Con Phung Island, a name that evokes tranquility and lushness of the riverine countryside, is a must-visit destination when you set foot in Ben Tre. Nestled amidst the vast expanse of water, this island captivates visitors not only with its picturesque natural scenery but also with its unique Mekong Delta cultural experiences. Let “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel Around the World) guide you to explore Con Phung, the green gem shining in the heart of the gentle Tien River.
What Makes Con Phung Island Special?
Con Phung Island, also known as Tan Vinh Islet, is located in Tan Thach commune, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. It’s one of the four famous islets of Ben Tre, part of the Long – Lan – Quy – Phung quartet (Dragon – Unicorn – Turtle – Phoenix), each with its own distinct beauty and charm. Con Phung stands out with its large area of over 30,000m², surrounded by the peaceful Tien River, creating an ideal eco-tourism space, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Regarding the name “Con Phung” (Phoenix Island), legend has it that during the Nguyen Dynasty, a poor pagoda was located here. During its reconstruction, a large phoenix bird flew in and died. From then on, locals believed it was an auspicious sign and named the islet Con Phung. Another legend says that the islet’s shape, when viewed from afar, resembles a phoenix spreading its wings, hence the name. Regardless of the origin, Con Phung has become a familiar landmark, closely associated with Ben Tre tourism.
Con Phung tourist area is not just a sightseeing spot; it’s a place where visitors can immerse themselves in nature, experience garden life, and explore unique local culture. With a variety of recreational activities, entertainment, and distinctive cuisine, Con Phung promises unforgettable memories for anyone who visits.
Aerial view of Con Phung Island, Ben Tre
Must-Try Experiences on Con Phung Island
Visiting Con Phung Island, you’ll be immersed in a range of unique activities and experiences, from enjoying traditional arts to exploring the distinctive cultural features of this land.
Enjoy Southern Vietnamese Folk Music (Đờn ca tài tử)
Đờn ca tài tử is not just an art form; it’s the soul of the Mekong Delta. At Con Phung, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the sweet, deep melodies of Đờn ca tài tử in a traditional thatched-roof setting. Talented artists will take you into the world of folk songs and tunes, telling stories of the land and the honest, gentle people of the Mekong Delta. Enjoying the music while savoring fresh orchard fruits like longan, rambutan, papaya, watermelon, guava, etc., will be an unforgettable experience, awakening all your senses.
Tourists enjoying Đờn ca tài tử music and Mekong Delta fruits at Con Phung Island
Visit the Coconut Religion Relic Site in Ben Tre
The Coconut Religion Relic Site is a destination steeped in history and spiritual culture on Con Phung Island. This relic site is associated with a unique religion founded by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam, also known as “Coconut Religion” or “Vietnamese Pure Land Buddhist Association.” Despite being over half a century old, the relic site still retains its unique architectural features and special cultural and religious values.
The highlight of the relic site is an architectural structure with 9 pillars carved with 9 majestic dragons, symbols of power and authority. Besides, you can also explore other structures such as the Lau Ong Dao Dua (Coconut Monk’s Tower), which displays images and documents about the life and career of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam, or the statue garden with many unique sculptures. Visiting the Coconut Religion Relic Site is not only a journey to explore architecture but also an opportunity to learn about a special part of Ben Tre’s history and beliefs.
Coconut Religion Relic Site featuring unique architecture and intricately dragon-carved pillars at Con Phung Island
Take a Horse-Drawn Carriage and Sampan Ride
To fully explore the beauty of Con Phung Island, you can’t miss the experience of a horse-drawn carriage and sampan ride. Sitting on a gently swaying horse-drawn carriage, you’ll leisurely stroll along the shady village roads, admiring the lush fruit orchards, simple thatched houses, and feeling the peaceful rhythm of local life.
If you want to explore the small canals winding through the nipa palm forests, a sampan will be an ideal choice. Rowing a boat on the cool green canals, you’ll immerse yourself in the tranquil space of nature, listening to the birds chirping, the rustling of coconut leaves, and enjoying the fresh, cool air. These are definitely memorable experiences, helping you escape the noise and bustle of urban life.
Tourists experiencing a horse-drawn carriage ride on a village road in Con Phung Island
Explore a Honey Bee Farm
Ben Tre is not only famous for coconuts but also the land of delicious longan honey. Visiting Con Phung Island, you’ll have the opportunity to visit traditional honey bee farms, learn about the process of beekeeping and honey harvesting, and enjoy pure, sweet honey with the characteristic aroma of longan flowers. You can buy honey and honey products like beeswax, royal jelly as gifts for family and friends.
Visiting a honey bee farm and tasting longan honey at Con Phung Island
Visit Ben Tre Coconut Museum
Coming to “coconut land” Ben Tre, you can’t miss the Coconut Museum, a unique and interesting destination on Con Phung Island. The museum is built entirely from coconut materials, from the roof, walls to interior decorations. Stepping into the museum, you’ll be amazed by the creativity and skill of Ben Tre people in turning coconut trees into useful and beautiful objects.
The museum displays hundreds of unique artifacts made from coconut, from daily household items such as tables, chairs, bowls, teapots, to traditional musical instruments such as the two-stringed violin, monochord zither, and exquisite artworks. Visiting the Coconut Museum not only helps you understand more about the coconut tree and its important role in the cultural and economic life of Ben Tre people but also an opportunity to admire unique and creative products from this iconic tree.
