Saigon dinner on cruise – the ultimate guide & everything you must know

Saigon dinner on cruise is one of the top things for visitors do in Ho Chi Minh City at night. The cool Saigon river breeze, delicious Vietnamese dishes (or international dishes), colorful night lights, beautiful sights on the two banks are the highlights of Saigon dinner on cruise. Here are some useful information and helpful tips for travelers who would like to experience having dinner and cruising Saigon River on cruise.

Hotline for information and booking at the best price: +84938314386 (Whatsapp/iMessage/Viber/SMS)

Which cruise, food, menu, and itinerary for your choice?

Indochina Queen Cruise – the most splendid one

Indochina Queen is one of the most splendid cruise on Saigon River and offers the best menus for international and local passengers. Having three ballrooms, this floating restaurant can serve up to 600 dinners at the same time. Traditional folk music is the signature of this cruise. In addition, it offers diverse set menus and different prices.

• Ballroom Floor 1: max 170 guests, Asian buffet, 500,000 VND
• Ballroom Floor 2: max 170 guests, Asian buffet, 550,000 VND
• Ballroom Floor 3: max 170 guests, Asian buffet, 600,000 VND
• Ballroom VIP – Floor 3: max 100 guests, set menu from 650,000 VND

Itinerary of Indochina Queen

• 18:00: Welcome onboard
• 19:45: Depart and travel along Saigon River
• 21:15: End of journey and service

Route: Saigon Port – Nha Rong Wharf – Bach Dang Pier – Ba Son Bridge – Tan Thuan Bridge in District 7 – … – Saigon Port

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Entertainment:

• Ballroom Floor 1 and Ballroom VIP: traditional Vietnamese music + 2 traditional dances (30 – 45 minutes)
• Ballroom Floor 2 and Ballroom Floor 3: Philippinne music + 2 traditional dances (30 – 45 minutes)

Taking a photo before boarding on the cruise

Menu Indo 6: 550,000 VND (not available)

1. Shrimps wrapped around sugar cane + Spring roll w. seafood
2. Crab & corn soup w. chicken and mushroom
3. Fried shrimps w. garlic
4. Steamed fish w. five kinds of leaves
5. Grilled beef w. sesame seeds + Fresh nest-noodle
6. Mixed rice + Sauteed vegetable w. oyster sauce
7. Dessert

Menu Indo 7: 650,000 VND

1. Shrimps wrapped in quail egg + Spring roll w. shrimps and crab
2. Chicken soup w. mushroom
3. Fried squid w. fish sauce
4. Steamed Sea Bass
5. Roasted chicken legs + Fried potato
6. Thai seafood hot pot + Fresh nooldle & vegetable
7. Dessert

Menu Indo 8: 650,000 VND

1. Shrimps wrapped in bread + Shrimps wrapped around sugar cane
2. Crab & corn soup
3. Broiled seafood w. butter and garlic
4. Fried crispy “Giant Gourami” fish
5. Roasted chicken w. cashew nut
6. Yangzhou fried rice + Egg salad
7. Dessert

Menu Indo 9: 750,000 VND

1. Spring roll w. crab & shrimps + Shrimps wrapped around sugar cane
2. Ocean flower salad
3. Steamed shrimps in coconut
4. Roasted crab w. tamarind sauce
5. Cooked beef w. red wine + Bread
6. Fied rice w. seafood + Sauteed vegetable w. oyster sauce
7. Dessert

Menu Indo 10: 750,000 VND

• Wrapped shrimps w. green sticky rice + Fried squid
• Young coconut salad w. shrimps and pork
• Roasted King Prawns w. tamarind sauce
• Cubed beef + Fried potatoes
• Grilled chicken w. hot chili sauce + Fried sticky rice
• Spicy seafood hot pot + Fresh noodle & vegetable
• Dessert

