Saigon Street Food by Night
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
From USD 32.00
Office phone number: +84 (0) 909 904 100
Saigon Street Food by Night
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Saigon. A true culinary master. Legend, in fact. Get right down to the soul of this beast of a food city and spend three hours eating like a local. It may seem like non-stop culinary decadence because that’s just what it is. And you’re gonna love it.
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Highlights
- Eat your way through Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) the way locals do
- Indulge in the dishes that have made Southern Vietnamese cuisine famous, like xa xui (Cantonese barbecued pork), chao muc (squid soup) and bo la lot (barbecued minced beef)
- Mingle with locals over Saigonese coffee and street beer
- Experience Saigon’s history and multi-culturalism through its food
- Explore hidden alleys and get off the beaten track to see Saigon in a way few tourists do
- See Saigon as the sun goes down and reveals a vibrant (and delicious) night scene
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Meeting point:
Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street, District 1.
- Starting time: 5.00 PM
- Ending point:
Bui Vien pedestrian street.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, all food items as per itinerary, one coffee, one beer.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, additional food and drinks, tips / gratuities for local guide.
We all know Vietnam is an absolute legend when it comes to street food, and if you want to make the most of your time (and stomach space), you’ll want to head out with an in-the-know local to pick out the best of the best of Saigon’s street food. Put your eating pants on and follow us!
Our Saigon food tour kicks off with some authentic local appetizers such as chao muc (a dry squid porridge) and xa xui (Cantonese barbecued pork). Learn how Chinese food has been integrated into Vietnamese cuisine as you inhale the spicy flavours of the street stalls and watch local life unfold before your eyes in the heart of Saigon.
Our immersion into local life continues as we make our way to the corner of Nguyen Cong Tru and Calmette for a unique street food called banh bo banh tieu, which recalls memories of many Saigoneses’ childhoods.
This spot is also a good place to learn about Calmette and Yersin, the two disciples of Pasteur who greatly contributed to the health health system in Vietnam. The Pasteur Institute in Saigon is the first one outside of France, and was set up by Calmette, and the one in Nha Trang was started by Yersin – who was also the founder of the University of Medicine of Hanoi and discovered the bacteria that causes Black Death. This is why these three names are among the last remaining French names in HCMC.
On the way to our next food stop, we will pass by Chua Ba Thien Hau, which means the Goddess of the Sea. This former Chinese community house honours Chinese immigration to Saigon through the different periods of Cantonese, Teochew and Hakka.
It wouldn’t be a true local experience without enjoying coffee the way Saigonese coffee aficionados do on a daily basis. We’ll head to a popular local hem of Saigon to enjoy a cup. We’ll show you the local style of taking your coffee and you’ll feel right at home!
Next up on our Saigon food adventure is another one of the city’s iconic street food dishes: ha cao (Chinese-style dim-sum), bo bia (Saigonese spring roll) and bo cuon mo chai (barbecued beef meatballs). These dishes are some of the most popular and preferred dishes by southerners, and you can find them everywhere, from street stalls to fancy restaurants. What makes them so beloved is that the ingredients are so strikingly simple, yet the tastes and flavours are truly unforgettable (we promise).
We’ll then head to Bui Vien to pick up a Vietnamese fried banana for dessert, a new version of the traditional version that is crazy popular with locals.
We’ll cap off our Saigon street food tour with, what else, street beer! At this street beer stall we’ll outfit you with a cold Saigon beer and the chance to mingle with locals – not a bad way to end the evening, is it?!
We’ve reached the end, but your local guide is happy to provide tips for exploring the area further, or assist you in getting a taxi back to your accommodation.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, all food items as per itinerary, one coffee, one beer.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, additional food and drinks, tips / gratuities for local guide.
Dress standard: Light and comfortable clothing is recommended
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: Please inform your local guide about any food allergies you may have. Unfortunately, we cannot cater to vegetarians or vegan travellers. Please note that this tour visits independent, family-owned businesses whose operating schedules and menus may change. Therefore, street food venues and local dishes often vary; your local guide will make any final adjustments on the spot.
Closure of sites: Please note that this tour visits independent, family-owned businesses whose operating schedules and menus may change. Therefore, street food venues and local dishes often vary; your local guide will make any final adjustments on the spot.
Child Policy: Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Dietary Notes
Please inform your local guide about any food allergies you may have. Unfortunately, we cannot cater to vegetarians or vegan travellers.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +84 (0) 909 904 100
Email address: info@hochiminhcityurbanadventures.com
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