Tour operator
XO Tours
Vietnam's self-described first all-female motorbike tour company, running food, night, sightseeing and photography tours of Saigon since 2010 with guides in ao dai.
A tour company showing Saigon from the back of vintage Vespa scooters, with evening, insider and craft beer tours run from its base on De Tham Street.
Good to know
Vespa Adventures shows visitors around Ho Chi Minh City from the back of vintage Vespa scooters, and the retro machines are part of the fun. The company's base is at 169a De Tham Street in Ben Thanh ward, and it also runs tours in Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi, as well as in Chiang Mai in Thailand and Siem Reap in Cambodia.
In Saigon there are three main tours. Saigon After Dark is an evening tour that shows the city at night, The Insider's Saigon runs in the morning or the afternoon as one of the company's city highlights tours, and the Saigon Craft Beer Tour is an evening ride that combines the scooters with the city's craft beer scene. Each is led by trained drivers, and the company describes its journeys as fully insured, with details on its cancellation and insurance page.
The tours suit couples, groups of friends and anyone who likes the idea of seeing Saigon with a touch of nostalgia. The craft beer tour is a good choice for anyone who wants to combine sightseeing with a night out.
Book ahead online, especially for the evening tours at weekends, and check the start time and meeting arrangements in your confirmation.
For first-time visitors, the evening Saigon After Dark tour is a good introduction, as the city is cooler and at its liveliest after sunset, while The Insider's Saigon fits neatly into a morning or afternoon between other sightseeing. Groups of friends often choose the craft beer tour as a way of combining a tour and a night out, and the vintage scooters make for memorable photographs. Ask about private tours if you are travelling as a family or a larger group.
Some practical points apply to all motorbike and food tours in Ho Chi Minh City. Tell the company about allergies and dietary requirements when you book, so the guides can plan the stops. Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes, carry a light rain jacket in the rainy season from around May to November, and bring a little cash for drinks or souvenirs. Riding pillion is easier than it looks, but sit still, keep your feet on the footrests and follow your driver's instructions, especially when getting on and off.
Saigon After Dark, The Insider's Saigon and the Saigon Craft Beer Tour.
At 169a De Tham Street, Ben Thanh ward, District 1.
Yes, the company describes them as fully insured.
No, guests ride with trained drivers.
Yes, The Insider's Saigon runs in the morning or afternoon.
Yes, including Hue, Hoi An, Hanoi, Chiang Mai and Siem Reap.
Yes, the Saigon Craft Beer Tour runs in the evening.
Online, or by phone on +84 77 299 3585 or email at [email protected].
Restaurant
Chef Peter Cuong Franklin's Michelin-starred restaurant in a narrow tube house in the Old Market, reworking Vietnamese street food with modern technique.
Thing to do
The covered market of central Saigon, in its clock-towered building since 1914, selling food, coffee, crafts and clothing, with a night market on the streets outside.
Bar
One of the city's longest-running rooftop bars, on level 26 of AB Tower, with 360-degree views, DJ nights and a strictly enforced dress code.
Café
The flagship café of Marou, the Vietnamese bean-to-bar chocolate maker founded in 2011, serving chocolate drinks, cakes and French-style pastries on Calmette Street.