Menu Indo 11: 850,000 VND

• Fried crab claw + Spring roll w. lotus seeds & seafood
• Scallops soup w. crab meat
• Steamed squid w. ginger
• Fried floury crab w. butter
• Beef steak + Fried potatoes
• Spicy Hot pot w. shrimps + Fresh noodle & vegetable
• Dessert

Menu Indo 12: 850,000 VND

1. Young coconut salad w. shrimps and pork
2. Seafood w. carrot and shiitake mushroom
3. Grillled King – Prawns
4. Broiled oysters with cheese
5. Enoki beef roll w. black pepper sauce
6. Thai Seafood hot pot
7. Dessert

Menu Indo 13: 950,000 VND

• Ocean flower salad
• Swim blabber soup w. seafood
• Broiled King prawns w. butter & gralic
• Sauteed salmon w. lemon + butter sauce
• Grilled beef w. cheese
• Seafood hot pot + Fresh noodle & vegetable
• Dessert

Menu Indo 14: 950,000 VND

• White fungus salad w. shrimps & pork + Fried crab claw
• Fried floury crab w. butter and garlic
• Steamed baby squid w. ginger and onion
• Broiled oysters with cheese
• Stewed beef w. green pepper + Bread
• Sauteed chinese Broccoli and shiitake mushrooms w. oysters sauce
• Queen fried rice
• Dessert

Menu Indo 15 – seafood: 1,100,000 VND

1. Typhaceae salad w. seafood
2. Fish’s fin with crab meat soup
3. Hong Kong steamed Gaoupa fish
4. Roasted crab w. tamarind sauce
5. Sauteed sea cucumber w. oyster sauce
6. Shrimps w. flower hot pot + fresh noodle & vegetable
7. Dessert

Menu Indo 16 – seafood: 1,300,000 VND

1. Spring roll w. sea crab + Fried crab claw
2. Abalone soup w. enoki mushroom
3. Fried floury crab w. butter
4. Fried salmon w. passion fruit sauce
5. Colorfull sauteed squid
6. Special King prawns hot pot + fresh noodle & vegetable
7. Dessert

Menu Indo 17 – luxury seafood: 1,300,000 VND

1. Fried potato wrapped w. shrimps + Crispy fried squid
2. King salad
3. Fish’s fin soup with seafood
4. Fried floury crab w. butter
5. Broiled King prawns w. cheese
6. Sauteed salmon with lemon-butter sauce
7. Sturgeon fish Hot pot + Fresh noodle & vegetable
8. Dessert

Buffet: 500,000 – 600,000 VND/person

Salad and appetizers

1. Mix salad with onion and vinegar oil
2. Salad with lotus stem, shrimp, and pork
3. Shrimp canepe
4. Ham canepe
5. Tomato canepe
6. Grilled pork sausage and bread

Fried dishes

7. Fried spring roll with seafood
8. Fried chicken
9. Shrimp on sugarcane stick
10. Fried fish fillet
11. Fried chicken wing with fish sauce
12. Fried sticky rice

Grilled dishes and seafood

13. Grilled pork
14. Grilled beef wrapped in wild betel
15. Steamed clam
16. Roasted Ca Na snail with garlic
17. Grilled oyster with green onion and oil
18. Grilled chicken with chili and salt
19. Grilled apple snail in hot sauce
20. Stewed pork rib with mushroom and bread
21. Thai steamed shrimp

Main dishes

22. Stir-fried squid with green pepper
23. Steamed legumes and vegetables
24. Szechuan sauteed tofu
25. Stir-fried mixed mushroom
26. Yang Chow fried rice
27. Spaghetti bolognese
28. Rice vermicelli with green onion leaf sauce

Soup

28. Crab soup with mushroom and quail egg
29. Chicken soup

Dessert

30. Sweet soup with grass jelly and mock pomegranate
31. Coconut sponge cake
32. Sponge cake with ried grape
33. Cake with pork floss
34. Strawberry sponge cake
35. Pana cotta
36. Fruits: mandarin, mango, watermelon, guava, dragon fruit, pineapple, longan