Ben Tre Coconut Museum with unique architecture made entirely from coconut trees
Visit a Coconut Candy Workshop
Coconut candy is a famous specialty of Ben Tre, and Con Phung Island is one of the places where you can witness the traditional coconut candy making process firsthand. At the handmade coconut candy workshops on Con Phung Island, you’ll observe each stage of candy making, from selecting coconuts, grating coconut, pressing coconut milk, to cooking candy, cutting candy, and packaging.
You’ll witness the meticulousness and skill of the candy makers, and feel the sweet, seductive aroma of coconut candy spreading throughout the space. Don’t forget to buy yourself some packages of hot, delicious coconut candy as gifts for family and friends after your trip to Con Phung Island.
Visiting a coconut candy workshop and tasting hot coconut candy at Con Phung Island
Con Phung Cuisine: Flavors of the Mekong Delta
Con Phung cuisine is a delicate blend of fresh local ingredients and the skillful processing of Mekong Delta people. When you come to Con Phung, you definitely must enjoy the following specialties that bear the flavor of the riverine region:
- Sour Fish Soup (Canh chua cá lóc): Sour soup with the sourness of tamarind, the sweetness of fresh snakehead fish, combined with herbs like mint, cilantro, creating a rustic yet appealing dish.
- Fried Sticky Rice (Xôi chiên phồng): Fried sticky rice, crispy on the outside, fragrant and chewy on the inside, often served with shredded chicken salad or Vietnamese sausage, is a familiar and popular dish in the Mekong Delta.
- Mekong Delta Pancake (Bánh xèo miền Tây): Crispy thin pancake filled with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, served with sweet and sour fish sauce, is a delicious snack or main dish.
- Coconut Worms with Fish Sauce (Đuông dừa lội mắm): This unique and somewhat “adventurous” dish is a famous specialty of Ben Tre. Fatty, fresh coconut worms are dipped in chili fish sauce, creating a special, palate-stimulating flavor.
- River Prawns Boiled in Coconut Water (Tôm sông luộc nước dừa): Fresh river prawns boiled to perfection in fresh coconut water, retaining their natural sweetness and the characteristic aroma of coconut, is a simple yet refined dish.
- Deep-Fried Elephant Ear Fish (Cá tai tượng chiên xù): Elephant ear fish is deep-fried until crispy, fanned out like a fan, served with rice paper, fresh vegetables, and sweet and sour fish sauce, is a luxurious and attractive dish.
- Clay Pot Roasted Chicken (Gà nướng đất sét): Free-range chicken wrapped in clay, roasted with straw or charcoal, retaining its moisture and characteristic flavor, the chicken meat is tender, fragrant, and rich.
- Fermented Fish Hot Pot (Lẩu mắm): A typical hot pot of the Mekong Delta with the rich flavor of fermented fish, combined with many kinds of seafood, meat, and fresh vegetables, is an ideal dish for gatherings with friends and family.
In addition, you can also enjoy other rustic dishes such as spring rolls (gỏi cuốn), braised fish in clay pot (cá kho tộ), boiled vegetables with fermented shrimp dip (rau luộc kho quẹt)… at restaurants and eateries on Con Phung Island, to fully experience the culinary flavors of the Mekong Delta countryside.
Coconut worms with fish sauce, a unique specialty of Con Phung Island, Ben Tre
Useful Travel Tips for Con Phung Island
To make your exploration of Con Phung Island even more complete, “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel Around the World) would like to share some useful tips:
- Ideal time to visit: Con Phung Island has a mild climate all year round, you can come here at any time. However, summer (June, July, August) is the peak fruit season, you will have the opportunity to enjoy many kinds of fresh fruits. The festival season (Lunar New Year) is also a bustling time on Con Phung Island with many unique cultural activities.
- Transportation: From Ho Chi Minh City, you can travel to Ben Tre by bus or motorbike. In Ben Tre, you can rent a motorbike or taxi to get to the pier and take a boat to Con Phung Island.
- Accommodation: There are some homestays and small guesthouses on Con Phung Island. If you want to experience garden life and get close to nature, you can choose this type of accommodation. Alternatively, you can also choose hotels in Ben Tre city center and travel to Con Phung Island during the day.
- Estimated cost: The cost of traveling to Con Phung Island is quite reasonable, suitable for many types of tourists. Entrance tickets to the tourist area are about 85,000 – 150,000 VND/person (depending on the group size), and the cost of eating and other activities depends on your needs.
- Note: When visiting spiritual tourist sites such as the Coconut Religion Relic Site, you should dress politely and discreetly. Please maintain general hygiene, do not litter indiscriminately, and respect the local culture and customs.
Conclusion: Con Phung Island – An Ideal Destination for a Mekong Delta Trip
Con Phung Island is not only a beautiful island with picturesque natural scenery but also a place that preserves the unique traditional cultural values of the Mekong Delta. From the sweet Đờn ca tài tử music experiences to exploring historical relics, visiting traditional craft villages, and enjoying distinctive cuisine, Con Phung promises to bring you a memorable and meaningful trip. If you are looking for a destination to immerse yourself in nature, explore culture, and enjoy the peace of the countryside, Con Phung Island is the perfect choice. Come and feel the beauty of this green gem in the heart of the Tien River!