[4] In Vietnamese, “Bến Tre” literally means “bamboo port”, which is quite inaccurate considering it is regionally famous for its Coconuts.

In what has been called "the start of the Vietnam War", in January and February 1960, the Việt Cộng attacked and took temporary control of several districts in Bến Tre, then known as Kiến Hòa.

One of the leaders of the uprising was Madame Nguyễn Thị Định, who led the all-female "Long Hair Army".

The extensive irrigation that this provides makes Bến Tre a major producer of rice, but also means that the area is prone to flooding.

Construction on the Rạch Miễu Bridge, which links Bến Tre to neighboring Tiền Giang province to its north, was started in 2002.