For most of the time on our travels we’ve opted for a DIY approach to seeing the sights. However, every so often a tour pops up that looks too good to miss! In Vietnam there are several good tour options with kids operating from Ho Chi Minh City. We loved the idea of trying some of the best food in Vietnam whilst also seeing the sights in HCMC from the back of a motorbike, so we opted for a street food tour of the city with the kids.
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Where is Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City – formerly Saigon (and still Saigon to most Vietnamese!) is located in the South of Vietnam. It was the capital city of South Vietnam until reunification with the North.
It’s easily accessible via flights from across Vietnam and wider South East Asia, or by bus from within the country.
Where to stay in HCMC
The easiest place to base yourself in HCMC is in the central District 1. From here you can walk to most of the city’s sights. Most tour companies will also offer free pick-up from hotels/apartments in District 1, making life nice and easy!
We opted to stay in traditional Vietnamese apartment block right in the centre of District 1. This was very different to staying in a hotel as it really gave us an insight in to real Vietnamese life.
The apartment had two double beds (one on a mezzanine level), a small kitchen, private bathroom and TV with Netflix/Disney+ etc (great for a bit of downtime after a busy day sightseeing!).
You can book the apartment here; we paid c.£20 a night for our stay.
How did we book our street food tour?
We had a personal recommendation for this tour on GetYourGuide. It’s got a huge number of 5-star ratings and people rave about it online! We were able to book just a couple of days before.
Once we’d booked the tour company were quick to send through all the details. Our lead tour guide got in touch directly the day before to introduce themselves and to reconfirm too.
You can opt for an 8am, 1pm or 6pm start time. We went with the 1pm which worked perfectly for us. Bit of a lie in, then so much food in the afternoon that we didn’t have to buy anything else in the evening!
The cost was Vd690,000 per person (c.£21).
What was the street food tour like?
Our tour guides picked us up from our apartment in District 1. There was one tour guide per person; we all had a separate bike. They were all SO friendly!
They went through the itinerary for the afternoon and did a quick safety briefing. Then it was time to get the helmets on and get on the bikes!
The guides took their time and drove safely through the traffic, staying together. As well as stopping to try the various foods, the tour also includes some of HCMC’s sights – starting with the memorial to the burning monk.
We stopped here for around ten minutes – our tour guide talked us through the story of Thích Quảng Đức, who famously set himself alight in 1963 in protest at the South Vietnamese government’s persecution of Buddhists. It’s a fascinating insight into the history of Vietnam.
We then stopped at our first food stall, where we could watch banana sticky rice being prepared and then try some for ourselves. It was delicious, so a great start to our food experience!
We zipped between a number of different food stalls around the city sampling a whole host of Vietnamese street food (see the full list below).
We also stopped at the oldest apartment building in HCMC, where the guides explained the history of the building and we talked about the challenges the area had faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The boys were amazed that there were ramps fitted up to all the floors so that scooters can get in!
Our final street food stall was tucked away inside the flower market, which was really evocative. The colours and scents of the area were amazing!
The whole tour lasted around four hours in total.
The guides really made the tour very special – they were so friendly, great with the kids and really knowledgeable about the city and the foods we tried.
What foods did we get to try?
Our street food tour included several different foods from stalls across HCMC. We tried:
- Banana Sticky Rice
- Bun Bo Hue (beef noodle soup, originally from Hue)
- Jasmine Tea
- Banh Mi
- Beef wrapped in betel leaf
- Lemongrass beef
- Banana and coconut crackers
- Flan with iced coffee
- Coconut milk dessert with mung beans
Vegetarian options are available, and they can cater for specific allergies and food intolerances – just make sure you let the tour guides know in advance.
Was it safe for the kids?
Our youngest son (aged 8) was nervous before the tour; neither of the boys had ever been on a motorbike before! The traffic in Ho Chi Minh City is also a bit insane, with bikes everywhere.
Our tour guides were incredibly safety-conscious though and navigated their way through the traffic slowly. By the time we got to our first stop the boys loved it (and I was relieved that it was so easy!). They had helmets for all of us, including child-sized ones for the boys. Their bikes (and the helmets) were in good condition.
We felt completely safe throughout the tour and would have no hesitations in going again!
What else is there to do in HCMC with kids?
Ho Chi Minh is a great city to travel to with kids. It offers plenty of kids activities combined with a wealth of cultural and historical experiences where kids can have fun and learn at the same time.
We took a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels and learnt about the Vietnam War, visited the War Remnants Museum, hung out at the fab Catfe Cat Cafe, played in the park at Ben Thanh and wandered around the souvenir stalls in Ben Thanh Market. We also ate HUGE ice creams at Swenson’s and treated ourselves to delicious smoothies and juices every day.
The verdict
This was one tour in Vietnam that I would highly recommend if you’re travelling with kids (or for anyone really!). The boys found travelling through the crazy HCMC traffic on the back of the bikes exhilarating and getting to try so many delicious Vietnamese dishes was fab.
It’s also just a great way to see the city – we struggle sometimes to walk that far around cities in the intense heat, so hopping on the back of a bike is a brilliant alternative.
Top tips
- Don’t eat much before your tour! This sounds obvious but you really do get to try a LOT of food so try and skip a meal before to make room!
- If you opt for a daytime tour, don’t forget the suncream – the breeze from riding on the bikes can be deceptive and can disguise how hot it really is
- Our guides told us that the traffic and crowds were much busier for the evening tour. So you might want to bear this in mind when choosing a time
Planning a tour of Vietnam with kids?
If you’re planning a family trip to Vietnam then check out some of our other posts for inspiration, advice and top tips!
