Ho Chi Minh City motorbike food tour: 10 authentic dishes

You eat at the same spots locals queue for at night, not at restaurants built for tourists.

A 3-hour motorbike food tour through Ho Chi Minh City's 5 districts, stopping at about 24 famous streets where you taste up to 10 authentic Vietnamese dishes known to residents. The tour includes hotel pickup from Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5, an English-speaking guide, a poncho if weather turns, and the food and drinks themselves. Children from age 4 are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Saigon's street food by motorbike

• Visit 5 districts of Ho Chi Minh City
• Stop at about 24 famous streets
• Try up to 10 authentic Vietnamese dishes
• Visit popular local hangout at night

The experience

You meet your guide at your hotel and climb onto the motorbike for a ride through the city's neighborhoods at night, when the street food vendors are out and the locals are eating. The stops are not landmarks. They are the corners and alleys where people actually live, the spots that fill up after dark. Your guide knows which stall makes the best version of each dish and why people line up there instead of somewhere else. You stop at roughly 24 of these places across the 5 districts, and at each one you try something different: a bowl, a skewer, a drink, a bite that has a name only the neighborhood knows.

The motorbike is how you move between stops fast enough to fit 10 dishes into 3 hours without sitting at a table waiting. You wear a poncho if it rains. The guide speaks English and explains what you are eating as you eat it: the ingredient, the technique, why this version matters. Vegetarian options are available if you request them when booking. The tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel.

Hotel pickup is included only for hotels in Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5. If you are staying elsewhere, you will meet the guide at a starting point in the city. Cruise ship passengers need to provide ship details, docking time and re-boarding time at booking so the tour fits your port schedule. Infants sit on an adult's lap. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from hotels in Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5.
• an English-speaking guide.
• up to 12 local foods and drinks.
• a poncho or raincoat if needed.
• 3 hours of riding and eating by motorbike through 5 districts and roughly 24 famous streets.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 18:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tiger Tours Vietnam

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to eat where locals eat at night instead of at restaurants, and you are comfortable riding as a passenger on a motorbike. The motorbike is what makes the pace work. You move fast enough to fit 10 dishes into 3 hours, and you stop at the actual neighborhood spots instead of a restaurant that caters to tours.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What Vietnamese dishes will I actually eat on this tour?

The tour includes up to 10 mouthwatering local foods and drinks, but the exact dishes change based on what the vendors have that night and what is in season. Your guide chooses the stops to show you the best versions of dishes residents eat regularly, not a fixed menu, but the real thing the neighborhood is eating that evening.

Do I need to know how to ride a motorbike to join this tour?

No. You are a passenger on the motorbike with your guide, who handles all the driving. You sit behind the guide and hold on as you move between stops.

What if I have dietary restrictions or I'm vegetarian?

Vegetarian options are available on the tour. Tell the operator your dietary requirements when you book so the guide can plan the stops around what you can eat.

Is the tour safe if I've never been on a motorbike before?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Your guide is experienced and drives at a pace that keeps you comfortable. If you have poor cardiovascular health, the tour is not recommended. Otherwise, the motorbike ride itself is not strenuous.

What happens if my cruise ship is delayed and I arrive late?

Refunds are not issued if the tour is missed due to late arrival of the cruise ship, so it is important to provide accurate docking and re-boarding times when you book. The guide will plan the tour to fit your schedule, but cannot extend it if the ship runs behind.