Private Saigon Scooter Adventure: Street Food and Hidden Gems

Market smells, incense smoke and caramel flan along the way

You ride narrow alleyways, taste your way through local markets and sip sugar cane juice from a vintage pushcart. It is a private tour in Ho Chi Minh City, with stops at a Taoist pagoda, a Gothic cathedral and two food stops in Cholon.

Options for this experience

4 options

From US$ 21 to US$ 30 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

4 must-see landmarks plus 1 lunch 11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00 Guide in English Guided sightseeing of Ho Chi Minh City's iconic landmarks and exploration of local neighborhoods for cultural immersion. Offered as a small-group or private tour depending on your booking, led by a professional English-speaking local guide who keeps a flexible, well-paced schedule. The tour lasts 3 hours and includes one lunch, a choice of Bún Bò Huế or Phở, plus one local drink, Trà Tắc (Vietnamese kumquat iced tea). The sightseeing itinerary covers 4 must-see sites. Pickup is included.

Sightseeing plus 7 tastings 16 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 19:00 Guide in English A food and sightseeing scooter tour with 7 tastings that winds through Saigon's famous landmarks and hidden alleyways. Pickup is included.

Sightseeing plus 9 tastings 17 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 19:00 Guide in English Immerse yourself in local life in Saigon on this lively evening tour, which pairs sightseeing with a generous food tasting. Includes pickup.

12 tastings and top landmarks 18 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 19:30 Guide in English A sightseeing and food tour featuring 12 authentic tastings and well-known landmark highlights. Try more than 12 dishes. Pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Saigon city sights and street food

• Pick up at hotel
• Visit bustling seafood market
• Stroll through Saigon streets
• Explore Jade Emperor Pagoda
• Admire Saigon Central Post Office architecture
• Walk inside Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
• Ride through narrow alleyways and local market
• Walk inside old Saigon apartment
• Eat spicy Hue-style beef noodle soup and grilled sticky rice banana
• Stroll among fresh blooms and local vendors
• Eat grilled pork roll with herbs and dipping sauce
• Drink iced sugar cane juice
• Try Saigon banh mi with house-made pâté
• Finish with Vietnamese chè or caramel flan

Stops and time spent at each 9 stops

1. Saigon Opera House 10m
2. Jade Emperor Pagoda 30m
3. Saigon Central Post Office 30m
4. Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral 15m
5. Ban Co Market 30m
6. Nguyen Thien Thuat Apartment Buildings 45m
7. Ho Thi Ky Flower Market 30m
8. Phố Tau Sai Gon (Chợ Lớn Quận 5) 30m
9. Phố Tau Sai Gon (Chợ Lớn Quận 5) 20m

What’s included

• Helmets and safety gear for scooter riders.
• Chances to dive into local life.
• A seasoned, knowledgeable guide with you.
• Alcoholic Beverages.
• A route you can tailor to your interests.
• Insurance cover up to $5000 each.
• Lesser-known sites, back alleys and local markets.
• Transportation.

Times

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• Every day 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30

Information

You ride through narrow alleys, tasting grilled pork, banh mi and sugar cane juice, with a Taoist pagoda and a French cathedral on the way.

Group Private 3 similar group tours ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 2 pickup points. See the pickup points

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (16 to 50 years) · Senior (51 and older) · Youth (11 to 15 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

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

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Infants must sit on laps

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

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The experience

You start at a bustling seafood market, where the fresh catches on display set the mood before a slow stroll through the streets. Then the pace turns to the Jade Emperor Pagoda, a Taoist temple famous for red incense, wood carvings and turtle ponds. Next comes the Central Post Office, with architecture by Gustave Eiffel that you can walk inside and photograph.

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral follows, where you learn about its French Gothic architecture and post-war history. Then you ride through narrow alleyways into a local market scene and step inside one of Saigon's oldest apartments, where stories of daily life past and present are told. A hearty bowl of spicy Hue-style beef noodle soup comes with grilled sticky rice banana wrapped in banana leaves and topped with coconut sauce.

Among the fresh blooms and local vendors, a smoky grilled pork roll with herbs and dipping sauce waits for you, with iced nước mía from a vintage pushcart to refresh. Cholon brings crispy banh mi with house-made pâté, and the tour finishes with a light chè or caramel flan.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 15 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Does the tour stop at Notre Dame Cathedral?

Yes, it stops at Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, where you learn about its French Gothic architecture and post-war history.

Can I go inside the Central Post Office?

Yes, you walk inside the post office to admire the architecture by Gustave Eiffel and take photos.

Are helmets and safety gear provided on the scooter?

Yes, helmets and safety gear are provided for the scooter option.

What food is served in Cholon?

In Cholon you try Saigon's version of banh mi with crispy bread and house-made pâté, then finish with a light chè or caramel flan.

Operated by Saigon Street Food Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago