Ho chi minh city, culture, street food

Just steps away from the bustling energy of downtown Saigon lies a hidden world of alleys, where the authentic daily life of the Saigonese unfolds. Our Saigon Hidden Alleys takes you through these charming mazes, offering a glimpse into how locals live and thrive.

Join us to uncover the city's hidden backyard, explore its secret alleys, and immerse yourself in an unforgettable, truly local experience!

HIGHLIGHTS

• Be a Saigonese for half a day (the magic wears off before midnight)!
• Experience Saigon’s nightlife like a local.
• Have a surprise 3-hour walk around Saigon’s alleyways to reach hidden places frequented by local patrons.
• Enjoy sightseeing in Saigon and sampling delicious street foods (snacks, dinner & desserts).
• See nighttime Saigon at its best from one of the riverside viewing spots.
• Capture the most incredible photos of the surrounding scenery.
• Enjoy panoramic views of Ho Chi Minh City at Saigon Skydeck.

SCHEDULE DETAILS

4:30 PM

You will be greeted at the Fine Arts Museum, the main entrance. 

The tour starts through busy streets in downtown areas. You will be introduced with stories of the then-and-now Saigon while we pass by modern and old houses, local markets, pagodas, hidden cafes, street food vendor and shrines.

Our first stop is the Fine Arts Museum (outside), a masterpiece of Sino-French architecture and once the mansion of one of the wealthiest man of Saigon in the old days. Our steps continue to the street dubbed as “mini-Chinatown” to visit a small Pagoda of the Chinese Hokkien community. The Chinese community, along with the majority Vietnamese as well as Khmer, Cham, Indian and European people all left their footprints and made a culture-diverse modern Saigon.

The journey goes on into the chaotic-yet-lovely of Saigon alleys. From now on, you will be experiencing the real local life, with street vendors roaming, bikers riding just next to you and open-space living room in a very up-close distance. Our guide will show you how urban people live, how they make their lives with small businesses at home and get lost in the endless maze of small alleys and dead-ends. Expect to see beauty salons, coffee shops, grocery stores or family living scenes as you pass by houses along the roads.

We will also pass through countless street-food stalls where you can get a taste of local delicacies that can’t be found in upmarket restaurants or touristy areas. Feel free to ask your guide to stop at any places that you feel interested.

6:30 PM

The walk concludes with a stop at local noodle shops for a local dinner. Visit one of the oldest churches in town. After that, we will drop you off at the ultra-modern Saigon Skydeck to enjoy 360-degree views of Ho Chi Minh City at night around 7:30 PM.

NOTICE:

This tour is only applied to the children from 7 years OR above.

PRICES

• Rates are in USD per person.
• 30% surcharge applies for: Jan 21-29, Apr 30 & May 1;   Sep 2;   Dec 31, 2023 &  Jan 1, 2024

SMALL GROUP TOUR POLICIES:

• Please note that the price applies to the number of people per booking and NOT the number of people in the combined group (minimum group size is 2 and maximum is 6 people) on the date of the tour.
• Although we do accept solo travelers (WITH / WITHOUT children), we’ll need to match you up with other travelers who wish to take the tour on the same day as you. The tour is only guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 2 adult travelers. In this case, please contact us by either phone or email to confirm the availability.

FEATURES& INCLUSIONS:

Inclusions:

English speaking guide;

Food tasting during tours: two light snacks, one main dish (Noodle soup of choice: pho, hu tieu or bun) with drink (soft-drink or bottled water), one dessert;

Transport by car back to District 1.

Exclusions:

 Additional food and drinks,

 Personal expenses,

 Tips/ gratuities for local guide, insurance.

CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING:

When you submit your booking, it does NOT mean your tour is booked. You will receive a confirmation email from our booking staff shortly. 

If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours of your booking request, please check your SPAM or JUNK mail folder or contact us again via [email protected] or call us at (+84) 83 439 1331. Thank you!

TOUR FAQS:

How far is the whole trip?

Walking distance is approximately 5 km. You will be walking mostly on streets and alleys with flat terrain and regular uneven steps so it might be not suitable for minors (less than 6) or travelers that need an accessible facility. We will make a few stops during the trip to try some local foods, take photos and interact with locals.

Children under 7?

Our tour is designed for adults and children from 7 as it involves intensive walking on streets, which is not suitable for children under 7. The regular uneven terrain along the tour means that it is also not suitable for stroller or baby carrier as well.

Can you cater to my food allergies/ restrictions?

Since we are provided prior notice, we can adapt the dishes on the tour to fit your food restriction which should not be a problem. So, we can cater to vegetarians OR vegan travellers. Please inform your local guide about any food allergies you might have.

What happens if it rains before/ during the tour?

During the rainy season, heavy and short downpours usually occur in mid-afternoon or evening. Rain showers usually are very short-lived and haven't affected our tours very much in the past few years. So, if the rain is light, we will provide you a poncho to continue the tour :). In case, the bad weather occurs near our scheduled departure, we have the authority to cancel our tours to guarantee the safety of tourists. Here is our cancellation policy:

If the cancellation is informed before you leave for the tour, (you have not used any service yet) and we cannot find another date you wish to go on a 100% refund. If the cancellation is informed during the trip (you have already used some services). The fee of these services will be charged and we will refund the remaining amount. In case you want to cancel the tour in the last minutes due to unpleasant weather BUT our tour still goes out with other clients, here is our cancellation policy:

• 30% cancellation fee for any cancellation made less than 24 hours prior to the tour date since we have to book many services in advance.
• Otherwise, there is a 5% transaction fee for bookings that are canceled 24 hours prior to the departure in order to cover for transaction processing costs.

In case unfavorable weather conditions happen during the tour which leads to cancellation for safety reasons: If the tour has lasted 2 hours or more: you can opt to join the tour again on the next available date, or refund of 25%. If the tour has lasted less than 2 hours: you can opt to join the tour again on the next available date, or refund of 50%.

What should I wear and bring on the tour?

Since the weather in Saigon is usually hot and the tour requires a lot of walks, you should wear comfortable clothes and shoes that suitable for walking. For safety reasons, valuables should not be brought on tour. During the rainy season, a poncho will be provided in case of rain but it is advisable that you should wear waterproof clothes and shoes.