Bình Dương is a bustling city, growing fast in an important economic area. It’s next to Ho Chi Minh City in the south, Bình Phước in the north, Đồng Nai in the east, and Tây Ninh in the west. Even with its rapid urban growth, Bình Dương still has lots of natural eco-tourism spots and fun places to visit.
The weather in Bình Dương is great for traveling almost all year. The best time is after January when the rainy season ends, and the skies are clear. April is perfect for picnics and camping. From May to August, it’s fruit harvesting season, so you can enjoy picking and tasting various fruits.
A Corner of Thủ Dầu Một, Bình Dương’s Capital.
Contents
- Getting Around
- Staying Over
- Places to Play
- Đại Nam Tourist Complex
- Trần Văn Hổ Ancient House
- Hội Khánh Pagoda
- Tây Nam Bến Cát Tunnels
- Kawazo Phú Thịnh Eco-Tourism Area
- Phú Cường Cathedral
- Phú An Bamboo Village
- Đại Hưng Pottery Kiln
- Trúc Lâm Thanh Nguyên Zen Monastery
- Dầu Tiếng Lake
- Thai Son Pagoda on Mount Cậu
- Thiên Hậu Temple
- Phú Lợi Prison
- Lái Thiêu Fruit Orchard
- Windmill Film Set
- Tương Bình Hiệp Lacquer Village
- Eating Out
- Specialties
Getting Around
The center of Bình Dương is Thủ Dầu Một city, about 30 km from Ho Chi Minh City. It’s easy to travel by car, motorbike, bus, or train.
- From Ho Chi Minh City, bus tickets to Bình Dương cost 60,000 VND. Bus tickets are 20,000 VND. For more freedom, you can drive a car or ride a motorbike from Ho Chi Minh City along QL13. The journey takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic.
- From Hanoi and central provinces, you can fly to Tân Sơn Nhất airport or take a train to Sài Gòn station (some stop at Dĩ An – Bình Dương) and then continue by bus or rent a motorbike. The bus journey from Hanoi takes about 35 hours, costing around 900,000 VND.
- There are many train trips from Ho Chi Minh City to Dĩ An in Bình Dương throughout the day. Train tickets cost 40,000 VND.
Staying Over
Bình Dương is good for day trips, but there are also many accommodation options, from budget to luxury.
Luxury hotels like The Mira, Fairfield by Marriott, Becamex Hotel, Hiive by Fusion, Citadines Central Bình Dương cost around 1 million VND per night. Three-star hotels cost between 400,000 to 600,000 VND, like Long Bảo Châu, Saigon Park, Elizabeth, Hoang Hung, and various homestays and serviced apartments.
For a weekend getaway from Ho Chi Minh City, you can stay at An Lam Retreats Saigon River along the Saigon River. It’s about 30 minutes by river from central Ho Chi Minh City. A night here starts from 3 million VND.
Places to Play
From the center of Thủ Dầu Một city, within a 40 km radius, Bình Dương has many fun places to explore. These include eco-tourism spots, historical sites, and scenic locations across its 9 administrative units, including 4 cities (Thủ Dầu Một, Tân Uyên, Dĩ An, Thuận An), a town (Bến Cát), and 4 districts (Bắc Tân Uyên, Bàu Bàng, Phú Giáo, and Dầu Tiếng).
Đại Nam Tourist Complex
Located in Hiệp An ward, Thủ Dầu Một city, Đại Nam covers about 260 hectares, making it one of Southeast Asia’s largest tourist complexes. It offers mountains, lakes, and various entertainment services like Kim Palace, Đại Nam beach, thrilling rides, an open zoo, and well-equipped hotels. The Đại Nam racetrack is also a highlight. Đại Nam is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm.
Trần Văn Hổ Ancient House
Built in February 1890, this house is designed with three main rooms and two lean-tos, consisting of 36 round columns arranged in 6 rows from front to back. The main face of the house looks southwest towards the Saigon River. This direction is considered auspicious in South Vietnamese culture, especially for wealthy families.
Hội Khánh Pagoda
This ancient pagoda in Thủ Dầu Một city was built in 1741. It houses Asia’s longest reclining Buddha statue, recognized by the Asia Book of Records. The pagoda’s historical, cultural, and architectural values are prominent. Most of its centuries-old relics are well-preserved. Hội Khánh is a typical example of ancient Bình Dương pagodas. It’s also linked to Nguyễn Sinh Sắc (father of President Hồ Chí Minh). Between 1923 and 1926, he founded the Hội Danh Dự here with Phan Đình Viện and Từ Văn.