Indochina Junk – Far East Pearl – the stunning wooden cruise

The luxurious interior design and the cozy atmosphere

Indochina Junk is one of the nicest wooden boats for dinner on cruise in Ho Chi Minh City. This charming cruise has 3 dining floors:

• 1st floor: 64 guests, Asian and European set menu
• 2nd floor: 90 guests, Asian and European set menu
• 3rd floor: 36 guests, Asian and European set menu

Being on this cruise by night is one of the most romantic and memorable experiences in Saigon. The professional services, wooden furniture, colorful lights, cozy atmosphere, and mystery are the highlights of Indochina Junk. As mentioned above, they offer Asian and European set menu at different prices. 5-star and diverse set menus are well prepared by experienced and talented chefs. It is recommended to choose Vietnamese traditional dishes to learn more about the Vietnamese authentic cuisine.

Traditional music, traditional Vietnamese dances such as cup dance and royal dance, ethnic dances make the nights on this junk more attractive and enjoyable. In summary, this choice is perfect for traveler who love culture, arts, tradition, and classic.

The cruise welcomes guests onboard at 18:00 daily, depart at 19:45, return to the port at 21:15.

• Floor 1 and Floor 3: set menu
• Floor 2: buffet

Pick up location: Saigon Port, 5 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ben Thanh Ward, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.

Itinerary of Indochina Junk

• 18:00: Welcome onboard
• 18:45: Serve set menu
• 19:45: Depart and travel along Saigon River
• 21:15: End of journey and service

Asian Menu 1:  500,000 VND

1. Spring roll with La Perle D’orient style
2. Salad with lotus stem and shrimp
3. Grilled chicken with honey and Fried glutinous rice
4. Fried rice with seafood in pineapple
5. Sauteed shiitake mushroom and vegetable with oyster sauce
6. Dessert: fresh seasonal fruits

Asian Menu 2: 700,000 VND

1. Spring roll with La Perle D’orient style
2. Salad with beef and banana flower
3. Grilled oyster with cheese and garlic
4. Fried chicken with spicy butter sauce
5. Tomyum hot pot with seafood and mushroom for group of 4+, fried noodles with seafood/beef or fried rice with seafood for group of less than 4 people
6. Dessert: fresh seasonal fruits or cake

Asian Menu 3: 900,000 VND

1. Salad with lotus stem and shrimp
2. Grilled king prawn with butter and garlic
3. Grilled oyster with cheese and garlic
4. Fried chicken with spicy butter sauce
5. Hot pot with seafood and mushroom for group of 4+, fried noodles with seafood/beef or fried rice with seafood for group of less than 4 people
6. Dessert: fresh seasonal fruits or cake

Asian Menu 4: 1,200,000 VND

1. Salad with coconut core and shrimp
2. Fried shelled crab with butter sauce
3. Grilled oyster with cheese and garlic
4. Japanese Fuji beef steak and fried potato
5. Stir-fried glass noodle with crab meat
6. Dessert: fresh seasonal fruits

Asian Menu 5: 1,600,000 VND

1. Salad with coconut core and shrimp
2. Stir-fried king prawn with salted duck egg sauce
3. Grilled lamb chop with chili sauce
4. Sauteed seafood with vegetable
5. Stir-fried glass noodle with crab meat
6. Dessert: fresh seasonal fruits

European Menu 1: 700,000 VND

1. Norwegian salmon tatare served with caviar, lemon, and bread
2. Teriyaki chicken salad served with bacon, parmesan cheese, and caesar dressing
3. Barbecued pork rib served with boiled vegetables
4. Dessert: panna cotta

European Menu 2: 900,000 VND

1. Half-fried tuna served with wasabi, mayonnaise, and Japanese radish
2. Grilled Australian beef tenderloin served with salad with mixed vegetables, lettuce, bean, extra olive oil
3. Seafood ravioli served with green asparagus and cherry tomato
4. Dessert: pandan leave cake

