As we wandered downstairs we were greeted one by one by four smiling faces at the exit of our hotel by the team from AN Food Tours. Our family of four were extremely excited to be doing a food tour in Ho Chi Minh City on motorbikes.
This was our first time being on the back of the motorbikes in Asia. The roads can be hectic there and we had decided not to brave the congested roads to hire our own so this was the perfect way to witness just how crazy the roads were with locals who had plenty of experience on the roads of Ho Chi Minh City.
Who were our guides for the food tour in Ho Chi Minh City?
As we all got acquainted with Daniel, Cam, Heel and Ly, they told us who would be riding with who and where we would be going. These 4 young and enthusiastic tour guides from AN tours were about to show us the world of Ho Chi Minh City after dark. We were so ready for the best Ho Chi Minh City food tour.
Ho Chi Minh City Food Tour
A Ho Chi Minh City food tour is a must in this city which has a great reputation for amazing food. A quick rundown on how to sit on the motorbike, helmets on and we were off to mingle with the other 8 million motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City.
The initial apprehension of traversing the traffic in Hi Chi Minh city is soon replaced with a feeling of excitement as you realise you will not die! You are totally safe with these guys on a motorbike food tour Ho Chi Minh.
Daniel, our tour leader drove safely as we honked, weaved and made our way through the organized chaos of HCMC.
Our first stop on the motorbike tour Ho Chi Minh City was at a local restaurant serving what I can only say was an amazing noodle dish with pork meat and pork sausage, fresh green herbs and a fish sauce. This meal was to die for and it was an excellent way to start the tour.
While enjoying this amazing meal of noodles with pork we got to know Daniel, Cam, Heel and Ly a little better. 3 of them are university students juggling school and work and Cam had graduated recently and now worked as an accountant during the day for a major international fast-food chain.
This was one thing that was an absolute delight for us. We not only got to hear stories of how they live everyday life here in HCMC, we got to share a meal while doing it. It is the only tour we have been on where the hosts sit and eat with us rather than give us a brief overview of what we are eating and it is something we loved.
We headed back on the bikes which the kids were more excited about than the food. This tour is a great thing to do in Ho Chi Minh City with kids. The next stop was a back street with tables and chairs on the roadside. Here we had a Vietnamese Pancake filled with pork, squid, mushroom and sprouts.
Visiting a supermarket in another country is an experience! Get yourself to Lotte Mart to grab some amazing Vietnamese coffee, snacks or herbs and spices to take home with you from your trip to Vietnam.
The guys showed us how the locals eat Ho Chi Minh City street food. They do it by wrapping the pancake in lettuce leaves and dunking it in fish sauce. All this is washed down with ice-cold Jasmine tea. The pancake is made for a mixture of rice flour and egg. I could have easily eaten with or without the lettuce.
Saigon by night on a motorbike
Off the beaten path, we headed to the night flower market in Ho Chi Minh City. The flower market is a popular thing to see in Ho Chi Minh city and is open 24 hours a day. Daniel walked us through the flower market into the Cambodia market where smells of amazing street food wafted thickly in the air. We were so impressed with the An Food Saigon food tour already that we bought our female guides Cam and Ly a rose each.
The words ice cream were mentioned as the kid’s smiles widened. We off again zooming towards our next stop and a date with coconut ice cream topped with sticky rice, corn and sweet potato. Some of the food combinations in Asia can be off-putting for westerners. There is no way we would eat sweet potato and corn on ice cream at home! This is what’s great about a scooter food tour Ho Chi Minh, eating things you have never experienced before.
The longest stint on our motorbike tour Ho Chi Minh was upon us, we were heading 20 minutes into the suburbs over the river to our next stop. Things were about to get hands-on here as we all had. A chance to cook some street food in Ho Chi Minh City
Once again a rice flour mixture formed the base. We had to spread it out into a circle and wait for it to steam a little. Pork and gravy were added and we rolled it up like a tube of cannelloni (Bahn Cuon Trung). For variety, we also had egg instead of pork in one. By this time we were so full and still more food was coming. We were delivered bowls of Pho Chua (sour noodles)
At this stage, one of the best food tours in Ho Chi Minh City was coming to end. We were all sad at the prospect of saying goodbye to our new friends. We jumped back on the bikes and headed back to our hostel. Social media channels were exchanged and group photos were taken so we can keep in touch.
