Showing you brilliant hidden gems of the real Saigon which most of the tourists missed is the main aim of this tour. You may have joined a standard Sightseeing Tour and visited most of the major tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. But that is not all about Saigon; there is a hidden city inside the Saigon you see on crowded main roads. On our private Saigon Unseen & Food Tour by Motorbike, you will have a unique chance to explore this fascinating part of Saigon where there are many incredible things to do.
It is a huge network of back alleys, twisting behind and between the borough’s buildings. These back alleys are home to the majority of Saigon people who live in narrow houses and have a unique, authentic lifestyle. Do not just get stuck in District 1 like other tourists! Let our Saigon back alleys food tour take you through 8 less-wandered districts to see hard-to-find gems that most travelers don’t know about and couldn’t be found in any guidebook. A big plus of this tour is eating on the way. Some of the absolute best local foods that Saigon has to offer will be served, and they definitely make the tour perfect.
Highlights of the Saigon Unseen & Food Tour by Motorbike
Explore 9 districts, 12 authentic local markets, 2 special streets, 2 mysterious buildings, with 3 amazing food stops featuring 4 specialty foods.
Hidden parts
- Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument
- Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment buildings since the 1960s
- Cambodian market
- Ho Thi Ky – Saigon’s biggest flower market
- Fruit and vegetable market
- Motorbike accessories market
- Lantern market & fabric market
- Pet market
- Traditional medicine market
- Fashion street, book street, painting street
- Ghost building
- Ten Thousands Buddha Temple
- Saigon Cao Dai Temple
Bonus attractions
- Binh Tay market
- Thien Hau temple
- Cha Tam church
Foods
Enjoy 4 stops, 5 specialty foods, and learn how locals cook their daily foods:
- Vietnamese bread (Banh Mi) or Savory sticky rice
- Grilled banana with coconut milk
- Crispy Girdle cake
- Vietnamese Pancake (Banh Xeo)
- Rice noodles with fried roll
Drinks
- Visit a hidden 80-year-old cafe in an alley, learn how to make a cup of unique “Vot” coffee, and relax while tasting this historical drink.
Tour information
Price $34 USD $40 -10% off
- Child from 3 to 5 years (sit on the same motorbike with one adult): 50% off
- Child from 6 to 8 years: 25% off
Start time At your wish, 8:00 AM recommended
Duration 4 hours
Payment method
- Pay in advance or at the end of the tour in USD or VND cash. We accept
Inclusion
- Travel insurance, high-quality helmet
- Free hotel pickup and drop off in Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 10. (Extra fee $3 USD if out of listed districts).
- Bottle of mineral water
- Fluent English speaking guide
- Motorbike, fuel, rain poncho (if needed)
- Foods & special Vietnamese coffee
- Pictures from your tour (emailed later)
- Free cancellation
Text us via webchat or email vietnambookingtoursvn@gmail.com to book the Saigon Unseen & Food Tour by Motorbike and get our quick response as well as confirmation if you get bored of filling the booking form and waiting for our response.
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Memories of the Tour
Itinerary of the Saigon Unseen & Food Tour by Motorbike
Our talented guide with the motorbike picks you up at your hotel (or any location requested by you) to start the Saigon Unseen & Food Tour by Motorbike. After a short riding instruction and program introduction, we hop on the motorbike. The guide makes sure you are perfectly comfortable on the motorbike before weaving around the main streets and narrow alleyways to see the real city.
The first stop is the Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument where we will tell you the less-known history and fascinating story about the monk and his unburned heart. We then head to District 3 and the Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment buildings which were built in the 1960s and have been home to lots of Saigon people. There you can see the real, unfiltered Saigon local life.
Before reaching the coffee shop, we stop at one of Saigon’s Top 3 Banh Mi shops to see how they make a great Vietnamese sandwich with a crispy crust and amazing fillings. We buy one and eat it while sipping a drink at the coffee shop just like the locals do. Although Vietnamese sandwiches can be eaten at many places in the country, Banh Mi in Saigon is very special and absolutely worth trying.
Then we drive to a small street food stall which is over 20 years old to learn how they wrap and grill one of the top Saigon street foods – Grilled banana & sticky rice in banana leaves with coconut milk.
