The realm of alleyways, where the true life of Saigonese is shown, is only a short distance from the busy center of Saigon. You will see how residents live as we guide you through these secret labyrinths on our real Saigon walking tour. Join us as we explore this city’s backside through its secret passageways and immerse ourselves in a really local experience!
Highlights of Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
- Being a Saigonese for half a day (the magic wears off before midnight)!
- Experiencing Saigon’s nightlife like a local.
- Having a surprise 3-hour walk around Saigon’s alleyways to reach hidden places frequented by local patrons.
- Enjoying sightseeing in Saigon and sampling delicious street foods (snacks, dinner & dessert).
- Seeing nighttime Saigon at its best from one of the riverside viewing spots.
- Capturing the most incredible photos of the surrounding scenery.
- Enjoying panoramic views of Ho Chi Minh City at Saigon Skydeck.
Must Know about Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
- DURATION 3 hours
- TOUR TYPE/SIZE Private (Minimum group size is 2 people and the maximum is 8 people)
- MEETING/ENDING POINT Fine Arts Museum
- DEPARTURE/ENDING TIME 04:30 PM-7:30 PM
Itinerary of Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
4:30 PM
We come to pick you up at your hotel in District 1 or District 3. If you do not stay in the districts mentioned, let’s meet us at The Fine Arts Museum.
The trip begins in densely populated downtown districts. We will travel through new and old homes, neighborhood markets, pagodas, secret cafés, street food vendors, and shrines while we tell you about Saigon’s past and present.
The Fine Arts Museum (outside) is our first trip. It is a marvel of Sino-French architecture and was formerly the home of one of Saigon’s wealthiest men in the past. In order to see a little Pagoda of the Chinese Hokkien community, we continue walking along the “mini-Chinatown” street. The Chinese community, the Vietnamese majority, as well as Khmer, Cham, Indian, and Europeans all put their mark on the city, creating a contemporary Saigon that is culturally diverse.
The tour continues through Saigon’s chaotic-yet-beautiful alleyways. From this point on, you will be living the true local life, surrounded by motorcycles riding beside you and street vendors selling their wares. With the help of little companies they run out of their homes, and urban residents make a living while getting lost in the maze of narrow lanes and dead ends. Our guide will demonstrate this for you. You can pass past homes along the road and see coffee shops, grocery stores, beauty salons, or family-oriented sceneries.
Additionally, there are a ton of street food vendors that we will travel by where you may sample regional specialties that aren’t available at upscale eateries or popular tourist destinations. You can request to stop at any location you are interested in, at no charge, from your guide.
6:30 PM
The tour ends with a stop at a neighborhood noodle shop for a traditional meal. you can visit one of the town’s oldest churches. Around 7:30 PM, we will drop you off at the state-of-the-art Saigon Skydeck so you can take in 360-degree views of Ho Chi Minh City at night.
Price of Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
- Adults (from 10 years old):
- 1 pax: $38 USD
- 2+ pax: $30 USD
- Children:
- 0 – 2 years old: free of charge
- 3 – 6 years old: 50%
- 7 – 9 years old: 70%
Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
Inclusions of Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
- English-speaking guide;
- Food tasting during tours: two light snacks, one main dish (Noodle soup of choice: pho, hu tieu or bun) with a drink (soft drink or bottled water), one dessert;
- Transport by car back to District 1.
Exclusions of Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
- Additional food and drinks,
- Personal expenses,
- Tips/ gratuities for a local guide, insurance.
Confirmation Of Booking
Submitting your booking does not mean your tour is booked. Our booking staff will send you a confirmation email shortly.
If you do not receive a response to your booking request from us within 24 hours, please check your SPAM or JUNK mail folder. You may also get in touch with us again by emailing info@innoviet.com or calling (+84) 83 439 1331. We are grateful.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saigon Walking Tour – Hidden Gems
How far is the whole trip?
You can go on foot for around 5 kilometers. You will be moving largely around flat, uneven streets and alleyways, thus it might not be appropriate for young children (those under the age of six) or tourists who require an accessible facility. Throughout the journey, we will stop a few times to sample local cuisine, snap pictures, and chat with residents.
Children under 7?
Because our trip involves extensive walking on streets, it is recommended for adults and children over the age of seven only. Children under seven should not take this tour. Strollers and infant carriers cannot be used on the trip because of the frequently rough terrain.
Can you cater to my food allergies/ restrictions?
Because we are given prior notice, we can adapt the dishes on the tour to fit your food restriction which should not be a problem. We can thus accommodate both vegetarian and vegan travelers. Please let your local guide know if you have any food sensitivities.
What happens if it rains before/ during the tour?
During the rainy season, intense and brief downpours typically happen in the middle of the day or late at night. Rainstorms rarely last more than a few minutes and haven’t significantly impacted our trips in recent years. Therefore, we will give you a poncho so that you may continue the trip even in light rain. To ensure the safety of visitors, we have the right to cancel our trips if terrible weather develops right before our scheduled departure. Our cancellation policy is as follows:
If the cancellation is made before the start of the tour (you have not yet received any services), and we are unable to locate another date for you to attend, we will provide a 100% refund. If the trip is informed of the cancellation (you have already used some services). We will charge you for these services and then refund the balance. Here is our cancellation policy in case you decide to cancel the trip at the last minute due to bad weather but it still leaves with other customers:
Since we must reserve numerous services in advance, there is a 30% cancellation charge for any cancellations made less than 24 hours before the trip date.
Booking cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure will incur a 5% transaction fee to cover transaction processing fees.
If adverse weather occurs during the trip and it must be canceled for safety reasons: If the trip has lasted two hours or more, you can choose to attend it again on the following date, or you can receive a 25% refund. If the trip lasted less than two hours, you had the option of joining it again on the following date, or you might have received a 50% refund.
What should I wear and bring on the tour?
You should dress comfortably and wear walking-friendly shoes because the tour involves a lot of walking and the weather in Saigon is typically hot. Valuables shouldn’t be carried on a tour for safety reasons. A poncho will be given during the rainy season, however, it is recommended that you wear waterproof clothing and footwear.
