District 3, Saigon has been a part of my daily life for two years since I started my career as a freelance tour guide. As a guide, I like discovering new places in my free time, either by myself or with a group of friends. As a result, I found so many interesting things to do in my current area. District 3 to me is a quiet town where a majority of the middle-class Saigonese live. When darkness falls, District 3 starts coming to life as people from other parts of Saigon flock here for a night of stress-killing.

What to do in Ho Chi Minh City District 3 at night?  District 3 nightlife has many coffee shops, boutique stores, hipster bars, restaurants, and clubs. Down below I will recommend my favorite spots to spend a night out in District 3. The price, vibe, and experience are different and diverse depending on which location you pick.

Feel free to mix and match from these recommendations to create a fun night out that is customized for you and friends! For me, a night date with my boyfriend would start with watching live music with a drink at the Acoustic Bar, then a lovely dinner at Shri, and a late night filled with dancing at the Social Club.

Acoustic Bar – Cafe Rock

Acoustic Bar to me is one of the leading bars with live music in Saigon. They hire fantastic bands who jam out classic rock ballads for customers to dance and sing to. These smart choices of rock ballad songs keep the faithful regulars coming back to the Acoustic Bar night after night. What we love about Acoustic Bar, besides the music, is the lounge itself which is not too big so we can actually feel the beat of the music.

There are several familiar bands playing at the bar each night as their regular customers always praise them highly. My favorites are the Stick-it-tu-da-man (Rock ballad), Akalika (Alternative Rock) and Acoustic Band (R&B, Pop Ballad, Blues).

When coming to the bar I would recommend taking a grab bike or taxi cab. Acoustic Bar is located at the end of an alley so parking is very limited. There are two things I would like to see improved in the future at the Acoustic Bar. The first is that smoking is allowed inside which becomes a bit heavy and smelly for non-smokers. My second suggestion is that the cocktails could have a better taste and variety if compared to other cocktail bars in the city. However, if you’re here just for the live music then a bottle of Strongbow or beer still works perfectly for a fun night out. For fans of rock out there, remember to come before 9:45 PM, as this is when the bands ignite the crowd with impressive rock beats! Afterwards, feel free to request your favorite songs for the band to play. These bandmates are always happy to please their fans!

Address: 6E1 Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, Ward 7, District 3, HCMC

Open hours: 06:00 PM – 11:30 PM

Phone number: (+84)816 777 773

Price: $

Biacraft Artisan Ales

I’m more than happy to include Biacraft Artisan Ales to any of my guests or friends every time they ask me for recommendations. I always come here at least once a month because Biacraft has the most extensive collection of craft beers in Vietnam, both locally brewed and imported.

The Space is cozy and delightful, which is fantastic for a discussion with customers, a romantic date, or simply a stress-killing night. Biacraft founders did an excellent job in offering a wide range of beers that differ in their taste and smell. The way they name their beers is cool and exceptional. You can find some beers with their funny names such as Holy Grail, Short But Arrogant, or Ugly But Vain. In addition to the beer itself, the food is very tasty. Biacraft offers some classic comfort food along with more creative dishes. I have really enjoyed their Chicken Skin Nachos, Fresh Oysters, and Fish and Chips. If you are craving some great craft beers and comfort food then don’t miss Biacraft for a night out in D3.

Address: 1 Le Ngo Cat Street, District 3, HCMC

Open hours: 11:00AM – 11:00PM

Phone number: (+84)2839 330 903

Price: $$

SOHY – Sky Lounge and Dining

SOHY comes to my mind when I need a panoramic view of the city and a deep conversation with my friends. To me, SOHY is a lot more than just being the highest rooftop lounge in Saigon.

My experiences with SOHY usually start at around 7 PM, a great time for dinner. I prefer booking a table for a group of 4 somewhere near the glass window. I enjoy the vibrant view when looking down at the buildings lit up at night. I’m a devoted fan of Vietnamese cuisine , but there are times when I’m desperate for a new cuisine to taste. That’s when SOHY pops up in my head with its wide range of European cuisine besides Vietnamese food.

Even though the food is very good, what I think SOHY does best is its theme as a drinking establishment rather than a restaurant. I prefer coming here for a glass of wine, and I love how diversified its wine choices are.

The space at SOHY is fancy, serene, charming, and cozy. Since the lounge attracts a huge number of celebrities in the city, the quality of staff, food and drinks are second to none, which make sense of the price. I think SOHY is a great choice for a drink at a rooftop lounge to enjoy the company of friends or a date. The price is on the expensive side so do expect to pay for the view.

Address: Floor 25-26 Centec Tower – 72 – 74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3, HCMC.

Open hours: 5:30 PM – 1:30 AM

Phone number: (+84)907 878 778

Price: $$$

The Gangs – Grill and Beer

Beer and grilled meat definitely cannot go without each other, and The Gangs does a great job in combining the two together. This is indeed an exciting and popular spot where people can gather for a fun night out for delicious food and beers.

The Gangs offer both indoor and outdoor dining spaces, which I prefer the outdoor setting more as it’s spacious, refreshing, and better for smoky grills. The grilled meat platters here are all excellent in taste and diversity. When I come with my close friends, we go for The Gangs Meat Platter. On the platter my favorite dish is the lamb shank. The meat can sometimes be a bit on the chewy side, which is the preferred texture for Vietnamese. If this is an issue for you, please be sure to let your waitress know. The next thing I would say about The Gangs is the atmosphere is very lively and crowded. This is a typical example of a memorable hangout or even a date with someone you like. Hence, there’s no reason why you should skip this place when looking for what to do in Ho Chi Minh City District 3 at night!

The staff are active and quick when called, which means your girls’ night out or boys’ night out with beer, BBQ, talkfest, and laughter will be handled well with no issues. Some of their staff also speak a little bit of English to make it easier for travellers.

Address: 131 Nguyen Phuc Nguyen Street, Ward 10, District 3, HCMC

Phone number: (+84)971 565 557

Open hours: 11:00 AM – 02:00 AM

Price: $$

The Square Restaurant – Novotel Saigon Centre

Since I’m a big fan of casual fun talk and crowded nightlife, I don’t really go to a buffet restaurant quite often. In case I need some changes once in a while, I’ll be opting for The Square Restaurant at Novotel Saigon Centre for their famous seafood buffet. The Square is located on the second floor of 4-star hotel in District 3 – Novotel Saigon Centre. That’s why interior decoration and staff quality are undoubtedly excellent. This open kitchen allows you to feast in a wide array of Asian – European cuisine every day, where you can observe the cooking process up-close.

The seafood buffet is universally praised by patrons of the restaurant. Their seafood is fresh, tasty and diverse, which comes in a range of about 50 – 70 different dishes. Oysters, lobsters, crabs and fish can be grilled upon request. Sushi and desserts are available as well. While an expensive option, this is an excellent and fancy choice for a night out on the town.

Address: Novotel Saigon Centre – 167 Hai Ba Trung Street, District 3, HCMC.

Open hours: 06:00 PM – 11:00 PM.

Phone number: (+84)2838 224 866

Price: $$$

Rico Taco Saigon

Rico Taco is where big fans of authentic Mexican food can satisfy their needs when in District 3, Saigon. I’m honestly not an expert when it comes to Mexican food, but Fish Taco here really wake up my taste buds. It’s crispy and delicious with a sweet corn salsa. I highly recommend Fish Tacos for anyone intending to check it out.

