Ho Chi Minh City street food tour: 11 dishes in Cholon

100-year-old bánh xèo market food tour: crab soup, grilled rice paper, oyster omelet, and more

This 4-hour street food tour through Ho Chi Minh City's Cholon neighborhood takes you to 11 stops tasting crab noodle soup, papaya salad, grilled lemongrass beef, bánh xèo at a hidden century-old market, and other local staples, with a live English, Chinese or Korean-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. The route moves through old Saigon neighborhoods—Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment buildings and Ho Thi Ky flower market—and ends with Saigon beer and a Mekong-style dessert.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saigon street food and local sights

• Visit Nguyen Thien Thuat apartments
• Explore Ho Thi Ky flower market
• Experience Chinatown nightlife

The Experience

You have a free afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City and want to eat what locals eat, not what a tourist menu offers. This tour moves through Cholon and the older quarters of Saigon, stopping at 11 places in 4 hours. You taste crab noodle soup with its rich broth, papaya salad, bo bia (a street snack with vegetables and sausage), grilled rice paper, lemongrass-grilled beef, oyster omelet, banh cuốn tôm, and herbal sweet drink between the stops. The guide handles the ordering and explains what you're eating; you just show up hungry.

The route includes Ho Thi Ky, the largest flower market in the city, and Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment buildings—neighborhoods that hold the character of old Saigon. The standout stop is bánh xèo at a 100-year-old hidden market that most visitors never find. You also experience the local "nhậu" culture with Saigon beer and finish with a light Mekong-style dessert. The tour runs at night through Cholon's streets, so you see how the neighborhood actually lives.

Hotel pickup is included, and the guide speaks English, Chinese or Korean. Children from age 1 are welcome (infants sit on an adult's lap). The pace is built around eating and walking between spots, not rushing—you spend time at each place, not just tasting and moving on.

What’s included

• Snacks and dinner across 11 stops.
• hotel pickup.
• live guide in English, Chinese or Korean.
• entry to the 100-year-old bánh xèo market and Ho Thi Ky flower market.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Vietnam Vibes Tour

Is this one for you?Pick this shared tour if you want a guide steering you through 11 dishes in sequence; choose self-guided if you'd rather skip dishes or linger longer at stops you pick.

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Top questions

What are the 11 dishes I'll taste on this Ho Chi Minh City food tour?

The tour includes crab noodle soup, papaya salad, bo bia, herbal sweet drink, grilled rice paper, lemongrass-grilled beef, oyster omelet, banh cuốn tôm, bánh xèo at a 100-year-old market, Saigon beer, and a Mekong-style dessert. Each stop focuses on one or two dishes, so you taste them fresh and learn what makes each one local.

How does the tour move between the 11 stops—by scooter or car?

The tour uses scooters or car transport depending on your preference and group size. Hotel pickup is included, and the guide arranges all movement between stops so you don't navigate the streets yourself.

What is the 100-year-old bánh xèo market, and why is it hard to find?

Bánh xèo is a crispy, savory pancake filled with shrimp and bean sprouts—a beloved street food across Vietnam. The market where you taste it is a hidden spot in Saigon that has operated for a century and is not listed in guidebooks or on typical tourist routes, so a local guide is what gets you there.

Is this tour suitable for children, and how does the timing work with young kids?

Children are welcome from age 1; infants sit on an adult's lap during transport. The 4-hour tour runs at night and involves walking between stops and eating at each one, so it works best for children who can sit through meals and short walks between neighborhoods.

When does the tour run, and what time should I expect to finish?

The tour runs at night through Cholon and the older quarters of Saigon. Exact start times depend on your hotel location and the guide's schedule; confirm pickup time when you book.

What is the "nhậu" culture experience, and does it include alcohol?

Nhậu is the local Vietnamese drinking and eating culture—casual, social, and built around beer and street food. The tour includes Saigon beer as part of this experience, so you taste how locals drink and eat together in the evening.