European Menu 3: 1,100,000 VND

1. Oven baked oyster served with veggies and cheese
2. Norwegian salmon salad served with bacon and Parmesan cheese
3. Newzeland lamp chop served with green asparagus, mushroom sauce, and mash sweet potato
4. Dessert: panna cotta

European Menu 4: 1,600,000 VND

1. Half-fried Japanese scallop served with caviar and sweet pea puree
2. Shellfish bisque with mixed seafood served with cherry tomato and green asparagus
3. Baked chicken cake served with pomelo salad and tartar sauce
4. Fuji beef steak served with sateed veggies and mushroom sauce
5. Dessert: chocolate pudding

Vegetarian menu: 500,000 VND

1. Cream and pumpkin soup
2. Summer roll with avocado served with peanut sauce
3. Spring roll with mushroom and veggies
4. Five-color stir-fried glass noodles with veggies
5. Dessert: fruit

Saigon Princess – the luxury 5-star choice

Saigon Princess, which costs 3 million US dollars is the first 5-star cruise in Ho Chi Minh City. It has 4 floors and traditional European style design. The deck is the best place to dance, enjoy shows and live music at night. The cruise can serve dinner for maximum 300 guests.

Itinerary:

• 18:30: Welcome onboard
• 19:30: End of welcoming guests, depart and travel along Saigon River
• 21:30: End of journey and service

Route: Saigon Port – Bach Dang Pier – Landmark 81 – Khanh Hoi Port – Ben Nghe – Nha Rong Port

Set menu Fusion 3 courses: 800,000 VND

1. Asparagus soup
2. Half-fried salmon with teriyaki sauce, served with saffron rice, pickled radish, baby broccoli, crispy fish skin
3. Raspberry and basil cheese mousse cake
4. Tea or coffee

Set menu Vietnamese 3 courses: 800,000 VND

1. Sun-dried mountain jelly vegetable salad served with grilled Australian beef with lemon, sweet and sour fish sauce
2. Roasted chicken in bamboo tube, served with lotus rice and stir-fried veggies
3. Soy bean pudding with ginger palm sugar caramel and pearl
4. Tea or coffee

Set menu international 3 courses: 800,000 VND

1. Lobster bisque soup, served with Hokkaido scallop and black caviar
2. Grilled Australian beef tenderloin, served with roasted vegetables, asparagus, edamame, onion ring, baby carrot, and pepper demi-glace sauce
3. Mango panna cotta
4. Tea or coffee

Set menu Fusion/Asian seafood/Vietnamese/international 4 courses: 1,060,000 VND

Set menu Fusion/Asian seafood/Vietnamese 5 courses: 1,520,000 VND/1,340,000 VND

Set menu chef’s choice birthday 5 courses: 1,520,000 VND

Set menu Asian vegetarian 4 courses: 720,000 VND

Donald duck kid’s menu/Pluto kid’s menu: 660,000 VND

Buffet menu

Salad station

1. Mixed salad with vinegar oil and onion
2. Caesar salad with chicken teriyaki
3. Rocket salad with smoked salmon
4. Vietnamese countryside beef salad with banana flower
5. Spring roll with avocado and herbs
6. Spring roll with grilled squid and herbs

Bread, butter, jam

7. Baguette
8. Dry baguette with butter and garlic
9. Sesame bread
10. Oatmeal bread
11. Dry baguette with tomato and garlic

Soup

12. Crab and corn soup

Fried dishes

13. Spring roll with seafood
14. Shrimp on sugarcane stick
15. Beef wrapped on lemongrass stick
16. Fried potato wedge with cheese
17. Fried sticky rice

Hot food

18. Steamed sea bass fillet
19. Steamed squid with onion and ginger
20. Stewed chicken with carrot and potato, served with bread
21. Mashed potato
22. Stir-fried vegetables with butter
23. Grilled chicken with honey
24. Fried chicken with spicy butter sauce
25. Grilled German sausage
26. Grilled pork with red wine sauce and rosemary, served with legumes
27. Baked oyster with cheese and garlic
28. Roasted sweet snail with garlic
29. Grilled scallop with pepper sauce