At Rico Taco Saigon, the staff are well-trained and the atmosphere is perfect. There are two dining sections, one with A/C indoor and one outdoor. The Mexican background music boosts the dining space even more. They also offer pizza for those who aren’t in the mood for traditional mexican fare.

Address: 29 Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, District 3, HCMC

Phone number: (+84)2839 300 233

Open hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Price: $$

Shri Restaurant and Lounge

It’s not hard to find Shri mentioned in multiple platforms and blogs advising people where to have fun in District 3 at night. What I like about Shri beside its fantastic view are the food and drink selections.

Shri is well known for its stunning view from the outside patio on the 23rd floor. While Shri does serve food throughout the day on their lunch and dinner menu, I highly recommend checking out the Bar and Tapas menu for some small plates. This will go great with a cocktail on the patio as you sit and enjoy the gorgeous view of the city with a drink in your hand. I would recommend Shri for a romantic view and some cocktails with your significant other or a quiet conversation with a group of friends.

Address: Floor 23, Centec Tower – 72-74, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3, HCMC

Open hours: Mon – Fri: 10:30 AM – 12:00 AM | Sat – Sun: 04:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Phone number: (+84)2838 279 631

Price: $$$

Social Club – Hotel Des Art

Sitting up above the rooftop of the Hôtel des Arts Saigon, Social Club Rooftop Bar is where I drop by for an overview of the hectic streets of District 3 down below. The first time I came to Social Club, I was joining a networking event by Travel Massive. I knew right away I would be back soon.

You will find a setting of standing tables and  tall chairs scattered throughout the outside lounge, which is a thoughtful design for different group sizes. The quiet and high-end atmosphere here makes it perfect for a meet-up with customers or a date.

I don’t just come here for a sip of cocktails, because the vibrant ambient music and DJs playing also help chase my stress away, especially at the end of a hard-working day. Uplifting music by the local DJ is in between 8:30 PM and 1:00 AM weekdays, and 8:30 PM – 2:00 AM weekend. Social Club’s staff are fluent in English, well-trained, and active. If you are staying nearby this area, you may consider coming here at least once during your stay.

Address: 76 78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3, HCMC

Phone number: (+84)2839 898 888

Open hours: 12:05 PM – 12:00 AM

Price: $$$

What to do in Ho Chi Minh City District 3 at night? It’s not a problem anymore with the list above. I believe you will have up to two or three fun nights out with these 8 places. Feel free to save this list for later use and don’t hesitate to share it with your friends!

Original Post Here: What to Do in Ho Chi Minh City District 3 at Night? – Best 8 Places in District 3 at Night

Though Ben Tre is only 85 km to the west of Ho Chi Minh City, How to get to Ben Tre from Ho Chi Minh City has a lot of tourists confused when researching transportation. Information on many online travel platforms or websites seem to be very general and sometimes outdated. Some websites may even suggest that the easiest and cheapest way to do it is to buy a tour from a travel agent in Ho Chi Minh City. This may be an easier option, but an adventurous wanderer will surely not fancy spending time on a tour bus, cramming in as many towns as possible, and eating in the prescribed restaurants.

Being a local from Ben Tre, I believe there are plenty of alternatives that would help you create a memorable experience. In this blog, I will list all means of transportation that the local people usually use to get to Ben Tre from Ho Chi Minh City. You can get there by Bus, Taxi, Car Rental, or Grab. You may get into some trouble communicating with the locals as most people in Ben Tre cannot speak English. Learn how these transportation services operate and plan your trip carefully before you go to avoid language barrier issues!

Bus

Catching a bus is the most suitable for people who are on a budget to get to Ben Tre. On average, there is a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre every 15 minutes a day. It takes 2 hours to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to the city center of Ben Tre by bus. The earliest bus departs at 6:00 AM and the last bus going to Ben Tre is 7:00 PM. The bus ticket price is very affordable, ranging from $3 to $5 depending on the type of seat and transportation company. If you travel during some national holidays in Vietnam, the price may slightly increase to $7 but it’s not significant. All buses have air-conditioning and most provide free wifi. Despite the cheap fare, buses to Ben Tre have some drawbacks. It will be slower than other transportation as the on the way to Ben Tre the bus will make multiple stops to let off guests during the trip. Once you arrive at the bus stop, you have to transfer to a transit mini car to drive you to different spots around Ben Tre City.

There are two ways you can catch a bus to Ben Tre. If you can speak some Vietnamese, you can call the hotline to book a ticket and ask to be picked up anywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. If your place is further than 5 km from the bus station, they will charge you $1 more for a transit car to the bus station. If your pick up location is on the way to Ben Tre, it’s free of transit charge. On the way to Ben Tre, the bus will stop at a bakery. The driver will collect bus fare and the passengers can buy some food or go to the toilet before reaching the highway to Ben Tre. Remember to keep the ticket that you have already paid for at the bus station and give it to the driver. If you haven’t purchased your ticket yet, you have to pay the fare by cash to the driver.

You can also go directly to the bus station to buy a ticket and get on the bus there. Each bus company has its own bus station in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, which is the bus departure place. But you can also buy a ticket at Mien Tay bus station at 395 Kinh Duong Vuong Street in Binh Tan District. All bus companies have a ticket office there.

Some recommended bus services are listed as follows:

Thinh Phat

Website: thinhphatbentre.com

Address: 25A Su Van Hanh Street, Ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Contact: (028) 38303042 – (028) 38393625 – 0913965050

Minh Tam

Website: xekhachminhtam.com

Address: 204C Su Van Hanh Street, Ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Contact: (028) 38306106 – 0948222207

Hoang Khai

Website: http://www.hoangkhaibentre.com

Address: 50 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Ward 2, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Contact: (028) 38353953 – 0902340452

Thao Chau

Website: thaochautour.com

Address: 70B Hung Vuong Street, Ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Contact: (028) 38339954

FUTA Bus Line

Website: futabus.vn

Address: 395 Kinh Duong Vuong Street, An Lac Ward, Binh Tan District

Contact: 19006067

If you want to arrive in a different part of Ben Tre rather than the city center, you should ask the driver to drop you off at the Ben Tre bus station. From there take a different bus to your destination. Some bus services also offer you drop off in other parts of town but there are fewer departure times than those arriving at the city center.

Grab, Taxi, or Car

If you travel in a group of 4 or more, this option will save you a lot of money. With the rapid growth of Grab and its widespread network and diverse services, it is easy to take a Grab car to Ben Tre. The car fare will be around $48 for a 4-seat car ride and $57 for a 7-seat car ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre. Grab is very convenient as you have all the information about the fare and driver in the app. You can pay by either cash or card via the Grab app, which the bus service doesn’t have. It’s also faster than travelling by bus as your car will arrive at the exact address you request. But of course, it will cost you more. Also, you should take into account that your Grab car is a random one so it may not meet your expectation about the cleanliness, the driver’s behavior, or the comfort of the seats.

