Ben Tre Province

Infobox province of Vietnam
Name = Bến Tre
Meaning = Bamboo Landing


Council Chair = Nguyễn Hữu Phước
Committee Chair = NGUYỄN THỊ THANH HÀ
Capital = Bến Tre
Region = Mekong Delta
Area = 2,321.6
Population = 1,345,600
Population year = 2004
Population density = 579.60
Ethnicities = Vietnamese, Khmer, Hoa, Tày
Calling code = 75
ISO code = VN-50
Website = www.bentre.gov.vn

Ben Tre (in Vietnamese, "Bến Tre") is a Province of Vietnam. It is one of the country's southern provinces, being situated in the delta of the Mekong River.

Administration

Politically, Bến Tre is divided into seven districts:

*Ba Tri
*Bình Đại
*Châu Thành
*Chợ Lách
*Giồng Trôm
*Mỏ Cày
*Thạnh Phú

The provincial capital, also known as Bến Tre, is a separate municipality.

Geography

Geographically, Bến Tre is wedged between the two main branches of the Tiền Giang River, which is itself one of the two main branches of the Mekong. The province's northern boundary is formed by the Tiền Giang's main course, while the province's southern boundary is formed by the Tiền Giang's largest branch (which breaks away from the Tiền Giang just upriver from Bến Tre province). Between the Tiền Giang and its main branch are two smaller branches, passing through the middle of Bến Tre. The entire province is criss-crossed with a network of smaller rivers and canals. The extensive irrigation that this provides makes Bến Tre a major producer of rice, but also means that the area is prone to flooding. Bến Tre province is, on average, only 1.25 metres above sea level.

Transportation

At present, there are no bridges connecting Bến Tre province to the rest of Vietnam - access is only possible by ferries. In 2002, however, work started on the Rach Mieu Bridge, which will link Bến Tre to its northern neighbour, Tiền Giang province. The bridge is expected to be completed in 2008.

External links

* [http://www.bentre.gov.vn/english/index.php Ben Tre website] (English)
* [http://www.bentre.gov.vn/ Bến Tre website] (in Vietnamese)
* [http://www.hssvbentre.net/ Học sinh Sinh viên Bến Tre website] (in Vietnamese)
* [http://www.globewarrior.us/newfile11.html Travel Info about Bến Tre from GlobeWarrior Web Site]