Main course

30. Spaghetti bolognese
31. Fried rice with seafood

Dessert

32. Danish cake
33. Croissant cake
34. Chocolate castella cake, strawberry castella cake, fruit castella cake
35. Muffin cake
36. Panna cotta
37. Coconut agar agar

In summary, Indochina Junk, Indochina Queen, and Saigon Princess are the three most popular cruise on Saigon River to relax, have dinner, enjoy Saigon night and music. The cruises serve Vietnamese and international dishes, offer vegetarian and kid menus. Prices range from 500,000 to 2,000,000 VND, do not include beverages.

Why shouldn’t you miss Saigon dinner on cruise?

• Romantic, cozy, luxurious atmosphere
• Effortless traveling
• Splendid and colorful Saigon by night
• Delicious Vietnamese dishes and international dishes
• Diverse and creative menu, diverse pricing, affordable prices
• Fabulous music show (modern and live music, traditional folk music, ethnic music, royal dance,…)
• Impressive routes: Nha Rong Port, Landmark 81, Bitexco Tower, Thanh Da Peninsula,…
• Cool river breeze and relaxing time
• Beautiful and deluxe cruises exterior and interior
• Professional services and well-trained staff
• A great way to spend your night in the non-sleeping Ho Chi Minh City

The colorful Saigon by night is viewed from the cruise on Saigon River

Where to depart for Saigon dinner on cruise and How to reach the port?

Most of cruises dock at Saigon Port, 05 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Ward 12, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City.

• Saigon Port – Ben Thanh Market: 2.2 km
• Saigon Port – Saigon Backpacker Area where there are many budget hotels: 3.2 km
• Saigon Port – Nguyen Hue Walking Street where there are many luxurious hotels: 2 km
• Saigon Port – Pullman Saigon Centre: 2.6 km
• Saigon Port – Windsor Plaza Hotel in District 5: 5.5 km

If you stay in District 1, it is easy and does not take a long time to reach Saigon Port and board on a cruise for the journey along Saigon River. You can take a taxi or book a Grab Car ride to get to the port on your own, then choose a set menu or buffet and book your seat with a cruise receptionist. However, it is a little inconvenient, cruises are usually full at the last minute, there are often traffic jams in the city center from 5:00 PM. You should book the service in advance to make sure that you have already be booked. On weekends, national and global holiday, you find it difficult to book Saigon dinner on cruise. You should book a private transfer to avoid taxi scam and make sure you will be at the port on time. In my opinion, you should book an all inclusive Saigon dinner on cruise service, including dinner, tour guide, and transfer with a reliable travel agent. There are other combo tour on which tourists do not only enjoy the river cruise journey and delicious dinner but also watch a water puppet show and enjoy a cyclo ride.

What is the best way to book Saigon dinner on cruise?

As mentioned above, you can book directly with a cruise receptionist at Saigon Port. But you are recommended to book the cruise and dinner in advance with a trusted travel agent. You can also book the service on Klook, KKDay, or other OTA websites. In fact, prices offered by tour companies can be better than prices offered by cruises or on OTAs.

Please contact Tracy Do & Bill Bui at +84938314386 (Whatsapp/iMessage/Viber/SMS) for detailed information about Saigon dinner on cruise, relating services, prices, and booking high quality services including transfer, dinner on cruise, water puppet show, tour guide,…

What time should you be ready?

Most cruises welcome guests on board from 18:00. The latest time you must be present at the boarding entrance is 19:30. If you stay in District 1, it takes 10 – 30 minute to reach Saigon Port. Traffic jams are common so it is better to start at your hotel 30 minutes before. If you arrive at the port and check in early, you will have more time to enjoy the dinner, enjoy the music show, the river breeze and beautiful sights on the banks. If you join a tour and return to your hotel late, you can start going to the port at 19:00 and arrive at the port before 19:30.

