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Urban City Tours and Street Food Tours in Ho Chi Minh City

Urban City Tours and Street Food Tours in Ho Chi Minh City

By Ruby ZhaoUpdated Sep. 5, 2023

Ho Chi Minh City's sprawling streets contain a wealth of historical and cultural treasures. As you wander through crowded markets filled with everything from local produce to traditionally made handicrafts, you will also be walking in the shadows of French architectural marvels that were 'left behind'.

There is an endless selection of food carts, restaurants, cafes, and lounges to fuel your exploration, where you can stop and rest with a bowl of some of Vietnam's finest flavors.

Sample Tours

  • Mekong Delta Discovery Trip
  • Small Adventure Tour around Ho Chi Minh City
  • Traditional Street Food Tour
  • 9-Day Best of Vietnam Tour with Asia Highlights

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Why Take a Tour

Ho Chi Minh is a large city with a diverse and interesting culture. Sign up for one of these tours so you can experience as much as possible. A knowledgeable guide can help you see more attractions or try more foods than is possible alone. Guides will not only help you get places but also give you a wealth of information at every stop.

Traveling with a guide on a tour is also a safer option. Guides will know local customs and laws to keep you safe and can help you avoid scammers and tourist traps.

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China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.

How to Get on a Tour

The best way to ensure you have a fulfilling tour of Vietnam is to book a trip online. This will allow you to fully research the tour as well as the company sponsoring it. It is possible to book tours once you are in the country, but this is not recommended as there are many unlicensed agencies and the quality of service at these establishments cannot always be guaranteed.

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Need to Know Information About Tours

In Ho Chi Minh City, tours are divided into two types: Urban City Tours and Street Food Tours. The names are self-explanatory.

On an Urban City Tour your guide will focus on architecture, history, and unique attractions. On a Street Food Tour, while your guide will undoubtedly include information about history, the focus of the tour will be on Vietnamese cuisine.

Recommended Tours

Highlights of Urban City Tours and Street Food Tours

Mekong Delta Discovery Trip

Every travel or tour company in Ho Cho Minh City offers a tour like this. You will begin in the heart of HCMC and take a private boat down the Saigon River until you reach the Mekong delta.

Along the way you can explore villages and try local foods, while experiencing local customs.

Ho Chi Minh City Adventure Tour

This tour is designed for travelers who are intent on experiencing city life in HCMC. While you will stop for food, this tour is much more focused on city attractions than on street food.

You will be able to explore the Ben Thanh market and learn how to barter and bargain for clothing, gifts, and souvenirs, with the help of a knowledgeable guide.

This tour will make stops at Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the General Post Office and Opera House.

Traditional Street Food Tour

If you take a street food tour of HCMC as part of an Asia Highlights tour or as part of a private tour, you are in for a real treat. On most such tours you can expect to try over 30 different varieties of street food.

Your guide will inform you how the food is prepared, while teaching about each dishes cultural and culinary significance. Street food tours can vary greatly, but each focuses on appreciating Ho Chi Minh City's world-famous street food.

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Unique Attractions

Notre Dame Cathedral

Vietnam is primarily a Buddhist country, but the Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the last bastions of Catholic influence left behind by the French after their occupation of the country.

Location: Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000

Saigon Opera House

Building of the Opera House began in 1898 and the building's architecture represents the flashy and bold designs of the Third French Republic. While the architecture is worth seeing, the real excitement takes place inside the opera house itself.

There are a variety of shows but the most famous is the AO Show, featuring traditional Vietnamese music and folklore as well as Cirque du Soleil style performances. The City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera also offer frequent performances.

You can purchase a ticket to these events at the door or at any local tour office. Alternatively our guides would be happy to help you get tickets for events such as these when you are on one of our trips.

Nhu Lan Restaurant

Whether you prefer Vietnamese food or something more familiar, be sure to stop at Nhu Lan Restaurant at least once while you are in Ho Chi Minh City. Nhu Lan is famous for its Vietnamese-style sandwiches.

Location: 50-64-68 Ham Nghi St. Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City 70000

Explore Asia with Asia Highlights

At Asia Highlights we offer tailor-made tours through Asia, where you can enjoy all highlights as well as amazing cultural experiences. To get started, send us an email.

Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)

  • Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
  • Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
  • Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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