Saigon Food Tour: 7-8 Local Dishes, Zero Tourist Areas

The broken rice, the duck broth that takes 8 hours to make, the betel leaf wraps most Vietnamese never order.

A 4-hour food tour through Saigon's outer districts on mopeds, stopping at 7 to 8 unmarked local restaurants and markets that don't appear on Google Maps. The guide speaks English and drives. You taste bánh khọt, broken rice, betel leaf BBQ, duck noodle soup and seasonal fruit from the wholesale market, with bottled water, a rain poncho and edited photos included. The route deliberately avoids tourist zones. The operator promises you'll see almost no other visitors for miles.

The experience

The tour starts by mopeds and heads to the outer reaches of Saigon, moving through the Fruit Wholesaler Market, the Chinese District, the East West Freeway and smaller streets most guidebooks don't name. Your guide is an English-speaking local with years of experience hosting groups. They answer questions about Vietnam as you ride and know which stalls and hole-in-the-wall restaurants are worth stopping at. The route is built to take you further into residential neighborhoods than organized tours typically go, which is the whole point: the deeper you go, the fewer tourists you'll pass.

You'll eat 7 to 8 dishes across the 4 hours. Bánh khọt arrives sizzling: rice flour crepes fried crispy with taro, turmeric and coconut cream. Betel leaf wraps (bò lá lốt) come next, the leaves naturally buttery and wrapped around ground beef. Broken rice (cơm tấm sườn) is the dish the operator says you have to taste to know Saigon. It takes 7 to 8 tons of rice harvest to yield 1 ton of broken rice. Duck noodle soup has a broth made from 8 hours of simmering duck bones. You'll also get a platter of rice paper salad with seven toppings, fresh seasonal fruit from the wholesale market, and a fluffiest flan to finish. Vegetarian, vegan, non-gluten and non-dairy options are available if you request them at booking.

The tour includes bottled water, a rain poncho, wet wipes and hand sanitizer. Your guide will take photos and video during the ride and edit them to send you afterward. A free automated city tour (without a guide) is also included. Pickup is available from central districts (1, 3, 4). Pickups from other areas carry a small extra charge. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or use a specialized infant seat.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• a rain poncho.
• wet wipes and hand sanitizer.
• all 7 to 8 local dishes at each stop.
• fresh seasonal fruit from the wholesale market.
• edited photos and video sent after the tour.
• a free automated city tour.
• English-speaking guide with expert driving skill.

Options for this experience

2 options

A food tour that ventures farthest from the tourist-heavy areasGuide in English, Korean or Vietnamese · 7 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 18:30The best-rated food in Saigon: top BBQ lemongrass and butter herb beef, duck stocking, turmeric noodle soup, broken rice with BBQ pork chop, and rice paper salad. The best food tour! Our selection is aimed at avid foodies and enjoys real local spots that even other Vietnamese would be amazed by. Pickup is included.

Become a localGuide in English, Korean or Vietnamese · 6 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 18:00Hidden gems and a local's house: Take the more secluded route to explore hotspots that few other Vietnamese have ever come across, and have lunch at a local's home. Rent a Friend: This option helps you understand what it's like to become a true local, showing where we hang out and what we do as Vietnamese locals. Duration: 4 hours, though the duration may vary more than the intended 4 hours. Eat Like a Local: Try different highlights beyond a regular food tour! Beyond a Food Tour: This option includes more insight into Vietnamese households and lifestyle by visiting an actual local's place. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 18:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (19 to 75 years) · Youth (7 to 18 years) · Child (4 to 6 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Korean and Vietnamese

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Saigon Happy Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to eat where locals eat, not where tour groups are herded: the mopeds and the unmarked spots are what get you there. If you're comfortable on a bike and want to taste dishes most visitors never find (broken rice that takes a ton of processing, duck broth that simmers for 8 hours), this route goes further than standard food tours in Saigon.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Vietnamese and Korean.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 18 years); Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What does the broken rice dish actually taste like, and why is it so hard to find?

Broken rice (cơm tấm sườn) is the rice dish the operator says defines Saigon. It comes from the fragments left over when processing whole rice. You need 7 to 8 tons of rice harvest to get 1 ton of broken rice. The fragments cook differently than whole grains, creating a texture and flavor most visitors never encounter because the dish is served in local neighborhood spots, not tourist restaurants.

Will I actually see other tourists on this tour, or is it really in areas where tourists don't go?

The operator guarantees that 2 out of 3 hours into the tour, you won't see a single tourist for miles except your own group. The route deliberately moves through outer districts and unmarked local spots that don't appear on Google Maps: places most visitors to Saigon never find.

How do we get around Saigon during the tour?

You travel by mopeds with your English-speaking guide, who drives and navigates the route. The tour covers the Fruit Wholesaler Market, the Chinese District, the East West Freeway and smaller neighborhood streets, moving through areas that are harder to reach on foot.

What happens if I'm vegetarian or have dietary restrictions?

The tour offers vegetarian, vegan, non-gluten and non-dairy versions of the dishes. Let the operator know your dietary needs when you book, and they'll adjust the food stops to match what you can eat.

What's included in the price besides the food?

Bottled water, a rain poncho, wet wipes and hand sanitizer are included. Your guide will also take photos and video during the tour and edit them to send you afterward. A free automated city tour (without a guide) is part of the package as well.