Ben Tre | Talk with a Former Viet Cong Soldier and Witness Rice Paper Making

Step into a peaceful village in the Mekong Delta, where time seems to slow down and tradition lives on through a humble yet iconic craft: making rice paper. Known for its unique blend of rice flour and coconut milk, this rice paper is sun-dried and grilled over hot charcoal to create a crispy, fragrant treat that reflects the soul of the region.

Visitors are invited to join the entire process — from mixing the silky batter to spreading it thin on cloth steamers, drying in the sun, and grilling over burning coal. You’ll try your hand at making your own rice paper, then taste it fresh and warm — a delight that locals enjoy daily.

The highlight of this experience is meeting a former Viet Cong soldier and his family, who have kept this 200-year-old tradition alive. Inside their riverside home, his wife — a skilled artisan — guides you through the craft while the soldier shares stories of the past. Some tours even include a local lunch cooked right in their kitchen, offering not just food but heartfelt connection.

In nearby Thuan Hung ward, Can Tho, the same craft continues in another community that has preserved this legacy for centuries. Visiting these places reveals not only culinary tradition but resilience, hospitality, and deep cultural pride of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.