits to real local houses.
River Cruise (Sunset or Morning)
Enjoy a 1- or 2-hour Cruise on the Ben Tre waterways! Observe the local life on the riverside as you and one of our certified Captains navigate our local river system. A fresh fruit plate is provided on board.
“New” Local Guided Experiences for overnight guests at Mango Home Riverside
Recently, and due to the increased length of stay from our valued guests, we have been adding new “local experiences”. Beyond our highly reviewed boat tours these experiences guided by one of our own local guides, explore our nearby city of Ben Tre through a Gastronomic encounter with a truly regional appeal and method of transport. We have also added an experience that provides insight into farming and production of some unique and enjoyable farm-to-table delicacies.
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From our Sales and Marketing Director:
Responsible Tourism is not a choice; it is an absolute “must” in today’s travel marketplace. Upon starting operations here in Ben Tre, 14 years ago, there were very few boat operators in the Mekong Delta. Today, while there are more choices, many are operating without licenses, without trained staff and most importantly do not have a share in that which they display. Instead of creating a memorable experience, one that they can be proud of, and passionate about showcasing, they break down services with the sole intention of reducing cost. Most of these operations “rent” land and exploit a local landowner with a kickback for each person that they bring in. There is no meaningful employment for their staff, no opportunity for advancement, and purely freelance / casual work. As many of those working in tourism are the breadwinners for their respective families, this then leads to them leaving the Mekong Delta entirely to the bigger cities for perceived better full-time employment…the wrong direction in the goal of “sustainability”
Mango Cruises provides full-time employment for all employees unless they state preference as otherwise. Beginning with our cruise programs, to our boutique hotel operations. All our staff are local and promoted from completely within. While words on a page can be replicated and “keywords” excessively used, we hope that you (our valued client) will recognize that budget tours are certainly “cutting corners”. In no way is this responsible, nor helpful to the region that we grew up in and continue to operate within, nor to the sustainability of the families who call it home. In our history there has never been the ability to buy souvenirs or visit supposed local vendors on our programs –
We do not support the creation of commercially driven, fabricated Tourism.
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