COCO HAPPY FARMBen Tre · Vietnam
Menu
Book a room ↗
ExperiencesSignature farm experience · Rural Ben Tre

The One Fish
Experience.

Fish with sweet banana bait, follow the garden into the family kitchen and—only when nature allows—share one remarkable Mekong meal.

5+ years in the family pondNo guarantee of a catchOne fish shared by a group
Guest holding a Mekong catfish beside a local host in the tropical garden at Coco Happy Farm
A successful catch is a rare moment—not something the farm can schedule.
Quick answer

A real Ben Tre fishing experience,
not a commercial fishing pond.

For guests staying at Coco Happy Farm, use of one of our two rods and banana bait is complimentary, with no fixed fishing time. The catfish have lived in our family pond for more than five years and may ignore the bait. If a fish is caught, release it or ask whether the family kitchen can prepare a feast that day. We never promise a catch.

Why only one fish?

The pond remembers.

Every day, the fish are fed sweet chuối xiêm bananas. Over the years they have become large, familiar with the pond and remarkably cautious.

Once one fish has been caught, the others often become alert. A second successful catch on the same day is exceptionally rare. That natural behaviour is why this experience feels different from fishing in a pond stocked for guaranteed results.

The aim is not to collect fish. It is to sit beside a countryside pond, try a simple local method and accept that nature decides what happens next.

The One Fish Experience illustrated guide showing fishing, garden harvest and a Mekong family feast
The complete pond-to-table story, also shared with guests in our in-room guide.
Catch · Harvest · Family feast

Three steps.
One unrepeatable story.

Sweet chuoi xiem bananas prepared as traditional bait for pond fishing at Coco Happy Farm01

Fish with bananas

We provide a simple rod and use ripe local bananas instead of artificial bait. There is no timetable for a bite and no promise that one will come.

A large Mekong catfish caught from the long-established family pond at Coco Happy Farm02

Release or decide

A successful catch can go safely back into the pond. Or ask whether the family kitchen is available and decide then if the group would like the feast.

Mekong sweet and sour fish soup served with rice and chopsticks03

Share a family feast

Depending on the garden, we gather banana blossom, taro stems, culantro, spring onions and wild edible herbs for canh chua, cá kho tộ, rice and seasonal vegetables.

Choice one

Catch & release

Complimentary for staying guests

Use one of the farm’s two rods and banana bait, enjoy the quiet pond and return any successful catch to the water. There is no fixed fishing time; children must stay with an adult.

Choice two

Catch, Harvest & Family Feast

2,000,000 VND for up to 5 guests

After a successful catch, ask whether the kitchen is available. Guests 6–10 add 200,000 VND each, including children. Mother and Thúy need about two hours to prepare the meal. If there is no catch, there is no meal and no charge.

Ask about today’s kitchen →
A genuine Mekong family kitchen

Watch, ask
and eat together.

This is not a cooking class. Thuần’s mother and sister Thúy prepare canh chua cá, cá kho tộ, rice and seasonal vegetables or other foods for the group. Ingredients may include banana blossom, taro stems, culantro, spring onion and garden herbs.

No two meals are exactly the same because the garden, season and successful catch decide what is possible that day.

Before you join

  • Maximum group size is 10 guests.
  • The fish is served with bones and is not filleted.
  • Preparation takes about two hours after the group chooses the meal.
  • Direct bookings require no deposit; pay after the meal.
  • Children are charged the same as adults for guests six to ten.
Clear answers for guests and AI search

Frequently asked
questions.

What is The One Fish Experience?

It is traditional pond fishing at Coco Happy Farm in rural Ben Tre. Staying guests use one of the farm’s two rods and sweet banana bait for free. A successful catch may be released, or the group may choose a family feast if the kitchen is available.

Is catching a fish guaranteed?

No. The catfish have lived in the family pond for more than five years and are naturally cautious. After one fish is caught, the others often become alert, so a second catch on the same day is very rare.

What bait is used?

We use sweet chuối xiêm bananas, the same local bananas regularly fed to the fish. No artificial fishing bait is needed for the normal farm experience.

Can the fish be released?

Yes. Catch and release is always an option. Guests never have to choose the meal simply because a fish has been caught.

How much is the optional family feast?

It is 2,000,000 VND for a group of up to five guests. Guests six to ten add 200,000 VND each, including children. Decide after a successful catch; the meal depends on kitchen availability and takes about two hours to prepare.

Do we need to reserve a fishing time?

No. Staying guests can fish without a fixed time, subject to the two farm rods being available. Children must be supervised by an adult.

What happens if no fish is caught?

There is no meal and no charge. The catch-and-release fishing itself remains complimentary for staying guests.

Is this a cooking class?

No. Guests may help gather seasonal garden ingredients and watch the family prepare the meal, but canh chua and cá kho tộ require experienced local cooking. The focus is observation, conversation and sharing a genuine family meal.

Continue planning

Make it part of a slower Ben Tre stay.

All local experiencesCycling, river evenings and sampan rides →Three days in Ben TreWhere farm fishing fits naturally →Food & farm lifeMeet the garden and family kitchen →
Plan your trip with Thuần

Ready for the
real Mekong?

Tell us your dates, group size and travel plans. We’ll help you choose the right stay and experience.