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Tien Giang province, with its capital My Tho, is located about 70km from Ho Chi Minh City, so you can travel there by motorbike or car. If traveling by car, buy tickets at the Western Bus Station or from bus companies on Le Hong Phong Street (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City). A one-way ticket costs around 90,000 VND. You should take the earliest bus to have time to enjoy and explore this fertile and beautiful region.
If traveling by motorbike, you can take National Highway 50 (via Long An – Go Cong – My Tho), which offers a unique experience but will take more time. The most popular route is to travel along National Highway 1A (approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes).
Pack your bags.
You don't need to pack a lot for this trip, however, there are a few essential items. Choose comfortable, activewear, preferably jeans, shorts, and t-shirts; avoid dresses and skirts as they are inconvenient for traveling on boats. Wear comfortable, flat shoes that are easy to walk in and won't hurt your feet. Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, or insect bite cream are also good choices. A hat or scarf is a must-have.
Tourist attractions
The most famous floating market in Tien Giang is Cai Be, located about 40km from My Tho. The market opens in the morning, and the ideal time to visit is between 5 am and 7 am. The main goods sold by the boats here are fruits and agricultural products.
Besides the floating market, you can take a boat trip to visit the Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung islets on both sides of the Tien River. Thoi Son islet (also known as Lan islet) is also an attractive tourist destination. Here, you can watch the process of making the famous Ben Tre coconut candy, drink longan flower honey tea, ride a horse-drawn carriage along the village roads, and enjoy the local specialty, Lo Ren star apple.
Besides that, other must-see attractions include: the Rach Gam - Xoai Mut historical site; Dong Tam snake farm; Vinh Trang ancient pagoda; Tien Giang museum; Dong Hoa Hiep ancient house... You can also stroll around the streets and enjoy a cup of coffee by the river.
Eating and shopping
The best thing about visiting Tien Giang is that you can freely enjoy delicious food without worrying about being overcharged like in other tourist areas. The most famous dish here is My Tho noodle soup; not trying it would be a missed opportunity for your trip.
Besides rice noodle soup, the rice noodle salad and coconut milk rice cakes at Hang Bong Market are also delicious dishes that tourists should try. In addition, you can visit the night market on 30/4 Street to enjoy delicious dishes such as snake porridge, pho, beef noodle soup, crab hot pot, satay rice noodle soup, and various seafood dishes...
If you want to shop for souvenirs, the most abundant and famous items are fruits, such as Lo Ren star apples, mandarin oranges, sweet oranges, longan, Chau Thanh dragon fruit... or you can buy a wide variety of souvenirs made from bamboo, rattan or coconut.
Tien Giang is adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City, so if you're in Ho Chi Minh City, have a day off, or are on a business trip, dedicate a free day to exploring this gateway to the Southern region. You can leave early in the morning and return the same day. However, for a more relaxed trip, a one-and-a-half-day trip is ideal. There are many hotels in My Tho city. Room rates are relatively affordable, around 200,000 VND per night, and most hotels offer hot water and Wi-Fi. Ideally, you should choose hotels located in the city center or along 30/4 Street, Ap Bac Street, Tet Mau Than Street, etc., which are the most vibrant areas of My Tho city.
