Food Tours in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is synonymous with food. The epicenter of southern Vietnamese cuisine — HCMC has so much to offer that it’s easy to get lost in it all.

What is the best way to navigate and discover the tastes of this city? Why, a Ho Chi Minh City food tour, of course.

Learn while you feast and discover how locals eat. With an extensive number of food tours to choose from, you’ll definitely find one to fit your palate. Why not go all in, and combine your food tour with a cooking class, a delicious dinner or a beer tasting?

Here's all you need to know about food tours, one of the most delightful gastronomic experiences in Ho Chi Minh City.

What are the best food tours in Ho Chi Minh City?

Ho Chi Minh City private food motorbike tour

A Ho Chi Minh City food tour by motorbike tops the to-do lists of most Ho Chi Minh City articles. This tour cuts through the clamor as you zip your way through vibrant streets in the quest for something nutritious.

Your experienced and qualified drivers will help you not only taste what old Saigon has to offer, but truly experience it. In total, you’ll experience nine different dishes, as well as a couple of local drinks.

Some of the dishes you can look forward to are banh xeo and banh khot (rice pancakes from south and central Vietnam), grilled banana cakes, bun cha (scrumptious BBQ pork noodles) and heavenly coconut ice cream.

Private street food tour by motorbike/car with local students

If motorbikes aren't your thing, you can always opt for a food tour by car. A couple of friendly local students will accompany you on your mission to sate your hunger. Who better than local students to show you all the best places to grab a bite, right?

This food tour features 8 dishes and ends at the flower market.

Some of the dishes you should look out for are bun bo Hue (a beef noodle soup from central Vietnam), a BBQ pork with a rice noodle dish and delectable banh mi (a flavor-filled baguette sandwich) and grilled banana with coconut milk.

Private street food evening walking tour in Ho Chi Minh City

Let your feet set the pace with this Ho Chi Minh City walking food tour. Take in the sights and sounds as you amble through ancient alleys toward the next mouthwatering dish.

Your guide will lead the way and is available to answer any questions you may have or even make an impromptu stop.

The dishes on offer include traditional bo la lot (beef wrapped in fragrant betel leaves), banh canh trang bang (thick noodles in an aromatic broth served with pork or codfish) and a variety of barbecued seafood dishes.

Saigon street food and sightseeing night tour with Aodai riders

Explore Ho Chi Minh City’s popular sights and delicious food, with Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese dresses) clad drivers.

Not only are your guides dressed impeccably, they’re also fully qualified, knowledgeable and passionate about Vietnamese food—a combination that enables them to show you a part of Ho Chi Minh City visitors rarely encounter.

Dishes that you can taste on this food tour include banh trang nuong (rice paper wrappers stuffed with goodness and grilled to perfection), Vietnamese pancakes and the ever-popular banh mi.

Ho Chi Minh City hidden flavors private walking tour

Want to eat like the locals? Want to taste, smell and experience things that only locals of Ho Chi Minh City are privy to? Well, look no further—the “Ho Chi Minh City: hidden flavors private walking tour” is where it’s at.

With this food tour, you’ll not know what waits around the next corner, but you can rest assured that it will be delicious!

This food tour showcases eight dishes, as well as drinks—these include bun bo hue, com thit heo (succulent grilled pork served with rice), a couple of less-known specialties, traditional Vietnamese sweet soup and local beers.

Which places are visited?

All the food tours mentioned follow an itinerary that is influenced by seasonality and availability. It’s best to confirm the dishes on offer when booking.

The type of restaurants visited are largely cozy eateries that focus on one dish or specialty. Don’t be too quick to judge a restaurant by its small plastic stools—these seats include a one-way ticket to flavor-town.

Depending on the type of food tour, it can stretch over a number of Ho Chi Minh City’s different districts or be confined to just one or two. Either way, there’s enough to taste and experience in a square mile of Ho Chi Minh City to last you a year.

How much do food tours in Ho Chi Minh City cost?

Food tours in Ho Chi Minh City can cost anything between US$30 and US$50, depending on the number of dishes they feature and the places visited.

The Saigon street food and sightseeing night tour with Aodai riders costs US$35 per person.

The Ho Chi Minh City hidden flavors private walking tour cost about US$35 per person.

The private street food tour by motorbike/car with local students costs US$35 per person.

The private street food evening walking tour in Ho Chi Minh City costs around US$40 per person.

The Ho Chi Minh City private food motorbike tour costs about US$45 per person.

What is included?

Food tours in Ho Chi Minh City include pickup from a couple of the city’s districts (usually districts 1-5 and 10), but it is best to confirm if pickup is included when booking your tour.

All the food on these tours is included, but not all tours include refreshments. Also, these tours do not include gratuity, something to keep in mind if you want to reward exceptional service.

Where does it start?

Food tours in Ho Chi Minh City start at different locations as specified by individual tour providers. As with other culinary tours, like cooking classes or beer tastings, they usually start at the Opera house or from Ho Chi Minh City’s old quarter.

How long does it last?

Food tours in Ho Chi Minh City last about 4 hours, with some tours lasting up to 6 hours, or 3 hours for the shorter tours.

When is the best time for a food tour in Ho Chi Minh City?

Taking a food tour at the start of your trip in Ho Chi Minh City is the ideal way to gain greater confidence when choosing your future dishes. The best time of day is late afternoon and night — this allows you to see the city in all its glory.

Is there a combo available with food tours in Ho Chi Minh City?

Saigon private food tour discovery and city tour by jeep

This food tour combines delicious dishes with a Ho Chi Minh City tour in an open-top jeep ride. The tour features English, German and French-speaking guides.

Sit back and enjoy the wind through your hair as you visit local and colonial buildings and monuments alike.

Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dinner at a restaurant before capping the night off with a drink at a stunning sky bar. The tour lasts 4.5 hours and will cost about US$95 per person.

Travel tips

• Make sure to wear comfortable clothes — it’s quite hot, even in the evenings.
• Take a bottle of water with you, drinks are not always included.
• Do not try to take photos while on the back of a motorbike, rather ask your driver to stop quickly.
• Inform the tour operator of any allergies or preferences when booking and again as you depart.
• An umbrella is a great solution to those unpredictable Ho Chi Minh City rain storms.
• Come hungry!