History
As far back as early 17th century, the Ben Tre region was a completely wild land with marshes and woods intermingled with a grid of ditches and rivulets. Then, waves of migration throughout 17th and 18th centuries had been gradually forming the most fundamental basis for later developments of Ben Tre province. It was those migrants from many parts of Viet Nam, who came to Ben Tre on their long treks to look for "the land of goodness", that have contributed to the diversity and richness in knowledge, professionism, work experiences, life styles, cultural customs and practices, etc of today's Ben Tre.
From the very early history, the Ben Tre's people were unyielded to countless natural adversities and obstacles. So were they in their long history of fighting foreign invaders. During the time of the Tay Son uprising, they took part in fighting against the Siamese (today's Thailand) invaders who were "invited" in by the Nguyen Anh Dynasty in the civil war between Dang Trong (the Interior Territory) and Dang Ngoai (the Exterior Territory). During the later wars against the French and American invaders in the 20th century, Ben Tre always played key role in upsetting occupation policies of the US-supported puppet government in the South of Viet Nam. At the start of the US-led occupying war in early 1960, the Ben Tre's unyielded people took arms to their hands in what later turned out to be one of the most resounding uprising in the Viet Nam War: The Dong Khoi Movement (The Simultaneous Uprising) starting in Dinh Thuy Commune, Mo Cay District. Throughout more than one month of successful uprising, from January 17th to February 26th, 1960, the movement caused a lot of damages to the US as well as the Ngo Dinh Diem's forces. The most famous in this movement was the "Doi Quan Toc Dai", or The Long Hair Army, with all female fighters, led by Mrs Nguyen Thi Dinh, who was also the then Secretary of Ben Tre Communist Party. The success of the uprising as well as the aggressive fighting of the female army made Mrs Dinh the most famous and historic figure of Ben Tre province. Also during the war, the Ham Luong River became widely known in Viet Nam and the world with a lot of unforgettable events.
After the April 30, 1975 Victory that led to the reunification of Viet Nam, Ben Tre has joined the whole country to start a new and much harder revolution on their way to build the Socialism in this country. Under this new revolution, there are mountains of work to do before the final goals may be achieved; there are wounds of war to heal before developmental objectives can be met. And the province's leaders and people have spared no efforts to ensure their works are kept on the right course. And they have at least to date seen great successes since the eco-social reforms were mandated in 1986.
Today, in the new wind of eco-social changes sweeping across the country, Ben Tre's Communist Party, government leaders and people firmly join hands to "fight" for more successful accomplishments in the spirit of the New Dong Khoi. Rach Mieu Bridge, Ham Luong Bridge, Ba Lai Flood Control Dam, a grid of new large roads connecting Ben Tre through to its neighbouring provinces, and many industrial zones and complexes such as the Giao Long IP, etc, are some of the province's ambitious projects under construction. Once finished, all these projects would contribute greatly to lifting the face of Ben Tre province, upgrading its eco-social life to new heights, and would be a driving force in the developing future of the province.
That exactly is what the people, the Party and the Government of Ben Tre are all striving to fulfil.