Highlights / General details

Eat your way through Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) the way locals do.

Indulge in the dishes that have made Southern Vietnamese cuisine famous around the world, like banh mi!

Mingle with locals over market fare, Saigonese coffee, and street beer.

Experience Saigon’s history and multi-culturalism through its food.

Explore hidden alleys and get off the beaten track to see Saigon in a way few tourists do.

See Saigon as the sun goes down and reveals a vibrant (and delicious) night scene.

Inclusion

Local English-speaking guide; All food items as per itinerary; One coffee and one beer.

Exclusion

Hotel pick-up and drop-off; Items of a personal nature; Food or beverages; Gratuities.

Hours of operation

Available daily at 5:00pm.

Duration

Approximately 2.5 hours.

Location

Meeting point: Front entrance of the Saigon Opera House - Dong Khoi St, District 1 (intersection of Le Loi St).

Ending point: Ben Thanh Night Market.

Exclusion

Hotel pick-up and drop-off; Items of a personal nature; Food or beverages; Gratuities.

Hours of operation

Available daily at 5:00pm.

Duration

Approximately 2.5 hours.

Location

Meeting point: Front entrance of the Saigon Opera House - Dong Khoi St, District 1 (intersection of Le Loi St).

Ending point: Ben Thanh Night Market.

Itinerary

We all know Vietnam is an absolute legend when it comes to street food, and if you want to make the most of your time (and stomach space), you’ll want to head out with an in-the-know local to pick out the best of the best of Saigon’s street food. Put your eating pants on and follow us!

Our Saigon food tour kicks off with a short walk from the Opera House to the Old Market, passing architecture that transports you back in time with glimpses of the city’s past.

Don’t be fooled by its name – the forty year old ‘Old Market’ isn’t home to antiques. Instead, it’s full of food! Dozens of street vendors tempt locals with beloved local favorites like fresh spring rolls, green papaya salad, and Vietnamese savory steamed rice cakes, just to name a few. Here, we’ll sample some authentic local appetizers, inhaling the spicy flavors of the street stalls, and watch as local life unfolds before your eyes in the heart of Saigon.

Our immersion into local life continues as we make our way to Mong Bridge for a unique view of a intersection of life in Saigon: watching the flow of the river at sunset, the stream of traffic at rush hour, and the juxtaposition of historical periods played out in the architecture. Cool, relaxing, and perhaps even romantic, it’s here that we’ll indulge in what just might be the most famous of Saigon’s street food: banh mi! This really is classic Saigon, so eat it up – it doesn’t get much better than this!

Oh wait…we aren’t done yet!

It wouldn’t be a true local experience without enjoying coffee the way Saigonese coffee aficionados do on a daily basis. We’ll head to a popular local hem of Saigon, with a misleading (read: run-down) façade that hides within it a gourmet coffee haven. We’ll show you the local style of taking your coffee and you’ll feel right at home!

Next up on our Saigon food adventure is another one of the city’s iconic street food dishes: com tam. This dish is one of the most popular and preferred dishes by Southerners, and you can find it everywhere from street stalls to fancy restaurants. What makes it so beloved is that the ingredients are so strikingly simple, yet the tastes and flavors are truly unforgettable (we promise).

From com tam we head for the Ben Thanh Night Market to pick up a Vietnamese che dessert, a sweet soup-pudding-beverage hybrid that’s crazy popular with locals.

We’ll cap off our Saigon street food tour with, what else, street beer! At this street beer stall we’ll outfit you with a cold Saigon beer and the chance to mingle with locals – not a bad way to end the evening, is it?!

We’ve reached the end, but your local guide is happy to provide tips for exploring the area further, or assist you in getting a taxi back to your accommodation.

Additional Information

Light and comfortable clothing is recommended.

Participant restrictions

Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.

Please inform your local guide about any food allergies you may have. Vegetarians can be catered for.

Policies

Please note that this tour visits independent, family-owned businesses whose operating schedules and menus may change. Therefore, street food venues and local dishes often vary; your local guide will make any final adjustments on the spot.

Cancellation: 2 days prior 100% penalty. No show 100% penalty.

Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

**All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**