The Tien River, a major branch of the majestic Mekong River, is not only a vital artery for transportation and irrigation in Southwestern Vietnam but also an attractive tourist destination with picturesque river scenery and lush green islets. Among these, the Tu Linh Islets – Long, Lan, Quy, Phung (Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix) – stand out as a precious gem, offering a unique Tien River tourism experience imbued with the essence of orchard gardens that visitors should not miss when coming to the Mekong Delta region. Let’s embark on a journey to explore the Tu Linh Islets on the poetic Tien River, to fully appreciate the beauty and richness of the Mekong Delta.
Tu Linh Islets: Prime Location on the Tien River
Tu Linh Islets, also known as Tu Con or Tu Cu Lao, is the collective name for four famous islets located in the middle of the gentle Tien River. Con Long (Dragon Islet) and Con Lan (Unicorn Islet) are situated in My Tho City, Tien Giang province, while Con Quy (Turtle Islet) and Con Phung (Phoenix Islet) belong to Tan Thach commune, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. Although belonging to two different provinces, the distance between the islets is very close, only 1 to 2 km, making it convenient for tourists to easily explore the entire beauty of Tu Linh Islets in a one-day Tien River tour.
Location of Tu Linh Islets on the Tien River, a popular tourist destination in the Mekong Delta.
To begin the journey of discovering Tu Linh Islets on the Tien River, visitors should go to My Tho Pier, located at No. 8, 30 Thang 4 Street, Ward 1, My Tho City, Tien Giang. From here, visitors can rent boats and start their journey down the Tien River, exploring Con Quy, Con Phung, Con Lan, and Con Long in order.
My Tho Pier is about 70km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors can travel here by motorbike or bus. If traveling by motorbike, the journey takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. If choosing a bus, visitors can go to the Mien Tay Bus Station and choose from many Saigon – My Tho trips with fares ranging from VND 90,000 to VND 150,000, and the journey time is about 1.5 hours.
Tourists explore Tu Linh Islets in a one-day Tien River tour.
To travel from Mien Tay Bus Station to My Tho Pier by motorbike, visitors can refer to the following route: From Mien Tay Bus Station, go to An Lac roundabout, then drive along National Highway 1A. At the roundabout intersecting with the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong Expressway, turn right onto the expressway. Continue to move across the Vam Co Dong River, Vam Co Tay River, C1 overpass, Than Cuu Nghia roundabout and go straight into Highway 878. At the end of Highway 878, turn right onto National Highway 1A. At Trung Luong intersection, go straight onto National Highway 60. Then, continue straight onto Ap Bac Street. When passing Tet Mau Than Park in My Tho City, Tien Giang, visitors will encounter a roundabout. Here, turn right onto DT864 road. Drive to the end of the road, and you will see 30 Thang 4 Street. Turn left and go a short distance to reach My Tho Pier.
Discovering the Unique Beauty of Each Tu Linh Islet on the Tien River
Each islet in Tu Linh Islets carries its own beauty and characteristics, promising diverse and exciting Tien River tourism experiences:
1. Con Quy: A Paradise of Mekong Delta Orchards
Con Quy, also known as Con Cat (Sandy Islet), belongs to Quoi Son and Tan Thach communes, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. Con Quy is the smallest islet in Tu Linh Islets, about 170ha, but it is famous for its vast, lush green orchards laden with fruit.
Fruit-laden orchards in Con Quy, a highlight of Mekong Delta orchard tourism on the Tien River.
Thanks to its location in the middle of the Tien River and being enriched by fertile alluvium, Con Quy has ideal natural conditions for developing fruit trees. Visitors to Con Quy will have the opportunity to visit durian, rambutan, star apple, longan, jackfruit orchards…, enjoy fresh fruits right in the garden, and enjoy the fresh, cool atmosphere of the river countryside.
2. Con Long: Everyday Beauty and Fresh Seafood
Con Long, full name Con Tan Long, belongs to My Tho City, Tien Giang province. Con Long carries a simple, close-to-daily-life beauty of the local people. Like other islets, Con Long also grows many kinds of fruits, especially famous for star apples, plums, oranges, mangoes, rambutans, cherries, durians…
Specialty fruit orchards in Con Long, a nature-friendly Tien River tourism destination.
