As we were flying Vietnam Airlines to Fukuoka for Rugby World Cup, we deliberately arranged for an 11-hour stopover in Ho Chi Minh City. With our limited time in Vietnam, we thought that it would be a good idea to go on an evening street food tour.
After some research, we decided on Saigon Kiss Tour, one of the top-rated operators on Tripadvisor.
Booking Process for Saigon Kiss Street Food Tour
Booking can be done either through the website or WhatsApp. My friend J contacted them through the website form a few days before and received the confirmation by the next day.
Cost of Saigon Kiss Street Food Tour
The evening street tour costs 59 USD or 1,375,000 VND per person and includes the following: –
- Transportation by scooter with free hotel pick-up / drop-off (helmet provided)
- English-speaking guide for each participant
- All food and beverage (inclusive of beers for adults)
- Accident insurance
They have a free cancellation policy and we opted to pay with cash at the end of the tour.
Pick-up
We originally arranged the pick-up to be in front of Ho Chi Minh City Opera House at 5pm but our spa treatment at Temple Leaf Spa Land overran. The guides were nice enough to meet us there directly instead at 5.30pm.
After introduction and a safety briefing, we were soon on our way to the first stop.
Stop 1: Bánh Canh Cua 87
The Vietnamese traffic could be nerve-wrecking for first-timers to the country due to the insane amount of scooters and the seemingly lack of rules. I am awed by how deftly the locals could handle their scooters in such overwhelming traffic conditions.
After 15 minutes’ ride, we reached the place which was famous for its crab noodle soup.
It was an awesome bowl of goodness filled with tapioca noodles, prawn, crab meat and pig’s blood (no longer available in Singapore) and accompanied by youtiao (fried dough sticks).
I really love the rich broth and based on the empty bowls, my companions agreed as well.
Stop 2: Random drink stall along Pasteur
Next stop was a drinks stall by the road side of Pasteur. Our guides introduced us to a refreshing local drink of preserved kumquat with coconut (or is it coconut with preserved kumquat?).
Stop 3: Bánh Xèo Bình Định Nẫu Ơi
Proceeding to the third stop required a fair bit of riding. Located at the northern edge of district 1 was a fairly nondescript place selling Bánh Xèo, stuffed pancakes with crispy fritters.
The chef put on a show for us frying the fritters.
After introducing the different herbs used in Vietnamese cuisine, the guides proceeded to do a demonstration on how to put together the wrap.
Another great local dish down; onward to next place.
Stop 4: View point in District 2
The original seafood place that we were supposed to visit was full and the guides suggested that we could do a spin through District 2 to digest a bit.
For a long time, District 2 was Ho Chi Minh’s backwater area but there are plans to develop it into the next economic centre, not unlike Pudong in Shanghai. Hence we rode through a fair bit of construction sites until we turned off to a side road by Saigon River.
While there were food stalls with many locals hanging out, we were just there for the nice view of District 1’s skyline.
Stop 5: Ốc Thảo
It was a short ride across Thủ Thiêm Bridge into District 4, Ho Chi Minh City’s smallest urban district. According to the guides, District 4 had a reputation among the locals as “the place with many gangsters”.
There was no fear of them now. We soon found ourselves seated down again in low stools at a seafood restaurant, partaking in delicious snails, clams, cockles and squids. I washed them down with some local beers as well.
Stop 6: Flan Ngoc Nga
Round the corner was the dessert shop Flan Ngoc Nga, our last stop for the tour. Like all the places en-route, it was filled with locals out having a good time on a Saturday evening.
Despite our bursting stomachs, our guides still ordered several items for us to share.
It was indeed a sweet end to the evening and we were each given a Saigon Kiss Tour key chain as a souvenir.
From the shop, we bid goodbye to the lovely guides and headed to the airport for our onward flight to Fukuoka.
My Thoughts on Saigon Kiss Street Food Tour
Overall, it was an enjoyable tour. Although there were cheaper versions run by other operators, we did get what we paid for in terms of quality of food and guiding.
Beside sharing their knowledge, the guides were all friendly and eager to get to know us as well. It was no wonder that Saigon Kiss Tours received such good reviews on the Tripadvisor.
Locations visited
1. Banh Canh Cua 87 (Crab Noodle Soup) at 87 Trần Khắc Chân, Tân Định, Quận 1
2.Bánh Xèo Bình Định Nẫu Ơi (Crispy Stuffed Rice Pancakes) at 63 Ung Văn Khiêm, Phường 25, Bình Thạnh
3. Nice View Point of HCM skyline at Đường Cây Bàng, Thủ Thiêm, Quận 2
4. Ốc Thảo (Seafood restaurant) at 383 Vĩnh Khánh, Phường 8, Quận 4
5. Flan Ngoc Nga (Custard dessert) at 63 Đường Số 20, Phường 9, Quận 4
