Saigon Street Food by Night Experience
Saigon. A true culinary master. Legend, in fact. Get right down to the soul of this beast of a food city and spend three hours eating like a local. It may seem like non-stop culinary decadence because that’s just what it is. And you’re gonna love it.
Highlights
- Eat your way through Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) the way locals do
- Indulge in the dishes that have made Southern Vietnamese cuisine famous
- Mingle with locals over Saigonese coffee and street beer
- Experience Saigon's history and multi-culturalism through its food
- Explore hidden alleys and get off the beaten track to see Saigon in a way few tourists do
- See Saigon as the sun goes down and reveals a vibrant (and delicious) night scene
What's included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Beer or soft drink with peanuts or rice crackers
- Coffee or tea
- All food and drink samples indicated in the itinerary such as Hu Tieu Bo Kho (Beef stew with noodles), xa xiu (Cantonese barbecued pork or duck), Bo la lot (barbecued minced beef), fried rice flour cake with egg and deep-fried tofu with lemongrass or salted egg yolk with green chili
- Additional food and drinks
- Tips/gratuities for a local guide
Overview
We all know Vietnam is an absolute legend when it comes to street food, and if you want to make the most of your time (and stomach space), you’ll want to head out with an in-the-know local to pick out the best of the best of Saigon’s street food. Put your eating pants on and follow us! Our Saigon food tour kicks off with some authentic local appetizers such as chao muc (a dry squid porridge) and xa xui (Cantonese barbecued pork). Learn how Chinese food has been integrated into Vietnamese cuisine as you inhale the spicy flavours of the street stalls and watch local life unfold before your eyes in the heart of Saigon. Our immersion into local life continues as we make our way to the corner of Nguyen Cong Tru and Calmette for a unique street food called banh bo banh tieu, which recalls memories of many Saigoneses’ childhoods. This spot is also a good place to learn about Calmette and Yersin, the two disciples of Pasteur who greatly contributed to the health health system in Vietnam. The Pasteur Institute in Saigon is the first one outside of France, and was set up by Calmette, and the one in Nha Trang was started by Yersin – who was also the founder of the University of Medicine of Hanoi and discovered the bacteria that causes Black Death. This is why these three names are among the last remaining French names in HCMC. On the way to our next food stop, we will pass by Chua Ba Thien Hau, which means the Goddess of the Sea. This former Chinese community house honours Chinese immigration to Saigon through the different periods of Cantonese, Teochew and Hakka. It wouldn’t be a true local experience without enjoying coffee the way Saigonese coffee aficionados do on a daily basis. We’ll head to a popular local gem of Saigon to enjoy a cup. We’ll show you the local style of taking your coffee and you’ll feel right at home! Next up on our Saigon food adventure is another one of the city’s iconic street food dishes: bo cuon mo chai (barbecued beef meatballs) and fried rice flour cake with egg. These dishes are some of the most popular and preferred dishes by southerners, and you can find them everywhere, from street stalls to fancy restaurants. What makes them so beloved is that the ingredients are so strikingly simple, yet the tastes and flavours are truly unforgettable (we promise). We’ll cap off our Saigon street food tour with, what else, street beer! At this street beer stall, we’ll outfit you with a cold Saigon beer with peanuts and rice crackers and taste some deep-fried tofu with lemongrass or salted egg yolk with green chili. This is a great chance to mingle with locals – not a bad way to end the evening is it?! We’ve reached the end, but your local guide is happy to provide tips for exploring the area further or assist you in getting a taxi back to your accommodation.
Additional Information
While we strongly recommend that all travellers are vaccinated against COVID-19 to reduce the risk of transmission and avoid putting undue strain on healthcare services, vaccinations are not a requirement to join an Urban Adventures tour. For further information, please review COVID-19 Health & Safety at https://www.urbanadventures.com/en/about-us/covid-19-customer-info.
This tour can cater gluten free customers but unfortunately is not suitable for vegans. There are limited food options for vegetarians. For any specific dietary request, please notify us within 24hr of the start of the tour. Please emails us at email [email protected].
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity.