Another option is taking a taxi. There are plenty of taxi services to get to Ben Tre but the most popular are Mai Linh Taxi and Vinasun Taxi. These two are among the first traditional taxi services in Vietnam. The fare may fluctuate between $55 and $70. You can call the taxi hotline to pick you up at your place and ask for the fare in advance. For a long ride, they often give you a price deal instead of a taxi fare calculator. Also, both of these taxi services have their own app like Grab for your reference. You can download on App Store or Google Play by searching the name of taxi.

Mai Linh Taxi

Website: mailinh.vn

Contact: (028) 38277979

Vinasun Taxi

Website: http://www.vinasuntaxi.com

Contact: (028) 38272727

A much more comfortable service than Grab or taxi is renting a private car. With this transportation, you can be sure of the quality of the car and the person in charge if there is any incident. This is the most expensive means of transportation to get to Ben Tre from Ho Chi Minh city, but brings you the best comfort and convenience. You need to book the car at least 3 days prior to your trip so that the car company can arrange to offer you the best price and service. Some of the car rental services you can consider are:

Congtythuexe.com

Website: congtythuexe.com

Contact: 0941122211 – 0937711777 – 0922456678 – (028) 22667711

Fare: $61 (4-seat car); $66 (7-seat car); $79 (16-seat car)

ibookcar.com

Website: ibookcar.com

Contact: 0933370114 – 0868713318

Fare for one-way car:

4-seat car fare = number of kilometer x $0.35 + $17.4

7-seat car fare = number of kilometer x $0.35 + $21.7

Fare for round-trip car:

4-seat car fare = number of kilometer x $0.17 + $30.4

7-seat car fare = number of kilometer x $0.17 + $39.1

These are ways that you can get to Ben Tre without relying on a tour. Whether you choose to take a bus, car, grab, or taxi, I hope your trip to my hometown is one you’ll always cherish and remember. I hope you found my blog helpful and are able to plan your ideal trip to Ben Tre.

Read More Here: How to get to Ben Tre from Ho Chi Minh City

Weasel coffee is one of the world’s most renowned and elusive coffee beans because of its chocolate-like taste, delicate aroma, and smoky smell. A lot of locals and visitors in Vietnam want to know, where to buy weasel coffee in ho chi minh city? The Civet Weasel does live and create the famous coffee beans in Vietnam, but the scarcity of the beans makes it difficult to find a real supplier.

Where to buy weasel coffee in Ho Chi Minh City? You can buy imitation weasel coffee beans from Trung Nguyen Coffee or purchase real beans from our recommended supplier Legend Revived Chon Coffee. I’ll let you know a bit more about Weasel Coffee and the suppliers so you can make the best decision on if you would like to buy weasel coffee in Vietnam.

What is Weasel Coffee?

Weasel Coffee is a bit of a controversial subject because of the process. The organic and natural way the coffee was originally used was from the feces of the Civet that used to lay around naturally in coffee farmlands. After discovery that the weasels digestive process left the coffee with a unique taste, it became a sought after delicacy by the rich.

These days greedy suppliers force weasels to eat coffee and raise them in unhealthy captive environment to make as much profit as they can. Vietnamese mainly use imitation weasel coffee, because of the controversy but also the price. This type of coffee is made from a bio-fermentation process, which simulate the natural fermentation process in the weasels’ stomach.

Some suppliers who take advantage of the demand for Weasel coffee don’t make it unethical to purchase necessarily. There will be as many good suppliers as there are bad, we will recommend an outlet who does sell the real weasel coffee so you can have the option if you would like to purchase the coffee while in Ho Chi Minh City. It depends on you if you would like to buy imitation weasel coffee or real weasel coffee.

Buying Imitation Weasel Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City

We recommend buying Imitation Weasel Coffee from Trung Nguyen Coffee Shops. Many coffee shops sell “weasel” coffee in Ho Chi Minh City. You can see coffee kiosks on the sidewalks and markets selling weasel coffee, but don’t trust them. Real Weasel coffee is too expensive and rare to find it at these Kiosks. These kiosks and shops are selling normal Robusta coffee and not even the imitation weasel coffee.

Trung Nguyen Coffee is the most prestigious brand in Vietnam that sells imitation weasel coffee. They are like Vietnam’s version of Starbucks. Trung Nguyen Coffee Shops can be found on almost every crossroads in the center of the city. I always love to visit these coffee shops to enjoy a cup of coffee, while chatting with friends and enjoying the relaxing music. This represents a large part of Vietnam’s culture and way of life.

Imitation Weasel Coffee does have a nice taste to it that I rather enjoy but it may not be for everyone. Trung Nguyen’s natural bio fermentation process gets the coffee to come close to the same aroma and taste as weasel coffee but a bit more easy on the palate than the real stuff. My personal recommendation would be to order Coffee from Trung Nguyen instead of spending so much money on real weasel Coffee. If you love the imitation coffee, then it may be time to consider purchasing some of the real weasel coffee.

Trung Nguyen Locations that sell Weasel Coffee

Trung Nguyen Legend company colors are Black and Gold. The logo is a combination of two circles. There is a symbol of the sun in the middle of the inner circle and coffee beans and hearts around it.

Here are some locations of the brand that are near Ben Thanh Market in District 1 Ho Chi Minh City. These should be easy for a traveler to visit. I’ve noted the time when they open and close their shops so that you can find which ones are the most convenient for you to visit.  

Trung Nguyen Legend Café

-133 Nguyen Hue Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

6:30 AM – 10:30 PM

-31-33 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

7 AM – 11PM

-12 Alexandre de Rhodes Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

7 AM – 11 PM

The staff may speak limited English. They can handle a simple coffee order but when you need to buy raw coffee powder to bring home, you’ll need more help.

How to Buy Weasel Coffee from Trung Nguyen to Bring Home

Most of the Trung Nguyen locations around Ho Chi Minh City will have pre-packaged bags of their coffee that you can bring home with you.

You can find these products in almost all of the Trung Nguyen coffee shops. They can also be found on the shelf of Lotte Mart Supermarkets and even on Amazon.

Here’s Trung Nguyen Legend fan-page that has the FAQ, maybe it is a little helpful for you: https://www.facebook.com/trungnguyenlegendcafe/

However, they are slow in response, I suggest buying directly at the mentioned shops and supermarkets.

Where to Buy Weasel Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City from a Local Supplier

If you are a coffee connoisseur and eager to buy real weasel coffee in Vietnam, you can visit Authentic Legend Revived Chon Coffee.

Authentic Legend Revived Chon Coffee is not as well-known as Trung Nguyen Coffee in Vietnam. They sell real weasel coffee produced from their farms, so the prices are more expensive than those of Trung Nguyen. It’s their coffee quality and their foreign customers that prove the trustworthiness.

They have two civet farms: one is in Buon Ma Thuot and another one is in Lac Duong District, near Da Lat City. Their civets are either Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) or Masked Palm Civet (Paguma larvata). The Civets are kept in a semi-natural habitat, so you don’t have to worry about these poor civets being exploited.

You can either buy weasel coffee at their showroom, their retail places or order coffee to your accommodation via phone.

If you would like to visit Legend Revived Showroom, you can please visit their address below:

Address: 49bis Hau Giang St., Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City

Hours: 7:30 AM – 8:30 PM

Phone number: 028 6674 9944 (English and Vietnamese)

Website: caphechon.vn/eng/

They also have branches found throughout Ho Chi Minh City that will sell their coffee on the shelf for you to purchase. If you are looking to buy a bag to take back with you, we recommend reaching out or visiting the following places to buy your coffee.

