Saigon Street Food by Scooter: Eat Where Locals Do

Ride the back of a scooter through Saigon's narrow alleys and eat at the stalls locals queue for.

A scooter food tour through Ho Chi Minh City where you ride pillion with a local guide, eating at street stalls in real neighborhoods: the historic Tet-era apartment block on Nguyen Thien Thuat, the Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, and coffee culture stops. You choose your appetite: a 2-hour ride, or 3+ dishes with sugarcane juice, or 4+ signature Saigon dishes (broken rice, bánh mì, bánh xèo) with Vietnamese coffee. Pickup and dropoff at your hotel or a central landmark are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saigon street food scooter tour

• Choose appetite option
• Ride scooter through hidden alleys
• Explore Tet-era apartment block
• Visit Ho Thi Ky Flower Market
• Enjoy authentic street food dishes
• Drink fresh sugarcane juice or Vietnamese coffee
• Drop off at hotel or city center

The experience

You climb onto the back of a scooter and the guide navigates into the alleys where the real eating happens. The route threads through neighborhoods tourists miss: narrow lanes where the storefronts are barely wider than a doorway and the smell of grilled meat and fish sauce fills the street. A helmet, water and a raincoat if the weather turns are provided. The guide speaks English and knows which stalls are open, which ones have been there for decades, and what to order when you arrive.

The stops depend on which option you choose. The basic ride covers 2 hours with no food included. Just the scooter, the guide and the city. The Local Foodie option adds over 3 authentic dishes and fresh sugarcane juice at neighborhood spots. The Iconic Saigon option goes deeper: 4+ signature dishes including broken rice, bánh mì and bánh xèo, plus a local Vietnamese coffee. Along the way you'll see the Tet-era apartment block built in 1968 on Nguyen Thien Thuat, where you can step into the everyday life of old Saigon, and the Ho Thi Ky Flower Market: a riot of color where you can shape a lotus flower by hand and learn how locals use flowers in their daily lives.

The whole thing runs about 3.5 hours from pickup to dropoff. Your hotel in District 1 or District 3 is where the guide collects you, or you can arrange to be dropped at a central spot: City Hall, Ben Thanh Market, the Opera House, the Pink Church. The guide is friendly and professional, fuel is covered, and coffee or tea comes with the ride. First-time riders on a scooter find this safe and manageable. The itinerary can shift if a restaurant closes or a market is being worked on, so the guide will pivot to another stop with the same kind of food.

What’s included

• High-quality helmet.
• bottled water.
• pickup and dropoff at your hotel in District 1 or District 3, or at a central landmark.
• friendly English-speaking guide.
• fuel surcharge.
• coffee or tea.
• raincoat if weather requires it.

Options for this experience

6 options

2-Hour Scooter ExperienceGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 20:00Lasting 2 hours, a 2-hour HCMC experience by motorbike/scooter. This option excludes food and drink. Pickup is included.

Local eats without Michelin-selected venuesGuide in English · 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00Lasting 3 hours, with three authentic dishes: 1. Vietnamese steamed rolls 2. Vietnamese baguette 3. Grilled banana sticky rice 4. Flan cake 4. Fresh sugarcane juice. Travel by motorbike/scooter. Note: this option does not include Michelin-selected food on the tour. Pickup is included.

Three specialty foods, none from MichelinGuide in English · 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00Lasting 4 hours, with iconic food in HCMC: 1. Tasty broken rice 2. Vietnamese baguette 3. Coffee 4. Crispy rice pancake 5. Dessert. Note: this option does not visit Michelin-selected venues, but you will enjoy the best local food stalls in HCMC. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Michelin-Selected FoodGuide in English · 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00Lasting 4 hours, with Michelin-selected dishes: 1. Rice vermicelli noodles with BBQ grilled pork 2. Chicken glass noodle soup 3. A coffee shop recommended by New York. Travel by motorbike/scooter. Pickup is included.

Iconic and Michelin-selected foodGuide in English · 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00Lasting 4 hours, with these foods: 1. Rice vermicelli noodles 2. Broken rice 3. Crispy Vietnamese rice pancake 4. Coffee. Note: this option mixes iconic food with a Michelin-selected food stall. Pickup is included.

Iconic and Michelin private optionGuide in English · 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00Private option, lasting 4 hours, featuring these dishes: 1. Rice vermicelli noodles 2. Broken rice 3. Crispy Vietnamese rice pancake 4. Coffee, traveling by motorbike/scooter. Note: this option is a private option for you. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 20:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 70 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 13 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Toward Local

Is this one for you?Choose the 2-hour ride if you want the scooter experience and the neighborhoods without committing to a full meal. Pick the Local Foodie option for a solid introduction to street food without the longer menu. Go Iconic Saigon if you want the signature dishes that define Saigon eating (broken rice, bánh mì, bánh xèo), and the coffee culture that goes with them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (4 to 13 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Ho Thi Ky Flower Market like, and what do you actually do there?

The Ho Thi Ky Flower Market is a colorful neighborhood market where locals buy flowers for daily use and for offerings. On the tour, you'll walk through it with your guide and have a chance to shape a lotus flower, Vietnam's national flower, by hand, learning how locals incorporate flowers into their lives and culture.

Can I ride on the back of a scooter if I've never done it before?

Yes, the tour is designed as safe for first-time riders. You'll wear a high-quality helmet, the guide is experienced, and the pace through the alleys is manageable. The route sticks to neighborhood streets, not highways.

What's included in the Local Foodie option versus the Iconic Saigon option?

The Local Foodie option includes over 3 authentic dishes and fresh sugarcane juice at street stalls. The Iconic Saigon option includes 4+ signature Saigon dishes (broken rice, bánh mì, bánh xèo) plus a local Vietnamese coffee, giving you a broader taste of the city's food culture.

Is pickup from my hotel included, and where can I be dropped off?

Pickup and dropoff are included for hotels in District 1 and District 3. You can also arrange to be dropped at a central landmark like City Hall, Ben Thanh Market, the Opera House, the Pink Church, Saigon Square or the Coffee Apartment.

What happens if a restaurant is closed when we arrive?

The itinerary can shift if a restaurant is closed or an attraction is under maintenance. Your guide will pivot to another neighborhood spot serving the same kind of food, so the tour stays on track.

What should I wear or bring for a scooter ride through the city?

A helmet is provided and required. Bring comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. A raincoat is provided if needed. Bottled water comes with the tour, and the guide will have you covered for weather or comfort issues that come up.