It is a big chance to stop at Cheo Leo cafe – an 80-year-old coffee shop hidden in an alley and famous for its distinct “Vot” coffee. There you sit around a small table, take a rest, enjoy the historical drink, and chat leisurely with the guide as a friend like locals do. You also learn how to make a cup of “Vot” coffee and interact with the nice owner of the coffee shop.
Then we head to District 10 and stop at the Ho Thi Ky flower market – a huge wholesale flower market and Cambodian market hidden in the alleyways of Ho Thi Ky Street. There you have a chance to see thousands of colorful flowers, fresh vegetables, live animals, and many strange things. We come to a Banh trang stall to buy and eat a crispy Vietnamese girdle cake with banana or sesame.
After wandering the hustle and bustle markets, we zip through Districts 5, 6, and 11 to explore Cho Lon (or China Town) which is home to most of the Chinese people in Ho Chi Minh City. Then we drive around to see Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Temple, and hidden parts including fashion street, painting street, medicine street, electronic market, fabric market, lantern market, fruit market, and bird market. This gives you an absolute insider view of the hidden city which is completely missed on normal city tours by car or bus.
We stop to eat again 🙂 at an over 20-year-old restaurant known as one of the Top 5 Places to eat Vietnamese pancake in Saigon. The guide shows you how the cook skillfully makes thin, large, and crispy pancakes, and how to wrap the cake in fresh vegetables to eat. There we also enjoy Rice noodles with grilled pork and fried rolls – a true specialty food of the city.
You have 2 options to choose from on this Saigon Unseen & Food Tour by Motorbike: Option 1 – Temples, and Option 2 – Floating Market.
If you choose Option 1, we will drive through narrow alleyways to reach the Ten Thousand Buddha Pagoda. Buddha statues are everywhere on the wall, resting in each petal of a massive lotus with countless petals. The next stop is the less-known Saigon Cao Dai Temple where you learn more about this unique architecture and syncretic religion in Vietnam. We also see Hoa Binh Market which is one of the oldest markets in the city and still remains beautiful architecture after dozens of years.
Then we drive along Saigon channels and show you stilt houses and slum areas; the scene shows a sharp contrast between the rich and poor living in the city.
If you choose Option 2, we will visit the Saigon floating market where vendors and their families live, cook, eat, sleep, and even take care of dogs and grow chickens right on their wooden boats. We continue the journey and drive through a tiny humble island district separated from the city’s other parts by channels and rivers. This area is the former mafia hotspot run by the notorious crime boss Nam Cam.
Lastly, the guide safely returns you to your hotel. It is time to say goodbye; the tour ends, but the wonderful memories will last forever.
You are welcome to customize the tour program (INCLUDING TOUR ROUTE AND FOODS) at your wish because this is a 100% private tour. Let us know your ideas when you book the tour or on the tour itself. You can also specifically request a female or male guide for your tour.
If you want to continue your journey into the evening, we highly recommend booking our Saigon Night Food tour, or exploring the fascinating Private Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day tour!
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the ‘Unseen & Food’ tour different from standard tours?
This tour uniquely combines deep cultural exploration of non-touristy, hidden districts (like local wholesale markets and old apartment blocks) with generous street food tastings. You get to see how real Saigon locals live and eat in areas that buses cannot reach.
Is it safe to ride on a scooter through Saigon’s narrow back alleys?
Absolutely. Safety is our top priority. Our local guides are highly experienced, carefully trained, and fully licensed. They know the city’s alley networks perfectly. You will sit comfortably as a passenger, and we provide high-quality helmets.
How much food is included on this tour?
The tour includes 4 different food stops where you will taste 5 specialty foods, ranging from savory dishes like Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Pancake) and Banh Mi, to sweet treats like Grilled Banana with Coconut Milk, plus a traditional Vot coffee tasting.
Can I customize the food menu if I have allergies or am a vegetarian?
Yes! Because this is a private tour, the itinerary and food tastings are completely flexible. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, or have specific allergies, just let us know via vietnambookingtoursvn@gmail.com, and we will tailor the menu for you.
What happens if it rains during the tour?
Tropical rain in Saigon is common but usually brief. We provide large, high-quality rain ponchos to keep you dry. The tour continues safely, and eating hot street food like Banh Xeo under a canopy while it rains is actually a very authentic local experience!