Ho Chi Minh City: Street Food Scooter Tour & Hidden Alleys

Summary

Scooter through saigon’s markets taste real street food meet locals in cholon

You’ll weave through Ho Chi Minh City’s wild traffic on a scooter with a local guide, tasting street food in hidden alleys and Chinatown markets. Expect laughter over noodle bowls in Cholon, sticky desserts at Binh Tay Market, and stories behind every bite—plus hotel pickup and drop-off so you can just focus on soaking it all in.

What’s the experience like?

I almost bailed when I saw the traffic outside my hotel — honestly, scooters everywhere, like a river that never stops. But our guide, Tam, just grinned and handed me a helmet (I probably looked terrified). She promised I’d get used to it after five minutes. Not sure if that was true, but she was right about one thing: you feel the city differently from the back of a scooter. The air is thick with the smell of grilled pork and exhaust, and people wave at you from tiny stools as you zip past. It’s chaotic but kind of addictive.

We ducked into Cholon after weaving through what felt like a million intersections. Tam pointed out old Chinese shopfronts and explained how families have run noodle stalls here for generations. At one alley, we stopped for something called hu tieu — slippery noodles in a broth that tasted sweet and peppery at the same time. The vendor smiled when I tried to say thank you in Vietnamese (pretty sure I butchered it), but she just laughed and handed me extra herbs. There was this moment where the steam from the soup mixed with incense drifting from a nearby temple — I still think about that smell.

Binh Tay Market was next. It was loud — vendors calling out prices, someone chopping jackfruit with these big rhythmic thuds. We tried a sticky rice dessert that stuck to my fingers (and my shirt, actually). Tam knew everyone; she’d wave or shout something across the stalls and suddenly there’d be another snack in front of us. After all those tastings — seriously, seven or maybe more? — we rode through District 3 as dusk settled over those wide French-era boulevards. The city felt softer then, lights coming on one by one.

By the end I was tired but weirdly happy. Tam dropped me off at my hotel with some local tips scribbled on a napkin (“best coffee near here!”) and told me to come back hungry next time. She meant it — Saigon’s got layers you don’t see unless someone shows you around like this.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Scooter tour of Ho Chi Minh City food

• Hotel pickup and safety briefing
• Ride through Saigon’s cultural enclave
• Explore hidden alleys and markets
• Taste street food at local market
• Visit 1960s living block and snack
• Taste dishes by third-generation chefs
• Explore Chinatown’s temples and alleys
• Visit outer Chinatown market and try desserts
• Relaxing scooter ride through District 3
• Hotel drop-off with local tips

Top questions

How many street foods do you try on this Ho Chi Minh City scooter tour?

You’ll try between 7 and 12 different street food dishes during the tour.

Is hotel pickup included for the street food scooter tour?

Yes, free pickup and dropoff are included at central hotels in Ho Chi Minh City.

Do guides speak English on this day trip?

Yes, your personal guide speaks English throughout the tour.

Is lunch or dinner included during the tour?

Both lunch and dinner are covered depending on your booking time; all tastings are included.

Will we visit Binh Tay Market during this experience?

Yes, Binh Tay Market is part of the itinerary for tasting local desserts and seeing night market life.

Is this private or group only?

You can book as a group or private tour; there’s no extra fee either way.

Are there any physical requirements for joining?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels; infants must sit on an adult’s lap.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Please let your guide know about any food allergies before starting; they’ll do their best to adjust tastings.

What’s included

Your day includes free pickup and drop-off at your central hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, all street food dishes (between seven and twelve tastings), both lunch and dinner depending on timing, personal English-speaking guide throughout the scooter ride, coffee or tea along the way, plus accident insurance up to $5,000—so you really don’t have to worry about anything except enjoying each bite.