When tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City, many have a trip to the Mekong Delta on their wish list. We aren’t officially tourists, because we live here, but it was definitely on our wish list as well! We heard great stories about the beauty and lovely vibe of the area, so when the right moment was there, we secured a lovely weekend retreat at Villa de Coco in Ben Tre.
Just the 2 of us
Pippa and I decided to go with the two of us to have some awesome quality time together. The fun started when we took a Grab to District 5. We ordered a cà phê dừa (coconut coffee) for me and a peach iced tea for Pippa to take with us on the bus. Villa de Coco booked our bus seats for us, so all we had to do was show up on time at the Hung Do bus station. The bus was super comfy and we enjoyed reading, knitting, drawing, listening to music and looking outside the window during the 2 hour drive.
Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the super kind staff members of Villa de Coco. We were a bit early, so our room wasn’t ready yet, but they did everything they could to make us feel comfortable. First thing we did: jump in the pool! Of course! We could have stayed in and next to the pool for weeks! What a lovely place and garden to relax.
Fun Things to Do around Villa de Coco
You don’t have to travel far to have some awesome adventures. You can use the bikes from Villa de Coco for free and cycling around the area is so much fun. They had a kids size mountain bike for Pippa and she was the happiest kid alive. There are many little places to get coffee and snacks nearby to take a little break if you want.
The staff members of Villa de Coco are happy to arrange trips for you. We went on a bicycle tour to a dock to have a lovely river tour and learned about water coconuts. Afterwards we visited a cacao and coconut farm and got to taste the delicious sweet ‘jackets’ of cacao beans + were treated with HUGE coconuts to drink from.
Goodbye, Villa de Coco!
We wished we could have stayed longer at this oasis of peace and joy. It’s a good thing it’s only a 2 hour drive away from where we live, so we can easily come back with our whole family. Pippa really wants to show Villa de Coco to Sol, Jools and her dad and go on adventures in Ben Tre together. There is one room with a double bed + bunk beds, which is fantastic for a family to stay. Pippa and I had a beautiful and spacious room for 2 people and we felt at home straight away when we walked in for the first time. It was hard to leave this cozy room!
When we returned back home in Ho Chi Minh City, Pippa and I created a Reels together and we often watch it with a big smile on our faces. Hopefully, it will bring you joy too! You can view it on our Instagram account: @theflyingdutchfamily.
Big hugs,
Annette
The Flying Dutch Family 