Promana, The Reverie Saigon

-22-36 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1.

Windsor Plaza Hotel

-18 An Duong Vuong Street, District 5.

Park Hyatt Sai Gon

-2 Lam Son Street, District 1.

Lotte Mart

-242 Nguyen Van Luong Street, Ward 10, Go Vap District.

-Nguyen Huu Tho Street, Tan Hung Ward, District 7.

Citimart

-18-20 Ton Dat Tien, Garden Plaza 1, Tan Phong Ward, District 7.

-60A Truong Son, Tan Binh Ward ( 5th floor)

-126 Hung Vuong, Ward 12, District 5.

US Mart

-329 Tran Hung Dao, Co Giang Ward, District 1.

-169 Nguyen Duc Canh, District 7.

A&T

-21/18 Truong Son, Ward 4, Tan Binh District.

Shop Sapa

-105 Dong Khoi, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.

Vietnam The Gift

-R4-03 Hung Gia 2, Phu My Hung, District 7.    

How much is Weasel Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City?

The prices of weasel coffee depends a lot on the type of coffee and brands. The prices of weasel coffee in Vietnam is not very different from prices found all over the world.

A cup of weasel coffee costs from $30 to $50 USD. If you want to buy weasel coffee powder, it costs from $20 to $160 USD for 100g.

Imitation weasel coffee will be much more affordable for typical coffee drinks who are only interested in trying the taste of Civet coffee out of curiosity.

See Full Article Here: Where to Buy Weasel Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City?

Everyone likes to go on a shopping spree sometimes, and Saigon is definitely one of the best place for this. Through a quick Google search will help you find countless of high end shopping malls (Vincom A and B, and the most recent Takashimaya), we decided to have a look at more local (and affordable) places to buy souvenirs from your trip in Vietnam. We have decided to not include as well the infamous Bến Thành Market in District 1, mostly for its constant haggling and pricing (though it doesn’t match others in terms of convenience). Check out the video and scroll down below for the different markets and streets:

Best Shopping Spots in Ho Chi Minh City:

# Dried foods, Fabrics and souvenirs: Binh Tay & An Dong Market, District 5

# Clothes, Handbags: Nguyen Trai Street, Saigon Square(s), District 1 to District 10

# Shoes: Luu Van Lang Street, District 1

# Paintings: Tran Phu Street, District 5

# Antiques: Le Cong Kieu Street, District 1.

What’s your favorite shopping spot in Ho Chi Minh City?

Source Here: The Best Place for Shopping in Saigon

We’re quite proud to say that we had our tours customers aged from 1 to 95 years old, and they all enjoyed it! Though parents are often quite scared to let their children on a motorbike in busy Saigon, we believe that is also a fun experience for them to buzz through the lines and crossroads of our city. Many travelling families have been asking us, either throughout the tour or through email: “Where should I take my kids to in Saigon?” And it is indeed a good question: after all, while we believe attractions such as the War Remnants Museum or the Museum of Fines Arts are things to do in Saigon, they’re not quite kid-friendly (definitely not the first one for sure). So we decided to make this new video, our top 5 children activities in Saigon (according to us!). Scroll down below the video for the list and addresses.

#5 Artinus 3D Art Museum, 02-04 Street 09 (Next to Vietopia) Him Lam area, Tân Hưng Ward, District 7

#4 X-Rock Climbing, 75 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu Street, Ward 6 District 3

#3 The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, 55B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street, Bến Thành Ward, District 1

#2 Đầm Sen Park, 3 Hòa Bình Street, Ward 3, District 1

#1 Ourselves 🙂

We hope this post will help some enjoy a great family experience here in Ho Chi Minh City. Stay tuned on our for more videos coming soon!

Article Source Here: Top 5 Children Activities in Saigon, Vietnam!

What to eat for Lunch in Ho Chi Minh City a.k.a Saigon?

Entering the world of Vietnamese food can be a daunting task for a beginner out there on their own. What is it? Where is it? Is it the best? These are the questions that probably run through the mind of those out on their own Ho Chi Minh City foodie adventure.

Well, this is why we have put together a Top 5 List of our favorite Lunch foods in Saigon. We have done the leg work to point in you in the right direction for a delicious afternoon feast.

#5 Miến Gà Kỳ Đồng

Glass Noodles, Boiled Chicken, in a sweet but light chicken broth has been pleasing the crowds in District 3 for a long time now. One of the unique items that you will find in your bowl is small yolk that is found inside the chicken before it makes its way to become an actual egg. While this isn’t typically something you would find in a bowl of Chicken Soup back in the Western Nations, do not be fickle! Dig right in because this small yolk is delicious.

Glass Noodles for the uninitiated is a transparent noodle commonly known as cellophane noodles. You can find these noodles in different dishes from Pakistan all the way up to Korea. Typically, the noodle is made from various starches that might include Potato, Mung Bean, Cassava, etc etc. If you haven’t had the glass noodle, go for it. If it isn’t your thing, then be sure to ask for some other options in your soup. The two other popular noodle choices here would be rice noodle or wheat noodle.

The homemade Vietnamese hot sauce for dipping the chicken is also a do not miss when you visit this vendor. I repeat, use this sauce, it is delicious.

The herbs on the table will be Thai basil, Mint, and Sawtooth Coriander along with a nice big plate of Bean Sprouts.

#4 Bánh Khọt Vũng Tàu Khanh

This vendor is located fairly far from the city center of Saigon. If you plan on making a trip out here, it might be worth while to check out our other recommendations in this area so that you can make an event of the trip with more bang for your taxi bucks.

It is best to think of this dish has a wrap, since this is the proper way to eat the Banh Khot. This delicious fried disk of Coconut water and Rice Flour is topped with flash fried seafood such as shrimp and squid. There are a few different versions of Banh Khot but this is the more traditional version from Vung Tau. If you have tasted Banh Xeo, the famouse Vietnamese Pancake, then you will be familiar with the taste and style of eating this dish.

The plate of Banh Khot is set on the table leaving you to assemble your own wrap according to the desires of your own palette. Feel free to sample all of the fresh herbs and vegetables placed on the table to get an idea of what you like and don’t like. Using the big leaves as the base for the wrap, you can then place the smaller herbs on top of those. Placing the Banh Khot disk inside with a little shredded papaya, you will then roll the wrap tight, dip into the side of sweet fish sauce, and enjoy.

Tip: Don’t hesitate to add some chili to your sweet fish dipping sauce.

#3 Bún Chả Hà Nội

Allow me to get wax poetic, on the dish that is Bun Cha Ha Noi. A delicious meal brought to us from the heavens playing on our love for sweet and sour infused with the taste of grilled pork. Combined with fresh herbs and vegetables to keep it light and playful in our mouths. This dish is damn good and you should eat it.

Now, if you have the chance to eat it in Ha Noi, then you should eat it there. If you are only visiting the South of Vietnam then our recommendation here at #3 will do the job just fine.

If you decide that you want to eat two bowls of Bun Cha, we won’t judge. We have done this as well on several occasions.