Due to its location near My Tho fishing port, people in Con Long mainly live by aquaculture and boat repair. Coming to Con Long, visitors not only get to enjoy specialty fruits but also have the opportunity to enjoy fresh seafood, just caught from the Tien River.
3. Con Lan: Thoi Son Islet, The Largest and Historically Rich
Con Lan, also known as Thoi Son Islet, belongs to Thoi Son commune, My Tho City, Tien Giang province, about 10 minutes by boat from Con Long. This is the largest islet in Tu Linh Islets, up to 1,200 hectares.
Green beauty of Con Lan, the largest islet in the Tu Linh Islets on the Tien River.
Con Lan is not only famous for its large area and rich natural beauty but also a place that marks many heroic historical stories during the anti-American resistance war. Today, people in Con Lan mainly live by growing fruit trees, especially sapodilla and longan, combined with fishing, aquaculture, and beekeeping for honey.
4. Con Phung: Unique “Coconut Religion” and Entertainment
Con Phung, also known as Con Tan Vinh, is located in Tan Vinh hamlet, Tan Thach commune, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. Con Phung is considered one of the most attractive destinations in Tu Linh Islets, attracting tourists with its peaceful beauty and many interesting entertainment venues.
Unique architecture at Con Phung, a Tien River tourist spot with strong cultural imprints.
Coming to Con Phung, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the unique architecture of the Coconut Religion of Nguyen Thanh Nam such as Hoa Binh Tower, Dragon Yard. In addition, visitors can also visit traditional coconut candy and rice paper making villages and enjoy many delicious specialties of Ben Tre.
Unique Experiences When Touring the Tien River and Discovering Tu Linh Islets
A Tien River tour exploring Tu Linh Islets is not only an opportunity to admire the beautiful natural scenery but also a chance for visitors to experience many unique cultural and culinary activities of the Mekong Delta:
Sampan Ride on the Tien River
On the way to the islets, visitors will experience traveling by sampan, a typical means of transport in the Mekong Delta. Graceful Mekong Delta girls will row the boat, taking visitors through small canals, admiring the poetic Tien River scenery with green coconut palm rows, fruit-laden orchards, and the peaceful life of local people.
Sampan tour on the Tien River, experiencing Mekong Delta river tourism.
Exploring Unique Traditional Craft Villages
Tu Linh Islets is home to many unique traditional craft villages of the Mekong Delta. Visitors can visit the beekeeping village in Con Lan, learn about the beekeeping process, and enjoy fresh honey products. In Con Phung, visitors can explore the coconut candy making village, see the manual coconut candy production process, and enjoy delicious, creamy coconut candies.
Visiting a coconut candy village in Con Phung, experiencing cultural tourism on the Tien River.
Immersing Yourself in the Sounds of “Don Ca Tai Tu” Music
“Don Ca Tai Tu” is a unique folk art form of Southern Vietnam, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. When visiting Tu Linh Islets, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy sweet, soulful “Don Ca Tai Tu” performances in a peaceful orchard setting.
Enjoying "Don Ca Tai Tu" music on the Tien River, experiencing Mekong Delta cultural tourism.
Enjoying Rich Mekong Delta Cuisine
A journey to explore Tu Linh Islets on the Tien River is incomplete without experiencing the unique Mekong Delta cuisine. Visitors will enjoy fresh fruits in the garden, rustic dishes imbued with countryside flavors such as banh xeo (crispy pancake), grilled snakehead fish, gỏi củ hủ dừa (coconut heart salad), braised goby fish with pepper, sour hotpot with catfish, fried elephant ear fish…
Enjoying Mekong Delta specialties on the Tien River, a unique culinary tourism experience.
Ideal Time to Visit Tien River and Explore Tu Linh Islets
The best time to visit Tu Linh Islets on the Tien River is during the dry season, from December to April, or the beginning of the rainy season from May to June. This is when the weather is dry and cool, favorable for sightseeing and outdoor activities. Especially in the summer, the orchards in Tu Linh Islets are in harvest season, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy fresh fruits and experience the most fulfilling orchard tourism. Visitors should avoid going in the rainy season (from July to November) because heavy rain may cause inconvenience for travel and sightseeing.
A Tien River tour to explore Tu Linh Islets will surely be a memorable journey, bringing visitors wonderful experiences of the natural beauty, culture, and cuisine of the Mekong Delta. Come and feel the charm of Tu Linh Islets, to make your Tien Giang and Ben Tre trip more meaningful and memorable!