Ho Chi Minh City: Scooter Food Tour with 11 Tastings & Pickup

Summary

Food stalls, flower markets and laughter on Saigon’s streets

You’ll ride pillion through Ho Chi Minh City’s wild streets with a local guide, tasting everything from banana sticky rice to sizzling pancakes and late-night banh mi. Expect laughter over cooking mishaps, honest street food moments in flower markets or old apartments, plus hotel pickup—leaving you full in every sense.

What’s the experience like?

I was already sweating before we even left the hotel — not because of the heat, but because I’d never been on a scooter in Ho Chi Minh City traffic. My guide, Linh, handed me a helmet and grinned like it was nothing. “Just hold tight!” she said. I fumbled with the strap (it twisted my hair weirdly) and off we went, weaving through a blur of motorbikes and honking that felt more like music than chaos after a few minutes. First stop was this tiny stall where we sat on plastic stools and ate banana sticky rice wrapped in leaves. It was sweet, warm, and slightly smoky — honestly, I could’ve eaten three but Linh laughed and said to save room.

We ended up making our own mini pancakes at the next spot. The batter sizzled in the pan while the smell of turmeric mixed with something nutty — coconut maybe? — drifted up. I tried flipping one too soon; it stuck, but nobody cared. There was this little girl watching us from behind her mom’s cart, just giggling every time I messed up. After that came grilled beef in betel leaf (I still can’t pronounce it right), then crispy fried bao buns that were so hot inside I nearly burned my tongue. District 10’s night air smelled like fried shallots and exhaust — weird combo but somehow comforting.

The flower market was wild: bursts of color everywhere and people shouting prices over buckets of lilies. We ate Vietnamese pizza (which is nothing like pizza back home) sitting on a curb, then tried snails stuffed with pork. Not gonna lie, I hesitated — but Linh showed me how to eat them and they were actually… good? There was also grilled crackers that crunched so loud I almost missed what she was saying about her university exams coming up.

Later we wound into an old apartment block for sugarcane juice and beef noodle soup from Hue. The broth had this lemongrass kick that lingered even as scooters zipped by below us. Last stop: banh mi from a street cart lit by one bare bulb, then caramel flan for dessert somewhere that smelled faintly of coffee and rain-soaked concrete. By then my brain was fuzzy from all the flavors and stories — Linh told me about her family’s New Year traditions while we finished dessert in near silence except for distant horns echoing outside.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Saigon scooter food tasting tour

• Hotel pickup by scooter
• Taste grilled banana sticky rice
• Make mini savory crispy pancakes
• Eat grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf
• Walk street food in District 10
• Taste shredded pork crispy rice
• Try fried bao buns
• Visit Saigon flower market
• Eat Vietnamese pizza and grilled crackers
• Try snails stuffed with pork
• Explore oldest apartment area
• Drink sugarcane juice
• Eat Hue beef noodle soup
• Enjoy Saigon's signature banh mi
• Have caramel flans and jellies dessert
• Return to hotel

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Saigon food tour?

Yes, free pickup and drop-off are provided at hotels or Airbnbs in Districts 1, 3, 4, or 5.

How many tastings are included on the scooter food tour?

The tour includes eleven different tastings plus several drinks along the route.

Are vegetarian options available during the tour?

Yes, vegetarian options can be arranged if requested when booking.

Who are the guides for this Ho Chi Minh City food tour?

Your guides are local students who speak English well and are licensed drivers.

What areas does this Saigon scooter food tour cover?

The route covers districts including District 10 and may include Chinatown (District 5) for afternoon tours.

Is there a weight limit for participants?

The weight limit is 120kg (264lbs); let them know if you’re over 90kg (200lbs) to arrange your driver.

What if it rains during the scooter food tour?

Raincoats will be provided if needed so you can still enjoy the experience comfortably.

Are children allowed on this Ho Chi Minh City food tour?

Children under six must be accompanied by an adult; infant seats are available upon request.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup by scooter with an English-speaking student guide who’s also your driver; all eleven tastings plus three to four drinks; high-quality helmets; raincoats or masks if needed; safe return drop-off at your accommodation—so you just have to show up hungry (and maybe curious).