Tip: Banh Thom (Fried Shrimp and Potato “Cake”) and Nem Cua (Square Crab and Pork Spring Roll) are two side dishes you should order while here. 1 plate of Banh Thom is enough for 3-4 people. While if you love crab like we do, then perhaps 1 Nem Cua per person will be ideal.

#2 Bún Thịt Nướng Chị Tuyền

In Southern Vietnam this is an extremely popular dish that can be eaten for Breakfast, Lunch, and/or Dinner. You can find heaps of Bun Thit Nuong vendors all over the streets of Saigon.

We have been serving this dish on our afternoon tours for years and have no plan on stopping. Quite often this tends to be the highest ranked dish on the tour based on the response of our guests. With that many thumbs up from all over the world we suggest you try it as well.

Tip: This dish contains pork in every way possible, so if you are not eating pig this dish is probably not the best choice for you. Be sure to check out our Top 5 Vegetarian Foods in Ho Chi Minh City Blog.

#1 Cơm Tấm Nguyễn Văn Cừ

Broken Rice, Pickles, and Marinated Grilled Pork served with Sweet Fish Sauce is our number one choice for the best lunch food in Ho Chi Minh City.

This dish can literally be found everywhere you look on the streets of Saigon, but this particular vendor is doing it very well. Not a very far taxi ride from the center makes this a must try dish while in Ho Chi Minh City.

Be prepared as this can be quite filling and heavy so you aren’t going to want to eat for a while after sinking your teeth into this meal.

Tip: Come here very hungry for Breakfast or Lunch.

Post Source Here: The Best Lunch Foods in Ho Chi Minh City

There has been alot of buzz around the world with the new concept of the “underground” or “pop up” restaurant. The idea is that Chef’s who can’t afford to jump right into starting their own restaurant can have the chance to do it inside of their homes or at featured venue’s. This is an exceptional idea and a unique way for Sous Chef’s or Cook’s to show their chops without their hard work being hidden by the name of a restaurant or the Executive chef. All of this without the risk of crippling debt that comes with a failed restaurant.

I have lived in Saigon for the last two years and suffer from “Great food envy”. This is the dark and deep depression that might enter a cook, chef, or foodie’s life when he is not able to book a dinner at a new restaurant with a creative menu from a young aspiring chef. The excitement that comes from seeing a cook push the envelope or take a step on the ledge with a new tasting menu or restaurant concept.

Why do I suffer from this when I am surrounded by some of the best street food in the world? Well, in all honesty, I grew up on it. Spending away the hard earned minimum wage money that I earned on my Externship eating my way around the Big Apple at 18. It was just what I was into at the time, and I have not grown out of it.

It seems that Saigon is lacking a movement of Chef’s who are looking to remove labels from their food such as “Vietnamese Cuisine”, “French Cuisine”, or anything else that will restrain the creativity in which a chef or cook looks at when planning a menu or dish. Sure, you can find a few restaurants out there who are serving great Vietnamese, French, Spanish, or Italian cuisine. This isn’t what I want though! I want someone who went to the market in the morning, found fresh ingredients, and came back to the restaurant to create.. Whatever the hell they wanted! Without the labels or confining themselves to stick to a certain realm of techniques just to satisfy the classification of their restaurant.

This is where Chad and I stepped in to take care of business ourselves during the summer of 2013 when we created, Tasty Inc. Chad and I met in Culinary School in New York in 2005, we were both cooks, and in 2013 we were living in Saigon with some time on our hands. Chad being the owner of Back of the Bike Tours. Fredrick, that is me, was looking at starting up cooking classes and was already restaurant consulting.  Both of us had a bit of extra time on our hands and were interested in starting up a new project. We looked at the size of our apartment, kitchen, and the interest of possible foodies in the city. It would be difficult to do but nothing worth doing isn’t. So we picked up a few kitchen equipment supplies, dishes, and had some furniture built. Within 4 weeks, we were serving our first guests.

Chad took the role of Executive Chef in the way of planning our menu’s. I took the role of Sous Chef, which meant doing whatever was needed to make the dinner a success.

Our first dinner was an excellent experience with Chad showing a bit of his time at Daniels Restaurant in NYC and some inspiration from his time at Alinea in Chicago. These two styles combined with the fresh local ingredients at the market were a huge success.

Braised Beef and Chili
Cashew Puree, Lime, Candied cashews, Onion, Cilantro

Shrimp salad
Avocado Puree, Pickled leeks, Shaved Radishes, Fennel, Shallot

Pork Belly
Braised Pork Belly With Roasted Pumpkin, Mustard Leaf Puree, Garlic Puree, and Garlic Chips

The above dishes are 3 of the 6 courses that were served on our first night.

We would continue to serve out of our house for the next two months and begin to get some regular guests and great feedback. Among our greatest moments, we got a write up in Oi Magazine which you can read here: Secret Supper Club
We even got the chance to do a private dinner for Chef Luke Nguyen, one of the judges of Australia’s Master Chef show.

Unfortunately, we had to close the door when Chad and Thuy, his wife and co-founder of Back of the Bike Tours, decided that it was time to move back to America.

When I think about my favorite time of cooking in my entire life, I think of the days of Tasty Inc. The idea of going to the market and cooking whatever looks best that day was a consuming desire when I was a young cook. This was the backbone of Tasty Inc and what made us so unique and interesting for our guests. The techniques and ways of thought about food that I learned while working with one of my best friends in our small apartment kitchen will never allow me to look at cooking the same way again. This was also the heart of Tasty Inc, pushing the envelope on what people have come to expect when eating dinner in Saigon.

I hope that someone else takes the torch that was lit by Chad and I. There are hungry people in Saigon who are looking for something new and different. I am one of them!

See Full Article Here: Seeking New and Great Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnamese Salad Recipe: Goi Ngo Sen (Lotus Stem Salad)

Everyone hears about the freshness and interesting flavors that make Vietnamese food unique and exciting. Especially for those seeking refuge from salads made up of Green Leaf lettuce covered in oil and vinegar with the hope of taking a few pounds off their waste line. Now, I am not promising that Vietnamese Salads don’t have their fair amount of sugar but they are absent in oil.
We will provide a recipe below for a basic Vietnamese salad along with the dressing. This has been tested and is Back of the Bike Tours approved for you to recreate at home for friends and family. Hopefully this recipe will help you think about the possibilities when in the kitchen making a salad at home. Instead of picking up that head of Iceberg or Romaine lettuce through an initial thought process of covering it in a bottled dressing, you will pick up that cabbage, carrot, daikon, pepper, onion, or cucumber in the hopes of creating something new and unique using this recipe below as your blue print for what a fresh and delicious salad can be.
The best Vietnamese salad when going out to eat at a large family style beer restaurant with friends and family for me personally is the Lotus Stem Salad. The crisp provided by the Lotus Stem, the freshness from the herbs, umami from the pork and shrimp, and sweet and sour from the Fish Sauce Dressing make this an incredible side dish to start off with. So when ordering on a night out, I will normally start the feast with this or a similar dish on the menu.

