Ho Chi Minh City motorbike tour: Half-day guided ride

Ride the city's real rhythm, from French colonial landmarks to the markets locals fill

A half-day guided motorbike tour of Ho Chi Minh City pairs main sights (Saigon Cathedral, Central Post Office, Opera House, City Hall) with local neighborhoods, markets and a hidden pagoda. An English-speaking guide leads the ride on the back of a motorbike. Pickup from District 1 or District 3 hotels is included, along with a helmet and a snack at Cambodian Market. The tour runs 3 to 4 hours and suits travelers who want the city's mix of architecture and everyday street life without arranging their own transport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day motorbike city tour

• Meet local tour guide
• Ride motorbike through Saigon traffic
• See Saigon Cathedral and Central Post Office
• Visit Walking Street and Apartment Cafes
• Pass Opera House and City Hall
• Pass War Museum and Reunification Palace
• Visit Thich Quang Duc Monument
• Explore local markets and Nguyen Thien Thuat Apartment
• Ride through China Town
• Stop at Flower Market and Cambodian Market
• Enjoy cold drink and snack
• Visit hidden pagoda

The experience

The motorbike is how Saigon moves, and it's the fastest way to see both sides of the city in one morning. You'll ride behind a local guide who navigates the traffic and stops at the landmarks (Saigon Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Opera House, City Hall), then cuts into the neighborhoods where the real work happens: Thich Quang Duc Monument, a quiet memorial to the monk who set himself on fire during the war; the Flower Market and Cambodian Market, both crowded and colorful; the oldest apartment building on Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, where you can watch how families actually live in the city's dense core. A hidden pagoda rounds out the route. The whole loop takes 3 to 4 hours.

You'll wear a helmet and ride on the back. The driver handles the bike and the route. Your guide speaks English and knows the stories behind each stop: the architecture, the history, the daily rhythms of the neighborhoods. At Cambodian Market, a cold drink and snack are included. If you want to add food tastings, that's a separate option at checkout: you can choose 7 or 12 tastings woven through the unseen side of the city, or stick with sightseeing alone. Some options are private rides. Others run as small groups. The War Museum is available as an add-on to the main highlights.

Pickup happens at your hotel in District 1 or District 3. Hotels in other districts cost an extra $3 to $5. The driver will meet you with the bike and helmet ready. Scooter accident insurance covers up to $5,000, and the company emphasizes safe driving. This is not a thrill ride, it's a guided tour on two wheels.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide and safe driver with accident insurance.
• helmet.
• cold drink and snack at Cambodian Market.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Districts 1 and 3 (or $3–$5 extra for other districts).

Options for this experience

8 options

Highlights of the city combined with the unseen sideGuide in English · 08:00 and 13:00Pickup is offered in Districts 1, 3, 4, and 5, provided by our friendly, welcoming driver. This combo tour gives you the best of both worlds: Saigon's essential highlights and its hidden gems. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes, roughly 3–4 hours, so you have plenty of time to explore at a relaxed pace. The tour price includes a complimentary cold drink and snack. Scooter: our skilled drivers keep you safe while you relax and enjoy the ride as a passenger. Pickup is included.

Group tour for female ridersGuide in English · 08:00 and 13:00Duration: 3 hours. Pickup is included.

Highlights of the city plus the War MuseumGuide in English · 08:00 and 13:00Pickup is offered in Districts 1, 3, 4, and 5, provided by our friendly, welcoming driver. Your tour includes the highlights portion plus admission to the War Remnants Museum. Note: the unseen portion is skipped in this option. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes, roughly 3–4 hours, so you have plenty of time to explore at a relaxed pace. This package includes two complimentary bottles of water. Scooter: our skilled drivers keep you safe while you relax and enjoy the ride as a passenger. Pickup is included.

See 5 more options

Private tour without food includedGuide in English · 10 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:30Male riders. Customized itinerary: this is a private option, reserved only for your group. If you'd like to add other sites, please contact us to arrange it. Motorbike city tour with an English-speaking guide, with one driver for each person. Pickup is included in Districts 1, 3, and 4. Duration: 3 hours, a 3 to 4 hour tour. Entry tickets to the War Museum or Reunification Palace are at your own expense if you wish to visit them. Includes one snack and one cold drink at the market. Scooter: you'll be safe with our excellent guide and driver. Pickup is included.

