Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Day trip from Saigon
Four districts, seven stops, after dark
Most of Saigon’s best food is cooked on the pavement after sunset. This evening goes to four districts on the back of a scooter, with riders who eat at these stalls themselves.
Overview
How we eat in Saigon
Saigon eats outside. Families pull tables and stools onto the pavement at five, and by seven every corner is somewhere. We ride between districts because each does something different: District 3 for pancakes and broken rice, District 4 for snails and seafood, Cho Lon in District 5 for Chinese-Vietnamese noodles and dumplings, District 10 for desserts.
Each guest rides on the back of a scooter with their own rider, all licensed, most of them students who grew up in the neighbourhoods we visit. We do not name the stalls on this page. They are family businesses and they change; your riders choose on the night based on what is good and who is open.
- Length
- About 4 hours
- Start
- 17:30
- Finish
- Around 21:30
- On the scooter
- About 1.5 hours in total
- Stops
- Seven, in four districts
- Group
- 12 at most
Day by day
How the evening runs
Day 1
Seven stops across four districts
The snail stall in District 4 at seven o’clock
17:30 — your riders arrive at your hotel with helmets; a short briefing on how to sit and hold on. 17:45 — District 3: a broken-rice stall where the pork chop is grilled over charcoal, then a pancake stall where the batter hisses in a hot pan and you wrap the pieces in mustard leaves and herbs.
19:00 — across the canal to District 4, the old port district. Snails and clams cooked six ways, with coconut, tamarind, butter and chilli; grilled scallops with spring onion oil. This is the busiest and loudest stop, and the one people remember.
20:00 — Cho Lon in District 5: noodle soup with wontons, or a plate of fried rice-flour cake with egg, depending on the night. 20:45 — District 10 for sweet soups: beans, jellies, coconut milk and crushed ice.
21:30 — back to your hotel. If you want to stay out, your riders will drop you at a bar or a night market in District 1.
Price
Price
| Option | Per person (USD) |
|---|---|
| Shared, maximum 12 | from 49 |
| Private, 2 people | from 95 |
| Private, 4 people | from 65 |
All the food is included, with water and soft drinks throughout and a beer at two of the stops; anyone who wants more pays the stall at local prices. A private evening can be built around a particular diet or a single district.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Scooter and licensed rider for each guest
- Helmet and rain poncho
- All food at seven stops
- Water, soft drinks and two beers
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in District 1, 3 or Binh Thanh
What it does not include
- Extra drinks
- Tips for riders
- Travel insurance (check it covers you as a scooter passenger)
Practical
Diets, safety and rain
We can do this for vegetarians, and we can avoid shellfish, pork or peanuts, but tell us when booking so the riders can plan the stops. Hygiene at busy stalls is generally good because food turns over quickly; we avoid anything that has sat out. Riders keep to a steady pace in the side streets and are used to carrying visitors.
In the wet season, May to November, an evening shower is common. Riders carry ponchos, and most of the stalls are under awnings. We only cancel for severe storms.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
If you are nervous in traffic, even on the back of a scooter, choose the walking-based coffee and markets morning. It is not for anyone who is pregnant, and children under about eight are better on a private tour with a car. Travellers who want a sit-down dinner in a restaurant should book something else; this is stools, pavements and shared tables.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Is riding on a scooter safe?
Our riders are licensed, experienced and ride slowly. Helmets are provided. Check that your travel insurance covers you as a passenger.
How much food is there?
Enough that you will not want dinner afterwards. The portions are small, but seven stops add up.
Can I do it without the scooter?
Yes, a private version by car is possible, but it is slower and the side streets are harder to reach.
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