Goi Ngo Sen

Lotus Stem Salad with Shrimp Pork and Fish Sauce Dressing

• 75 grams of cleaned Lotus Stem
• 30 grams or 5 pcs of Sliced, De shelled, Poached Shrimp*
• 25 grams Poached Sliced Pork shoulder, loin, leg or ear*
• 6 Grams -1 tbsp of peanuts
• 6 grams – 2 tsp of shallot/oil*
• 45 ml – 3 tbsp of Fish Sauce Dressing SALAD DRESSING*
• 20 grams Carrot and Daikon Pickles*
• 8 gramsChopped Or Torn Herbs – Mint, Thai basil, Vietnamese Mint, Cilantro
• 4 to 8 Fried Prawn Crackers
Toss the Lotus Stem, Shrimp, Pork, Pickles, and Herbs together in a mixing bowl with ½ of the fish sauce dressing. Taste and adjust the dressing according to your preference.
Plate the salad ingredients, then drizzle a little more fish sauce dressing on top. Place the chopped peanuts and fried shallots on top of the salad.
Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.
Creates salad for 1 person, so please multiply by the number of people you are looking to feed.

Vietnamese Fish Sauce Salad Dressing

• 60ml – 4 tbsp of water
• 15 grams – 1 tbsp of sugar
• 20ml – 1 tbsp + 1 tsp of fish sauce
• 1 bird chili minced
• 6 grams of Garlic minced about 1 clove
• 15ml – 1 tbsp of lime juice or rice vinegar
Place all ingredients except for chili into small bowl and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Taste and adjust according to your preference for sweet, sour, and heat. Add the chili accordingly.
Creates enough dressing for 1 salad, so please multiply by the number of people you are looking to feed.

Shallot Oil

• 80 Grams – about 16pcs Peeled Asian Shallots
• 175ml – ¾ cup – Neutral oil – Canola, vegetable, grapeseed etc…
Slice the shallots as thinly as possible.
Place shallots into cold oil and set on a low heat. Watch carefully as the moisture begins to be released from the shallots.

Once browning occurs prepare to remove the shallots immediately using a metal strainer or “spider”.
Set shallots aside to cool and use later for your salad.
This will make enough shallots for 8 salads. You can hold these fried shallots inside of oil for 1 week.

Vietnamese Pickling Liquid Recipe

• 625ml – 2 ½ cups Rice Vinegar
• 440g – 2 Cups Sugar
• 15g – 1tbsp Salt
• 500 grams- Carrots
• 500 grams- Daikon
Place the vinegar, salt, and sugar into a pot over low heat. Let come to a simmer and then turn off the heat. Stir well to help dissolve the sugar and salt into the vinegar.
Once the liquid has cooled to room temperature submerge your Carrots and Daikon in this liquid and let sit for at least 48 hours.
Remove the pickles from the pickling liquid when ready to use. Pickles can be stored inside the pickling liquid for 1 week when refrigerated.
Makes enough pickles for 50 salads. You can feel free to cut this recipe down or have some pickles on hand in your refrigerator for your next Vietnamese inspiration.

Looking to learn more about Vietnamese Food? Please check out more of our blog or our Motorbike Street Food Tours in Saigon.

Wanna let us know how your salad turned out? Please leave a comment below!

Source Here: Vietnamese Salad Goi Ngo Sen Recipe

Many of my friends from school asked the question “Is Ho Chi Minh City Safe?”. Many of them are from smaller cities and countryside towns outside of Ho Chi Minh City. So for them to move to the big city was a scary notion that made them wonder about the safety. Ho Chi Minh City is like any other big city in the world, you will always want to be aware of your surroundings and watch out for common risks that can be dangerous for not only residents but travelers.

Ho Chi Minh City is actually quite safe. Besides some scams and petty thefts, there isn’t much that a traveller will have to worry about if they are traveling wisely. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of common safety tips that you wouldn’t know if you weren’t a local or even a frequent world traveler. I’m gonna give you the best tips on how to be on the lookout and to prevent common scams, pickpockets, and robberies. I’ll also let you know about how to stay safe when walking around and also when eating local food.

Staying Safe While Walking Around Ho Chi Minh City

Taking over the sidewalk seems to be a part of the culture of Vietnamese in every major town in Vietnam. The culprits of this encroachment are often food hawkers, shop owners, and motorbike parking for locals. Hawkers bring their goods everywhere to sell for customers whom they meet on the street. When they find a “gold place” where there are many people they will set up shop. This can cause congestion on the sidewalk but many of us accept this as a way of life. We want local food hawkers to be able to make money to support themselves but also provide us with delicious Vietnamese food!

Shop Owners also do a similar thing, when it comes to taking up public space on the sidewalks. The shops will often not have a private parking lot for their customers. To meet the demand of customers parking, they turn their storefront sidewalks into parking lots. Consequently, you will see a lot of motorbikes built into long rows on the sidewalk. This again is something that as locals we have been willing to accept because we appreciate being able to park our motorbikes in front of stores when we wish to go shopping.

These are the reasons that our sidewalks are always a bit congested and difficult to walk in the more local areas. Another point we want to make about walking in Ho Chi Minh City is that the sidewalk is a bit rough and uneven in many places. Be sure to wear nice walking shoes when traveling around during the day so that you can be more steady on your feet when running into unexpected cracks and potholes.

Where can I walk safely in Ho Chi Minh City?

Government has done a nice job in recent years of keeping the sidewalks in District 1 and 3 clear to allow a better walking experience for travelers. If you are looking at walking around downtown areas, we still recommend wearing comfortable sneakers as some of the pavement is still under construction and a bit uneven.

How to Eat Local Food Safely?

One of the exciting experiences that anyone traveling to another country has is tasting local food. Vietnamese cuisine is a rich and important part of Vietnamese culture. Ho Chi Minh city has a lot of food hawkers and small local restaurants that serve up great delicious Vietnamese food. This creates an issue when travellers want to eat the local cuisine but aren’t sure how to navigate food vendors to choose the right one in terms of food safety. One common misconception among a lot of travellers is that the locals in a country don’t get sick from dirty food. This couldn’t be further from the truth, we all get sick from dirty food unless you are Superwoman. As a local, we know what to look for in street food hawkers and small restaurants to avoid eating food that could make our stomachs upset.

My local tips are using online apps for recommendations, finding stalls who have prepared a lot of food, and eating from crowded places. There are many famous food locations that have many good reviews on food apps like Foody.vn or Tripadvisor. Looking to see how much food a vendor or restaurant has prepared in advance is a safe bet that lots of locals eat there everyday. Another way that is used to identify good quality food stalls is based on the number of guests, the crowded stalls will often be safe. Of course, you can always take a look at our Food Tours here at Back of the Bike Tours if you want to try some delicious and safe Vietnamese food!

How to Stay Safe in Ho Chi Minh City by Avoiding Common Scams

Any major city in the world that has large amounts of tourism, also has its fair share of scam artists looking to prey on tourists to make some quick money. There is a phrase in Vietnamese “Tay Balo” which means someone who doesn’t know a currency or local prices very well. This is a common phrase used among despicable scam artists that work as taxi drivers or street merchants. Don’t be “Tay Balo” use our guides to learn about Vietnam before coming so that you can understand the local currency and prices before arriving to avoid these types of situations.