The AN Tours motorbike tours in Ho Chi Minh City should be renamed the AMazing Tour in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. We hope this article from us here at Wyld Family Travel has inspired you to plan a food tour on the motorbike when you visit Ho Chi Minh City. Don’t forget to book your AN Tour today
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
You’ll never be short of options for your accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City. In Ho Chi Minh City, you find a range of hotels, apartments and hostels. You will be sure to be able to find something to fit singles, couples, families and groups on every budget. If you’re not keen on any of our picks below or have specific needs, we recommend using Trip Advisor and Hotels.com to find the best prices in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Luxury: relax an amazing infinity pool that looks over downtown Ho Chi Minh City. The VELA Saigon Hotel is just the base to relax in luxury in the pulsating city of Ho Chi Minh.
- Mid-Range: Relax after exploring Ho Chi Minh City with rejuvenating massages at the spa. The Alagon City Point Hotel & Spa features a rooftop pool free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour security, taxi service, ticket service, 24-hour front desk.
- Traditional Homestay: Located in the heart of district 1 is Nguyen Shack. Nguyen Shack portrays the feel of a Vietnamese village. Good-sized rooms fitting up to 4 people are available.
Ho Chi Minh City apartment for your stay
If you prefer a home away from home-style accommodation when you travel with , then an apartment is the best choice for you on your Ho Chi Minh City vacation. There are so many options for singles, families, and budget-friendly options as well. Search apartments in Ho Chi Minh City today
How to get to Ho Chi Minh City
- The Tân Sơn Nhất Airport is located with the city of Ho Chi Minh. It is the busiest airport in Vietnam. Many International carriers and budget airlines like Vietjet, AirAsia and Jetstar service this airport. Book your flights with kiwi.com
- You can book an airport transfer to the city hotels from the airport.
- If your flights have a long stopover, or you just want to relax before your trip you should consider getting a lounge pass with Priority Pass. Priority Pass have access to airport lounges all over the world. Search now for your lounge pass
- You can book an airport transfer to the city hotels from the airport.
- Vietnam has an extensive train network that runs along the coast of Vietnam for Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and on into China. Taking an overnight train in Vietnam is a popular way to travel to Ho Chi Minh City from the North. You can book your trains with 12go Asia.
- There is an extensive network of air conditioned buses that service major and regional towns in Vietnam. The most popular international route is on the Transasian Highway from Phnom Penh in Cambodia. You can search for buses with Bookaway
- You can hire a car at any International Airport in Vietnam. I would not recommend driving in Vietnam unless you have prior experience in Asian cities. You can book your hire car today
How to get around Ho Chi Minh City with teenagers
We recommend using the GRAB (the Asian Uber). Download the app before you arrive in Vietnam so you are lightly familiar with it. This is the easiest and fastest way to get around on our family vacation to Saigon.
Under no circumstance use a taxi unless it is a life and death matter as you will get ripped off. Alternatively, you can use the Hop on hop off bus to see the sights in Saigon.
Travel Insurance in Vietnam with teens
Vietnam has a high quality of healthcare in private hospitals, travel insurance is still recommended for all travellers entering the country. The last thing you want is a huge bill for medical expenses should you require care on your holiday in Ho Chi Minh City.
We recommend using Travel Insurance Master, their website will compare the best deals from a number of providers and present you with the best value for money policy on the market. Click through to Insurance Masters to get a free quote.
Do you need a sim card for your trip to Vietnam?
Relying on Wi-Fi when you are travelling and sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh can be hard. Making calls and staying in contact when you travel is a top priority. Plan your trip to Vietnam and order your sim before you leave home to stop any stress about travelling, data and calls on your vacation in Asia.
For more amazing ideas on where to holiday in Vietnam click through to our Vietnam Destination Guide page for more brilliant inspiration and don’t forget to visit our Food Tour Page for more articles like this.
More travel inspiration for your trip to Vietnam
Author bio:
Father, husband, traveller, and chief destination manager here at Wyld Family Travel. When Mark is not discussing travel or planning travel, you will find him working in disability support. Mark is a family travel advocate, having travelled to over 45 countries with his kids from 10 months to their teenage years. You will find his work here and on other popular websites.
Mark Wyld
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