Sightseeing with 7 food tastingsGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:30Scooter tour for male riders with safety and fun: a blend of sampling local street food and sightseeing (3–4 hours). Our seven tastings: 1) grilled beef with betel leaf, 2) banana cracker, 3) bánh mì, 4) juice, 5) grilled banana with coconut milk, 6) bánh xèo, 7) dessert. Duration: 3 hours (3–3.5 hours). Sightseeing portion: explore the hidden gems, the Thích Quảng Đức monument, the flower market, and the Nguyễn Thiện Thuật apartment. Scooter: you'll be in safe hands with our excellent guide and driver, so there's no need to drive yourself; guests ride pillion behind our driver. Pickup and drop-off are included in Districts 1, 3, and 4. Please message us if your hotel isn't on the list. Pickup is included.

Female rider with 7 tastingsGuide in English · 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00Female riders. Pickup is offered in Districts 1, 3, 4, and 5, provided by our friendly, welcoming female driver. Our seven tastings: 1) BBQ beef with betel leaf, 2) banana cracker, 3) bánh mì, 4) juice, 5) grilled banana with coconut milk, 6) beef noodle soup, 7) dessert. Your tour includes the unseen side of Saigon, with food and drinks included. Note: the highlights portion is skipped in this option. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes, roughly 3–4 hours, so you have plenty of time to explore at a relaxed pace. Sightseeing portion: discover Saigon's hidden gems (local places), the Thích Quảng Đức Monument, the flower market, and the Nguyễn Thiện Thuật apartments. Scooter: our skilled female drivers keep you safe while you relax and enjoy the ride as a passenger. Pickup is included.

Sightseeing & 12 TastingsGuide in English · 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00Male riders. Scooter tour with safety and fun: you'll be in safe hands with our excellent guide and driver, so you don't have to drive yourself; guests ride pillion behind our driver. Duration: 3 hours, a 3 to 4 hour Small Group Tour option with pickup in Districts 1, 3, 4, and 5. Twelve tastings of food and drinks are included in the tour price. Scooter: pickup and drop-off are included in Districts 1, 3, 4, and 5. Please message us if your hotel isn't on the list. Pickup is included.

Female riders with 12 tastingsGuide in English · 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00Group tour with a female driver. Food and drinks: 12 tastings of food and drinks are included. This is a 3 to 4 hour motorbike tour around Saigon with a female, English-speaking guide. Duration: 4 hours (3–4 hours). Scooter: you'll be safe with our excellent guide and driver, so you don't have to drive yourself; guests ride pillion behind our driver. Pickup: pickup is included, but only available in Districts 1, 3, and 4. Please message Saigon Adventure to arrange it. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:30Last departure this season: 4 Feb 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

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

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Saigon Adventure

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cover both the colonial landmarks and the everyday neighborhoods where locals live and work. The motorbike gets you through the traffic and into the alleys a walking tour can't reach in the same time. Choose the food tasting option if you'd rather spend the ride in markets and street-food stops than at the main sights.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Thich Quang Duc Monument, and why is it on this tour?

Thich Quang Duc Monument is a quiet memorial to a Buddhist monk who set himself on fire as a protest during the Vietnam War. The guide includes it as a moment of historical and spiritual significance in the city's story, not as a major landmark but as a place that carries real meaning for locals.

Can I choose between sightseeing only and adding food tastings?

Yes. At checkout, you pick your option: sightseeing alone, or sightseeing paired with 7 or 12 food tastings. The food tastings focus on the unseen neighborhoods and markets rather than the main highlights, so they shape which parts of the city you spend time in.

Is this tour private, or will I ride with other travelers?

You can book either way. Some options are private tours with just you and your guide. Others are small group tours. Choose the option that fits your preference at checkout.

What happens at Cambodian Market, and is food included there?

Cambodian Market is one of the stops on the tour route: a busy, colorful market where locals shop. A cold drink and snack are included as part of the tour. If you add the food tasting option, you'll have additional tastings at markets and local spots throughout the ride.

Do I need to know how to ride a motorbike, or do I just sit on the back?

You sit on the back as a passenger. The driver handles all the riding and navigation. No experience is needed. You'll wear a helmet, and the driver is trained in safe city riding.

What's included in the pickup, and which hotels does it cover?

Free pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in District 1 and District 3. Hotels in other districts cost an extra $3 to $5 for the pickup service. The driver will meet you at your hotel with the bike and helmet ready.