After having the delicious dinner, you can move to the deck to catch the river breeze and enjoy the nice view of Saigon by night

How to enjoy Saigon dinner on cruise at its best and be safe on the trip?

• You should not eat so much before the journey. If you are hungry, you can eat a light meal or some snacks.
• Beverages are not included in the prices so you can choose and pay for drinks on your own.
• It is strongly recommended not to consume too much alcoholic beverages.
• You should not explore hidden and deserted corners, staff only areas for your safety.
• It is better to board the cruise ship early.
• Because the seats run out quickly, you should book the services as soon as possible. You can consult the customer support team of travel agent to choose a good seat location for your group.
• After eating, you can go around to enjoy the music show and catch the river breeze on the deck and on lower floors.
• It is a great chance to enjoy Vietnamese authentic dishes because they have the best chefs in the city.

How to book the best Saigon dinner on cruise?

In order to avoid travel booking scams and maximize your budget in Vietnam, you should book services on reliable OTAs or with trusted travel agent. As explained above, it is not recommended to book directly with the cruises because prices are not better and they may run out of seats.

Benefits of booking tours and services including Saigon dinner on cruise are quickness, checking availabilities right away, vouchers, gift codes, seasonal sales, codes from OTAs,… However, you are not advised or provided with helpful information relating to menus, start time, means of transportation, and all-inclusive services.

In case you book with a trusted travel agent, the customer support team is pleased to advise the best menu, means of transportation, accompanied services such as transfer and tour guide. You are also supported until the Saigon dinner on cruise ends and you are back at your hotel. Many travel agents offer the best prices for Saigon dinner on cruise. I would like to recommend you to book Saigon dinner on cruise, private transfer, and tour guide to make sure that you will be taken cared from A to Z, you will not be late and go to the wrong cruise port.

You can book the Dinner Cruise on Saigon River, including round trip private transfer, tour guide, dinner and boarding fee for your stressless and effortless night trip.

Please contact Tracy Do & Bill Bui at +84938314386 (Whatsapp/iMessage/Viber/SMS) for detailed information about Saigon dinner on cruise, relating services, prices, and booking high quality services.

Which services and activities to combine with Saigon dinner on cruise?

Water puppet show is one of the top things to do in Saigon at night thanks to its cultural and artistic values, charming dances and movements of puppets, impressive and unique traditional Vietnamese music. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can enjoy a water puppet show at Golden Dragon Theater, 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1. The shows start at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM, the performance lasts 50 minutes. You can go to the theater and watch the show before getting to Saigon Port for Saigon dinner on cruise.

A O Show is one of the most famous a spectacular and signature cultural production that pays tribute to Vietnamese roots and showcases developing contemporary cities. You can choose this show as an alternative to the water puppet show.

Saigon cyclo ride: It is a great chance for travelers to try sitting on three-wheel cyclos (bicycle powered rickshaws), in front of drivers. The distance between hotels in District 1 and Saigon Port (or the theater) is not too far, only a few kilometers, so it is perfect and amazing to book a cyclo ride. Instead of getting to Golden Dragon Theater and Saigon Port by taxi, private car, motorbike, travelers can choose to go by cyclo.

Motorbike ride is an adventurous experience and a chance to learn more about the real local life. Motorbike is the most effective means of transportation in Vietnam, you can reach a destination faster by motorbike.

You can book one of the following tours:

• Water Puppet Show & Dinner on Cruise & Cyclo Tour
• A O Show & Saigon Dinner Cruise & Cyclo Tour
• Saigon Water Puppet Show & Dinner on Cruise Tour by motorbike

How much does a Saigon dinner on cruise cost?

Saigon dinner on cruise costs from 500,000, prices vary and depend on set menus, buffet menus, cruises, and programs. If you wouldn’t like to eat on the cruise, you can book a 1.5 – 2 hour Saigon river cruise ticket including a drink. It costs about 150,000 VND.

Saigon dinner on cruise is not an expensive experience and worth trying