Tây Nam Bến Cát Tunnels
Stretching nearly 100 km, with about 50 battle bunkers and shelters for wounded soldiers, weapon and food storage, these tunnels were a base during the resistance war. The main tunnel is 4 m deep, with a height of 1.2 m and a width of 0.8 m. Some sections have 2 to 3 floors, with secret lids on entrances and exits. The side tunnels extend from the main one to different villages, each about 1 km long with 3 bunkers. Around the secret tunnel entrances, there are many traps like spike pits and mines, including large anti-tank mines and mortar launchers against helicopters.
Kawazo Phú Thịnh Eco-Tourism Area
This ecological spot is in the city but feels like a peaceful countryside, with green gardens, fish ponds, and typical Southern games like coconut bridge, rope bridge, swing bridge, fishing in ponds, adventurous zipline, and peaceful SUP rowing on the lake.
Phú Cường Cathedral
Phú Cường Cathedral, built in 1864 from a brick church in Gothic style, has undergone several renovations, the latest in 2014. Its architecture combines typical Catholic church domes, pointed roofs, and arched windows, resembling My Tho Cathedral. Visitors can admire its beauty, stroll around the spacious, cool grounds with lush greenery, especially during Christmas when it’s decorated festively, offering a lively yet solemn atmosphere.
Phú An Bamboo Village
This village lies in Vietnam’s first bamboo ecosystem conservation area, a favorite spot for countryside scenery lovers. Phú An preserves about 1,500 bamboo clumps with 300 varieties, including rare types like mai ống, vàng sọc, ngà, lồ ô vàng, mạnh tông. In 2010, Phú An won the Equator Prize from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for biodiversity conservation, community development, and climate change response. In 2016, it became a member of the French-speaking Botanical Gardens Association. It’s also a beautiful photo spot and relaxing retreat.
Đại Hưng Pottery Kiln
Located in Tương Bình Hiệp ward, Thủ Dầu Một city, about 3 km north of the city center, Đại Hưng is a 150-year-old pottery kiln specializing in traditional products like jars and pots for agriculture and daily life. It still uses traditional crafting methods, being the largest handmade pottery producer in Bình Dương with an area of nearly 11,000 m2.
Trúc Lâm Thanh Nguyên Zen Monastery
This is the first Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen Monastery, located in Tam Lập, Phú Giáo district. Covering over 10 hectares, it’s nestled among rubber forests, offering a tranquil atmosphere. The monastery is surrounded by the cool shade of rubber trees and greenery, making visitors feel close to nature and at peace.
Dầu Tiếng Lake
Dầu Tiếng is an artificial lake located in Tây Ninh, Bình Dương, and Bình Phước provinces, built in 1981. It’s now a popular spot for picnics, camping, and various activities. Visitors can enjoy the scenery, walk around the lake, and try camping overnight with friends and family by the lake.
Thai Son Pagoda on Mount Cậu
Thai Son Pagoda, situated halfway up Mount Cậu at about 50 m above sea level in Định Thành, Dầu Tiếng district, covers more than 5 hectares with various structures like the triple gate, the nine-story Cửu Trùng Đại Tháp, and the 12-meter-tall statue of Nam Hải Quán Thế Âm Bồ Tát. After visiting the pagoda, visitors can walk about 1,000 stone steps to the mountain’s peak, enjoying the panoramic view of Mount Cậu and Dầu Tiếng Lake. The site also features a 300-year-old fig tree and other rare, long-lived plants.
Thiên Hậu Temple
Also known as Chùa Bà (Bà Temple) on Nguyễn Du street, Thủ Dầu Một city, this temple has ancient architecture. It’s a popular pilgrimage site in Bình Dương, Ho Chi Minh City, and nearby provinces. Every year, from the 13th to the 15th of the first lunar month, the Thiên Hậu Temple Festival, one of Bình Dương’s largest cultural festivals, is held. The event features special ceremonies like offerings to the Goddess, lantern auctions, and vibrant processions.
Phú Lợi Prison
Known as “hell on earth,” Phú Lợi, one of the largest prisons in Southern Vietnam, was built in 1957 to detain and torture thousands of revolutionaries for 8 years (1957-1964). It consists of three camps: Chi Lăng, Bạch Đằng, and Đống Đa, each separated by dense barbed wire walls. The facility includes a high observation tower and four strictly guarded entrances.
Lái Thiêu Fruit Orchard
Spanning about 1,200 hectares across six communes, Lái Thiêu Orchard allows visitors to admire, climb trees, take pictures, and pick fruits like lychee, mango, and durian. Families can also learn about fruit cultivation from the growers. Large groups can rent mats or tents to relax under the trees. The best time to visit is from March to July.
Admission to Lái Thiêu Fruit Orchard is free, only charging for the fruits you pick and other services.
Windmill Film Set
The Windmill Film Set, a paradise for photo enthusiasts in Bình Dương, spans 25,000 m2. It attracts hundreds of couples for wedding photography and countless visitors for its picturesque setting.
