Bến Tre is in the Mekong Delta area, 85 kilometers southwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Usually this is a popular day or overnight trip for many tourists, but we had a bit of a different experience — to say the least.
During the Tết holiday, my friend Kim and I were invited to spend a few days in Bến Tre with one of her coworkers and her family — and it turned out to be one of the most authentic Vietnamese experiences I’ve ever had.
We drank coconuts straight from the tree, grown right in their backyard, and enjoyed homemade meals with fresh shrimp and veggies. But the real surprise? The neighbour showed up with mice he had caught on his land. Yes, mice. They were marinated all day, then thrown on the BBQ and served with dinner.
I filmed myself trying it and when I showed the video to my mom and our Facebook friends, the reactions were hilarious. The main question I got was, "are they safe to eat?" Funny enough I didn't even question that. I figured they wouldn't serve it if it wasn't okay to eat. Apparently, these mice live off coconut trees and are indeed considered clean and safe to eat. And honestly? It tasted good. And it was an experience I won't forget anytime soon. Especially because — spoiler alert — I had a bit of a shock when I noticed the male mice still had their… um, private parts.
Watch the full mice eating experience:
Beyond the food, we also went on a peaceful boat ride down the river that ran along their land — no tourist boats, no crowds, just us and nature. A far cry from the usual backpacker scene with elephant pants and rice hats. This was the real Bến Tre, and I’m so grateful I got to see it this way.