Ho Chi Minh City food tour: what to expect
A food tour takes you from stall to stall and lets you taste several dishes in one outing instead of ordering a full meal at each stop. In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the tours differ mainly in format: some are walking tours, others use a vehicle with a driver. Each offer below states the length, the meeting point and what is included, so compare those three lines first.
The dishes are the same ones locals eat every day. Cơm tấm (broken rice), bánh mì, phở and hủ tiếu show up on most routes. This guide explains what each one is, so you can ask the right questions about ingredients before you start.
Our picks: street-food tours
The walking tour has ten tastings and local beer, the scooter ride covers more districts, and the evening walk from the Opera House includes a full dinner.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Evening street-food walk from the Opera House
- Dinner with all food and drinks
- Taxi between stops, then on foot
- Hotel pickup in Districts 1 and 3
Four evening hours with an English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup outside those two districts costs $5 more.
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Street food as a scooter passenger
- Food and drinks included
- Accident insurance and helmet
- Part of Chinatown and the flower market
You ride as a passenger and do not drive yourself, and female riders are part of the team. A Michelin variant is available as an option when you book.
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Ten tastings on foot through small eateries
- Ten dishes, snacks and drinks
- Local beer included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
The price covers an English-speaking guide, taxi or Grab rides between stops and accident insurance.
Check availability →Ho Chi Minh City food tours
Walking food tours, evening routes and tastings, with live prices and availability.
Dishes you will meet on a street food tour
What each dish is, and what to ask about.
Cơm tấm
Rice made from broken grains, often with a grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin or a pork pâté, vegetables and a sweetish fish sauce. There is no single list of ingredients for all stalls, so the plate you get can look different from the next one.
Bánh mì
A filled bread. Common fillings are pork, pâté, pickled vegetables and chilli. It is not vegetarian or dairy-free by default, so ask your guide before you take a bite if that matters to you.
Phở
A noodle soup. In the south it is usually sweeter than in the north and comes with herbs and bean sprouts. The dish is common across Vietnam, and it did not necessarily start in Saigon.
Hủ tiếu
Rice noodles, either in soup or dry with the broth served separately. The Nam Vang version can contain shrimp, pork, offal and quail eggs. A dish name does not tell you what is in the bowl.
Walking tour or tour with a driver: how to choose
A walking food tour suits short distances in the centre. A tour with a driver covers more ground in the same time. If you ride a motorbike yourself, you need a valid licence for the vehicle class. The international permit under the 1968 convention is accepted together with your national licence, a permit under the 1949 convention is not enough. On a tour with a driver you ride as a passenger, so check what the offer says.
The tour price is not the same as an entry fee. Check which tastings, drinks and transfers are included, and whether the price is per person.
Water, ice and allergies
Practical points for eating on the street.
Drinking water
Travel health advice recommends boiled water or bottles with a sealed cap, no ice cubes and no raw or undercooked food. That is health advice for travellers, not a statement about the whole city's tap water.
Allergies and diets
Tell your guide before the first stop. Do not rely on a dish name to know the ingredients. Broths and fillings can contain shrimp, pork or offal.
Fresh fruit and snacks
Fruit sellers on scooters and small carts are part of the street scene. Wash or peel fruit and carry small change.
Food at the market
At Ben Thanh Market the fresh food and eating area opens at 04:00, earlier than the rest of the hall. Details are on the Ben Thanh Market page.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where a food tour fits.
Ho Chi Minh City food tour: frequently asked questions
What is cơm tấm?
It is rice from broken grains, usually with a grilled pork chop, pork skin or pâté, vegetables and a sweetish fish sauce. Stalls differ, so ask what is on your plate.
Is a bánh mì vegetarian?
Not by default. Common fillings include pork, pâté, pickled vegetables and chilli. Ask for a version without meat if you need one.
Can I drink the tap water in Ho Chi Minh City?
Travel advice recommends boiled water or bottles with a sealed cap, and no ice cubes. Stay with that on a food tour as well.
Do I need a licence on a food tour with a motorbike?
Only if you drive yourself. Then you need a valid licence for the vehicle class, and the international permit under the 1968 convention is accepted together with your national licence. On a tour with a driver you ride as a passenger.
What does the tour price include?
That differs by offer. A tour price is not an entry fee, so check which tastings, drinks and transfers are included and whether the price is per person.