Tương Bình Hiệp Lacquer Village
This centuries-old traditional craft village offers a glimpse into the meticulous process of making lacquerware. Depending on the product, various materials like wood, plywood, ceramics, cloth, or paper are used as bases. Traditional lacquerware involves about 25 steps, requiring patience and repeated efforts. The painting process alone can take 3-6 months to ensure quality.
Broken Bridge over Bé River
Visitors to Phú Giáo district will find the Broken Bridge over Bé River, a historical relic from the 1975 Southern battle. The French built the bridge in 1925-1926 to exploit the colony and expand rubber plantations in Phú Giáo and Phước Long. It was a crucial route to the Central Highlands.
Eating Out
Over 50% of Bình Dương’s population are immigrants, contributing to the diverse and rich cuisine, combining various ingredients.
Chicken and Mangosteen Salad
A must-try in Bình Dương, Ho Chi Minh City, and surrounding areas, this salad is considered the “queen” of local dishes. Available in many restaurants, the best time to enjoy it is during mangosteen season, typically from April to June. The mangosteens must be firm and moderately ripe for the perfect balance of sour and sweet. The chicken should be firm and have crispy skin, boiled and shredded for the dish.
Some restaurants replace boiled chicken with salt and pepper marinated chicken for a unique flavor. It’s often served with a bowl of hot straw mushroom porridge, cooked thin.
Rice Flour Cakes with Pork Skin
A delicacy over 100 years old from Búng Market in An Thạnh, Thuận An. Unlike other regions, these cakes here are topped with pork skin and lean meat shreds, fresh vegetables, and cucumber. Before eating, they are dressed with a sweet and sour fish sauce, mixed with shredded radish and carrot, and a touch of chili. Along with eel taro porridge and chicken and mangosteen salad, it’s one of Bình Dương’s three dishes honored by the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association.
Fried Sticky Rice and Roast Chicken
A popular dish that captivates visitors. The sticky rice, once cooked, is fried until it puffs up like a balloon, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The chicken, marinated and brushed with honey, is roasted until golden brown. Together, they create a new culinary experience.
Grilled Beef on Tiles
As the name suggests, this dish involves grilling beef on tiles. The thin layer of fat on the beef eliminates the need for added oil. After a few minutes on the tiles, the smoke and aroma of grilled beef fill the air. The dish is served with herbs, green bananas, and star fruit, wrapped in rice paper and dipped in fish sauce. The combination of sweet beef, tangy banana, sour star fruit, and fragrant fish sauce creates a unique flavor.
Pig Tongue Noodle Soup
A common dish in Bình Dương, the main ingredient is pig tongue, rolled and cooked in the style of char siu. Customers can order a separate bowl of noodle soup and a plate of pig tongue. The broth’s delicious flavor comes from a mix of meat, bones, tongue, tofu, and the restaurant’s secret seasoning.
Eel Taro Porridge
Eel Taro Porridge, a blend of everyday ingredients like taro, eel, and rice, transforms into an enchanting dish through skilled preparation. The best porridge uses field eels, which are firmer and sweeter when cooked, enhancing the broth’s flavor. The quality also hinges on how the eel is cleaned and prepared; it must be done meticulously to avoid any sliminess or off-putting odor. This harmonious mix of humble ingredients produces a nourishing, flavorful dish, perfect for bolstering the body, especially on rainy days.
Specialties
Bình Dương is renowned for its tropical delicacies, perfect as gifts or personal treats.
Lái Thiêu Mangosteens
Unlike other varieties, Lái Thiêu mangosteens have a smoother skin, fewer blemishes, no cracks or sap leaks, and a dark red to light red hue. The fruits from Lái Thiêu are distinguishable by their small size, short stems, uneven roundness, and thin peel, making them easy to open. The flesh is a delightful blend of sweet and slightly sour, with a soft, smooth texture. The harvest season begins around June and lasts for three months.
Bình Nhâm Ginger Candy
Made from carefully selected fresh ginger combined with lemon and coated in sugar, these candies offer a gentle spiciness balanced with a light sweetness. Bình Nhâm Ginger Candy comes in various forms, such as chewy candy, thin slices, and whole ginger pieces. However, the traditional thinly sliced variety remains the most popular.
Salted Cashew Nuts
Bình Dương, like Bình Phước, benefits from a climate and soil conducive to growing cashew trees. The resulting roasted and salted cashew nuts have become a specialty of Bình Dương, ideal for gifts.
In the vibrant tapestry of Bình Dương, each thread – be it a historical site, a delicious dish, or a natural wonder – weaves a story of culture, tradition, and the harmonious blend of old and new. This province, a mosaic of experiences, invites everyone to immerse themselves in its rich heritage and contemporary dynamism, capturing the essence of a land where history, nature, and modernity dance together in a unique rhythm.