Avoiding Scams While Shopping

Dishonest sellers have many ways to deceive foreigners such as raising the price of goods, taking advantage of currency confusion, or using some fraudulent calculations. This is different than your normal bartering that happens at many of the markets in Ho Chi Minh City, which is a fun part of travelling to Asia that many tourists want to experience. We are referring to a vendor who will sell a coconut that costs 30,000 VND ($1.28 usd) for 300,000VND ($12.87 usd). This is outrageous and a true scam but it happens everyday to tourists who do not understand the currency before they travel to Vietnam. To prevent these situations from happening, make sure that you have knowledge of Vietnamese currency and can distinguish the similar banknotes.

Is Shopping Safe in Ho Chi Minh City?

Yes! Shopping is safe in Ho Chi Minh City and quite fun for a lot of travellers who come here looking for the thrill of the bargain! My suggestion is to do your due diligence before coming so that you have an understanding of what is a fair price for some things. My tips for bargaining is to not pay more than ⅔ of the starting price the vendor offers. Also, always be willing to walk away from the deal!

Staying Safe in Ho Chi Minh City by Avoiding Taxi Scams

Before famous apps like Grab and Uber, Vietnamese and foreigners in Ho Chi Minh City relied heavily on Taxi Cabs. This led to a lot of Vietnamese and Foreigners being ripped off by illegitimate drivers and companies. Today there are only two companies we recommend when using a taxi cab and those two are Mai Linh and Vina Sun.

Even though these are great companies with a decent reputation, things aren’t always perfect so you need to be aware of a few common taxi scams. The first scam would be the classic “drive around” where the taxi will add some distance to the drive by going the long way to get to your destination. You can avoid this by opening up google maps on your phone to be aware of where your driver is taking you.

Another Taxi Scam to be aware of would be the broken meter, which means the meter starts moving at a very quick rate of speed. Last but not least, is the luggage highjack. This scam happens if a taxi driver tries to refuse giving luggage back if a customer does not pay the exorbitant amount of money the taxi driver is trying to scam them for. To avoid that type of situation, I never keep my truly important things in luggage that is too far away from me when I get into a taxi.  

Watching Out for Pickpockets in Tourist Areas

I am sure the feeling when someone steals your possessions without your knowing is really upsetting. It does happen at many places in Ho Chi Minh city, especially in crowded places including Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Bui Vien Walking Street, shopping centers, Ben Thanh market, or public transportation. The pickpockets take advantage of the cramped distance of crowded places to quietly sneak into your pocket, purse, or bag.

The rules to remember are to store valuables in a safe at the hotel. Bags and Backpacks should be moved to the front of your chest when in these crowded areas. Do not regularly check the pockets containing important assets, as it’s the way to show the thieves where you are keeping your wallet. Be wary when someone bumps into you or approaches you too closely, thieves often use this trick to approach their prey. Finally, when you take money out of your pocket for payment, do not forget to pay attention to your surroundings.

Bag and Phone Snatching while on the Streets

From my perspective, robberies are the most dangerous risk in Ho Chi Minh city. Not only foreign tourists but also Vietnamese residents are often victims of bag or phone snatching by thieves on motorbikes. This only takes a few seconds, you won’t have enough time to react promptly and protect your assets. This can happen anywhere, at any time. Maybe it comes when you’re walking on the road, driving on the motorcycles, getting out of the car or buying something from street vendors.

The way Vietnamese people apply to prevent losing property is to avoid using their bag or phone while standing on the street, where bags with a strap across their chest and staying aware of their surroundings. Try to limit using smartphones while traveling on the road when it is not needed. If you need to use your phone, be sure to be away from the street and standing on part of the sidewalk that is not easy to get to for a motorbike. If you have some valuable assets such as watches, necklaces or bracelets, my advice for you is not to bring it with you when traveling to Vietnam. Of course wearing your wedding ring is okay and no cause for alarm but there isn’t anything to gain from bringing fancy jewelry on your vacation to a developing country. Robbers often pay attention to valuable things that catch their attention quickly, so it’s best to avoid putting yourself in this situation.

Back of the Bike Tours does a great job in this Video of Showing you How To Stay Safe in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is Safe and I am happy to call it home.

At the end of the day, I have lived in Ho Chi Minh City my whole life and I am proud to be from here. I don’t feel scared or threatened. My country and people are beautiful even if in the big city you always need to be aware and to be careful. If Vietnam is one of the destinations on your travel plan, I think you shouldn’t miss Ho Chi Minh city. It is an interesting place with a unique cultural and culinary richness that you can’t find anywhere else in the world.

Article Source Here: Safety Tips for Ho Chi Minh City

As a local Vietnamese from the Mekong, I spent the first 18 years of my life living in the beautiful Mekong Delta before moving to the big city of Ho Chi Minh!  In the past 5 years, I’ve been traveling back and forth between Saigon and the Mekong Delta at least once a month to visit my family. I guess you can say that I am pretty much an expert on how to get to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City.

There are five different methods you can use to visit the gigantic and popular Mekong Delta. You can get to the Mekong Delta by Car, Bus, Motorbike, Boat, or Plane but not all ways to travel or created equal. It’s best to plan what kind of Mekong adventure you want which will be a large part of how you should get there!

In this article, I’ll give my personal recommendations for every method of travel including my preferred way to travel and the best version of each method. Whether you are adventurous and want to drive yourself on a motorbike, easy going and want to join a bus tour, or looking for something more personal like a private experience this article has all the information you need.

How to go to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City by Motorbike?

Taking a scooter to the Mekong Delta from Saigon on your own can be an exciting adventure that you will remember for a lifetime.

Coming from Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta, I am familiar with motorbike drive from Ho Chi Minh City down to the more famous areas of the Mekong. When I visit my hometown, I almost always use my motorbike. The motorbike trip takes around 4 hours which makes it fast, easy, and cheap. On average, it takes me less than 4 hours one way from my house in Saigon to my mother’s house in the Mekong Delta.

With such a short distance between the two cities, a trip to the Mekong Delta on the motorbike will be a fun and exciting day trip that will only take around 4 hours each way. If you are a first time traveler to Vietnam, you should focus on visiting Can Tho, Ben Tre and Tien Giang. These cities are known for the splendid floating markets, alongside the infinite green rice fields and an immense network of rivers and canals.

If you’re about to go to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City on your own motorbike, then here are some of my useful tips from my own experience.

• Beware of Traffic Police

Even for a local like me, getting pulled over by traffic police along the way is always my top fear. They can appear all of the sudden from nowhere and pull me in for some random reasons. To avoid this situation, don’t break the rules when driving. Driving your scooter in the car lane, not using turn signals, and speeding are the three most common reasons for being pulled over from my own experience.

• Getting Lost

I’m usually worried about getting lost and the language barrier when driving on my own in a new place outside of Vietnam. I think you may face the same issue when driving to the Mekong Delta on your own. In this case, a local guide or a Vietnamese friend by your side will be super helpful. They will know the way better, and it’s easy for them to talk to a native person in case you get lost.

• Find a Local Buddy to Show You the Way

If I were you, I would consider having a local Vietnamese friend or a tour guide to escort me to the Mekong Delta. It’s good to have a local friend who’s willing to travel back and forth by your side. Otherwise, you may need a local tour guide, who can become really helpful if you have some problems on the drive, like a flat tire.

Where to Rent a Scooter for Driving to the Mekong?

