Showing you the brilliant hidden gems of the real Saigon which most tourists miss is the main aim of this tour. You may have joined a Saigon 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, non-touristy Saigon inside the city you see on crowded main roads. On our Private Saigon Unseen Tour by Motorbike, you will have a chance to explore this unique part of the city where there are many incredible things to do.
Saigon features 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 share a unique local lifestyle. Do not just get stuck in District 1 like other tourists; instead, ride through less-wandered districts to discover Ho Chi Minh hidden gems that most travelers don’t know about and couldn’t be found in any standard guidebook. The Private Saigon Unseen Tour by Motorbike is your best choice!
Highlights of Saigon Unseen Tour by Motorbike
Visit multiple local districts, a lot of authentic non-touristy markets, 2 special streets, and 2 mysterious historical buildings.
Hidden parts
- Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument
- Secret weapon bunker which played an important role in the war, used to store weapons for the Tet Offensive in 1968
- Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment buildings from the 1960s
- Cambodian market
- Ho Thi Ky – the biggest and most crowded wholesale flower market
- Fruit and vegetable market
- Motorbike accessories market
- Lantern market & fabric market
- Pet market
- Traditional medicine market
More Hidden Gems
- Fashion street, book street, painting street
- Ghost building – Thuan Kieu Plaza in China Town
- Ten Thousands Buddha Temple, Saigon Cao Dai Temple, or Thien Hau Temple
Bonus attractions
- Binh Tay market
- Cha Tam church
Drinks
Drink authentic Vietnamese coffee at the Secret weapon bunker, or visit a hidden 80-year-old cafe in an alley to learn how to make a unique cup of “Vot” coffee and relax while tasting the drink.
TOUR INFORMATION
Price $27 USD $30
- Child from 3 to 7 years (sit on the same motorbike with one adult): 50% off
- Child from 8 to 12 years: 30% 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)
- Special Vietnamese coffee
- Pictures from your tour (emailed later)
- Free cancellation
For a comprehensive overview of Ho Chi Minh City, we highly recommend booking both:
Saigon Unseen Tour by Motorbike during the day
& Saigon Night Food in the evening!
Text us via webchat or email vietnambookingtoursvn@gmail.com to book this non-touristy Saigon motorbike tour and get our quick response as well as confirmation if you get bored of filling the booking form and waiting for our response.
BOOK NOW
Contact us via email at vietnambookingtoursvn@gmail.com or join the live chat (24/7 support) on our website right now FOR THE BEST TRIP AND PRICE!
Memories of Saigon Unseen Tour by Motorbike
ITINERARY of Private Saigon Unseen 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 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 the incredible 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 generations of Saigon people. There, you can see the real, unfiltered Saigon local life.
It is a big chance to stop at Cheo Leo cafe – an 80-year-old coffee shop hidden in a small alley and famous for its distinct “Vot” coffee. You will sit around a small table, take a rest, enjoy the historical drink, and chat leisurely with the guide like local friends. You also learn how to make a cup of “Vot” coffee and interact with the nice owner of the coffee shop.
Alternatively, we will stop at the Secret Weapon Bunker which played a crucial role in the war, used to store weapons for the Tet Offensive in 1968, where you can also try some local coffee.
Then we head to District 10 and stop at the Ho Thi Ky flower market – a huge wholesale flower market, alongside the 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.
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 community in Ho Chi Minh City.
Then we drive around to see Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Temple, and various hidden parts including fashion street, painting street, traditional medicine street, electronic market, fabric market, lantern market, fruit market, and bird market. This section gives you an absolute insider view of the Ho Chi Minh hidden gems which are entirely missed on normal city tours by car or bus.
Our Private Saigon Unseen Tour by Motorbike has 2 options to choose from: 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. Beautiful Buddha statues are everywhere on the walls, resting in each petal of a massive lotus. The next stop is the less-known Saigon Cao Dai Temple, where you will 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 retains its 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 drive to the Saigon floating market where vendors and their families live, cook, eat, sleep, and even take care of dogs and 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 returns you to your hotel. It is time to say goodbye; the Private Saigon Unseen Tour by Motorbike ends, but the memories of these hidden gems will last forever.
You are welcome to customize the tour program 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 adventure.
After discovering the city’s secrets, we highly recommend expanding your journey by booking our Private Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day tour or experiencing rural life on the Cai Be Floating Market – Insight Mekong Delta 1 Day tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Saigon Unseen Tour different from a standard city tour?
Most city tours take you to crowded tourist traps in District 1. Our Saigon Unseen Tour by Motorbike takes you off the beaten path into non-touristy districts, hidden alleyways, secret historical bunkers, and authentic local markets that cars and buses simply cannot reach.
Is it safe to ride a motorbike through Saigon’s narrow alleys?
Yes, it is very safe! You will ride on the back of the scooter as a passenger. Our local guides are highly experienced and licensed drivers who know the city’s alley networks perfectly. High-quality helmets are provided for your safety.
What is the ‘Secret Weapon Bunker’ mentioned in the itinerary?
The Secret Weapon Bunker is an incredible historical hidden gem. It is a covert basement hidden beneath a normal-looking local house that was used to store nearly 3 tons of weapons for the Saigon Rangers during the famous 1968 Tet Offensive.
Can I customize this private unseen tour?
Absolutely! Because this is a private tour, you have the flexibility to customize the itinerary. For example, you can choose between visiting hidden Temples or exploring the Saigon floating market. Just email your preferences to vietnambookingtoursvn@gmail.com.
Do I need to pay extra for the Vietnamese coffee tasting?
No, everything is included in the tour price. The tasting of the special ‘Vot’ coffee at the 80-year-old hidden cafe (or at the Secret weapon bunker) is fully covered, along with your travel insurance, helmet, and hotel pickup.
