Saigon is one of the great food cities on earth — and the best way to eat it is not from a guidebook list, but on the back of a motorbike with a local who knows which stall does the best version of everything. A Saigon food tour is the single most popular thing first-time visitors do here, and for good reason. This guide covers the 7 best food tours in Ho Chi Minh City for 2026, and how to choose the right one for you.
Why Take a Food Tour in Saigon at All?
You could wander and eat on your own — and you should, at least once. But Saigon's best food is hidden: down unmarked alleys, at stalls with no English menu, in neighbourhoods spread across a city of ten million. A local guide takes you straight to the places they actually eat, explains what you are eating and how to eat it, and covers more ground in one evening than you would find in a week alone.
And because the food is spread out, the best tours move by motorbike — with you riding as a passenger behind an experienced local driver, helmet provided, fully insured. You get the food and the thrill of the city, with none of the risk of driving yourself.
1. Saigon Daytime Street Food Tour by Motorbike
The classic introduction. A 4-hour ride through hidden neighbourhoods, sampling the dishes that define Saigon — banh mi, banh xeo, fresh spring rolls, com tam, and more — at 8 to 10 local stops. Best for first-timers who want the full picture. See the daytime food tour →
2. Iconic Saigon By Night Food Tour
Our most popular evening experience. Saigon's street food culture comes alive after dark, and this tour rides through the city's best night stalls as the neon comes on. Grilled seafood, night-market snacks, and the city at its most atmospheric. See the night food tour →
3. Must-Try Saigon Iconic Food Adventure
A focused tour built entirely around the dishes every local insists you eat before you leave. If you want the greatest hits done properly, this is it. See the must-try food tour →
4. Saigon Foodie Tour by Car
Prefer four wheels? This private car tour covers the same incredible food with air-conditioned comfort between stops — ideal for families, hot days, or anyone who would rather not be on a motorbike. See the car food tour →
5. Saigon Walking Foodie & History Tour
For those who like to go slow and on foot. This tour weaves food together with the history of central Saigon — war-era bunkers, old apartment blocks, and the stories behind the streets. See the walking food tour →
6. Saigon Michelin Food, Coffee & Sightseeing Tour
Saigon now appears in the Michelin Guide, and this tour takes you to recognised stalls alongside iconic landmarks and a proper Vietnamese coffee stop. The foodie's choice for quality and context. See the Michelin food tour →
7. Saigon Budget Night Food Tour
The authentic night food experience at a backpacker-friendly price — same local knowledge, same hidden stalls, lighter on the wallet. See the budget night tour →
What You'll Eat on a Saigon Food Tour
- Banh mi — the legendary Vietnamese baguette
- Com tam — broken rice with grilled pork, the definitive Saigon lunch
- Banh xeo — sizzling crispy savoury crepes
- Goi cuon — fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce
- Bo la lot — beef grilled in aromatic piper leaves
- Vietnamese coffee — including the famous egg coffee
Want the full dish-by-dish breakdown? Read our Saigon street food guide.
How to Choose Your Tour
- First time in Saigon? Start with the daytime or night motorbike food tour.
- Not comfortable on a motorbike? Take the car or walking tour — same food, no bike.
- Serious foodie? Go for the Michelin tour.
- On a budget? The budget night tour delivers the experience for less.
Book Direct with Local Guides
Every Toward Local food tour is led by a local who eats at these stalls themselves — small groups, passenger-only motorbikes, helmets and insurance included. Browse all our Ho Chi Minh City food tours and book direct, with no agency markup.