Before planning a motorbike trip to the Mekong Delta, you need to rent a scooter for yourself. TIGIT does a really good job in scooter rental service in many big cities across Vietnam including Saigon. Just go ahead to the TIGIT website, skim through all the categories offered and contact them for more details!

Is Driving a Motorbike to the Mekong on Your Own Right for You?

Even though driving to the Mekong is super fun and pretty easy in general, it’s still not for everyone. Joining the traffic in Vietnam is another kind of game, which requires you to have basic knowledge and experience driving a motorcycle or two-wheeled vehicle.

Not every single Vietnamese driver follows the rules strictly while driving on the roads in Vietnam. Which means a car or container truck may show up all of the sudden in front of you at a cross-road or T-junction, along with many other random situations that you’re not aware of beforehand. Therefore, it’s good if you’re an adventurous person, but without basic motorbike driving skills, I do not recommend you drive a scooter in Vietnam on your own!

Last but not least, remember to cover yourself with travel insurance before arriving to Vietnam just like anywhere on Earth, especially if you’re up for driving a scooter here.

How to Find a Good Motorbike Tour to the Mekong Delta from Saigon?

Knowing that many of my foreign friends are not capable of driving a motorbike in Vietnam but are still interested to see the Mekong in a totally cool new way got me researching. After some digging, I had some recommendations for them which turned out to be a great experience. They told me it was the highlight of their time in Southern Vietnam. Some of the top agencies offering motorbike tours to the Mekong from Saigon that come highly recommended are Vespa Adventures, Saigon Riders, and Onetrip Adventures.

As a passionate worker in the travel industry myself, these are simply some of the best motorbike tour agencies that bring you the finest off-the-beaten-path experiences. I don’t think other mainstream agencies are able to give you this type of in depth tour. Their well-trained guides can guarantee a fun and safe adventure! Go ahead and check them out!

How to Go to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City by Bus?

The Bus is easily the most used transportation method for both locals and tourists to visit the Mekong Delta. There are many types of bus companies ranging from cheap and very local to high quality that are expensive. We are gonna discuss two options for you as a traveller to get to the Mekong Delta by bus. The first option will be to book a bus on your own to be dropped off in Can Tho or another city in the Mekong. The second option is to work with a reputable company that will arrange not only the bus but also the tour experience.

Booking a Bus on Your Own to the Mekong Delta

When it comes to booking your own bus to the Mekong Delta, it can be a bit overwhelming as there are so many options out there that all seem relatively similar. This may not be true when it comes to the quality of the trip or the bus itself. I recommend the bus company of Futa for anyone wanting to book tickets themselves. Compared to other brands, Futa is a leader in terms of quality and charisma. When I’m just feeling too exhausted to drive my motorbike for 4 hours to my hometown, then Futa is my go-to alternative.

To book the tickets, you can either call them or purchase online via . After that, arrive at the ticket booth at Ben Xe Mien Tay (West Coach Station – Booth No.23), show your confirmation email to the ticket seller in order to get the tickets. Remember to arrive around 60 minutes before departure.

West Coach Station Address: 395 Kinh Duong Vuong st, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Futa hotline: 19006067

Booking a Bus Tour to the Mekong Delta

Many tourists in Saigon will opt for a one or two day trip to the Mekong Delta when they don’t want to go sightseeing by themselves. This is a good pick as you will have a tour guide arrange everything for you, and show you all the most iconic features of the Mekong Delta. This choice is also relatively cheap compared to many private tour packages around the city.

However, you need to keep in mind that these bus tours are usually very low quality and touristy. You will stop at places where they ask you to spend money for souvenirs so that the tour guide can make extra commision. The standard tour for these large bus groups is also not very appealing and has led to some major complaints that can be found in many online reviews. We recommend doing your research and understanding what kind of experience you would like for the amount of money you want to spend.

If you would like to experience the Mekong Delta via a bus tour, I recommend checking out the offers from Sinh Tourist, TNK Travel or Saigon Tourist. While these companies do offer your typical Mekong bus tour experience, these brands have been around for a long time and can be trusted in terms of safety and reputation. They all offer a wide array of packages to the Mekong Delta with the cheapest price starting at around 300.000 VND/pax, which is very reasonable.

How to Go to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City by a Private Car?

When is a private car the better option? If you don’t want to join other travellers, then you may consider renting a private car with your own driver.

Most of the time, I don’t take a private car to travel to my hometown. The exceptions that my family might consider renting a car from Saigon to the Mekong would be for a large family gathering or for a wedding. This way the older family members can travel in comfort and the whole family can be together for the trip.

For those considering visiting Can Tho, a price for a one-day round trip should be around 1,500,000 VND. However, it varies a lot depending on the distance and route, so when you contact a car rental operator, remember to go specific on details such as pick-up and drop-off time.

We have worked with An Minh Car Rental to book cars for our private tours inside of Ho Chi Minh City. They are easy to communicate with and offer a wide range of cars, vans, and buses. If you have any issues with a language barrier, please free to reach out to your local host or receptionist.

An Minh Car Rental

Phone (Mr Phong, Speaks some English): 0909 555 783

0913 724 238

Email: Sieuphong2003@yahoo.com

Website: xedulichanhminh.com

Roundtrip Saigon to Can Tho

8 Hours or 110 Km

For 4 people: 2,000,000 VND

For 7 people: 2,200,000 VND

Overnight: 3,000,000 VND

*Note: The price could be different on National Holidays. 

How to go to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City by plane?

There is only one flight from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta, which takes you directly to the island of Phu Quoc. Traveling by bus and then boat to Phu Quoc can take up to 9 hours. I would much rather spend a little extra money to take a 1 hour flight to visit Phu Quoc.

Vietjet and Jetstar Pacific usually offers flights to Phu Quoc that can range from $64 to $128 USD. With such reasonable prices, I think it’s a no brainer to fly to Phu Quoc over the bus/boat route.

For your information, there are two airports in the Mekong, one in Can Tho and another one in Phu Quoc. My initial thought was, why not just spend 45 minutes on a flight to Can Tho instead of spending 4 hours on a bus? However, it turns out that there’s no direct flight from Saigon to Can Tho, not at this time. It is possible to fly straight to Can Tho from other major cities in Vietnam like Hanoi and Da Nang. You may consider flying directly to Can  Tho and then making a trip up to Ho Chi Minh City.

How to go to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City by Boat?

One last option is to go to the Mekong Delta on a boat. As far as I know, you can only sign up for a tour offered by a company. There is no rental boat service for the route between Saigon and the Mekong Delta, since the daily rate is usually high, it can go up to $1000/hour depending on which type of boat you’re looking for.

For boat tours, Les Rives and Fish Eye Travel are the two top-rated agencies introducing boat trips to different parts of Saigon and also to the Mekong via waterways. Les Rives and Fish Eye offers one-day tripsto the Mekong at nearly 3,000,000 VND.

Pricey as it seems, their quality is second to none! You can read all the reviews on their website or TripAdvisor before making a decision. Most of their services include pick-up and drop-off, multiple departure times throughout the day, and additional tour inclusions.

I hope this article helped you navigate the best option that suits you! If you think you enjoyed this article and found it helpful please share it so others can also find out how to go to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh!

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