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Tailor-Made Trip

Inside Saigon Vintage Vespa Tour

SGVBT4 04 Hours Saigon

Overview

Only have half a day in Ho Chi Minh City but want to experience more than the usual tourist highlights? Join our Inside Saigon Vintage Vespa Tour and discover the city from the back of a classic Vespa.

Saigon is a city of contrasts. Elegant colonial buildings stand beside crowded markets, peaceful pagodas hide behind busy streets, and narrow alleyways preserve stories that cannot be found in ordinary guidebooks. This experience connects these different worlds in one carefully designed journey.

Ride through bustling boulevards and lesser-known neighbourhoods, visit historic landmarks, explore a colourful flower market, uncover a secret wartime bunker and enjoy authentic local food. With an experienced driver taking care of the road, you can relax and absorb the sights, sounds and energy of the city.

More than a sightseeing tour, Inside Saigon is a personal introduction to the city’s history, culture and everyday life—shared by the local people who know it best.

Duration
4–4.5 hours
Departure
Daily
Tour Type
Small-group or private tour
Pick-up & Drop-off
Complimentary at hotels and designated locations in central Ho Chi Minh City
Transportation
Vintage Vespa with an experienced driver.

Highlights

  • Experience Saigon from the back of a vintage Vespa
  • Ride safely with a friendly, experienced local driver
  • See the city’s famous landmarks and lesser-known neighbourhoods
  • Visit one of Saigon’s oldest traditional coffee shops
  • Explore the colourful local flower market
  • Discover the hidden Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas
  • Step inside a fascinating secret wartime bunker
  • See Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House and City Hall
  • Travel through narrow alleys and authentic residential communities
  • Taste selected local food and drinks
  • Learn about Saigon’s history and culture from a knowledgeable guide
  • Enjoy a small-group experience with no compulsory shopping stops

Itinerary

Departures
  • Morning Tour: 08:00–12:00
  • Afternoon Tour: 12:30–17:00

  1. Colonial Saigon and Its Iconic Landmarks

    Begin with a ride through the historic city centre, where French colonial architecture stands alongside the energy of modern Ho Chi Minh City.

    Depending on traffic conditions and local access, the tour may include stops or pass-by views of:

    • Saigon Opera House
    • Ho Chi Minh City Hall
    • Notre Dame Cathedral
    • Central Post Office
    • Other prominent buildings within the historic centre

    Your guide will explain how these landmarks reflect Saigon’s colonial past and the city’s transformation into Vietnam’s largest commercial centre.

  2. Traditional Saigon Coffee

    Visit one of Saigon’s oldest traditional coffee shops and step into a setting that feels far removed from the modern cafés of the city centre.

    Discover how local coffee is prepared and learn why coffee shops have long played an important role in Saigon’s social life. Enjoy a drink while observing the unhurried rhythms of a neighbourhood gathering place.

  3. Hidden Alleys and Local Communities

    Leave the broad avenues behind and travel through the city’s narrow backstreets and residential alleys. These intimate neighbourhoods reveal a quieter and more personal side of Saigon.

    Along the way, you may see family-run businesses, small street kitchens, local markets, community gathering places and homes tucked closely together in the city’s historic districts.

  4. Secret Wartime Bunker

    Visit a discreetly located secret bunker connected to Saigon’s wartime history. Hidden beneath an ordinary urban building, the site offers a powerful insight into the resourcefulness and courage of those who operated inside the city during the conflict.

    Your guide will share the story behind the bunker and explain how it remained concealed within a busy neighbourhood.

  5. The Colourful Flower Market

    Continue to one of Saigon’s most vibrant flower markets. Fresh flowers arrive here from different parts of Vietnam before being distributed throughout the city.

    Walk through colourful lanes, observe local traders at work and experience a lively market that operates according to its own daily rhythm.

  6. Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas

    Hidden within a residential neighbourhood is one of the city’s most remarkable spiritual sites—the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

    Climb through the atmospheric temple complex and discover walls, shrines and chambers filled with thousands of Buddha images. Your guide will introduce you to the temple’s religious symbolism and the role of Buddhism in local life.

  7. Authentic Local Food Experience

    Complete the journey with selected local dishes and drinks at carefully chosen venues. Rather than a formal tourist restaurant, the experience focuses on authentic flavours enjoyed by local residents.

    Food selections may vary according to the departure time, seasonal availability and dietary requirements.

    After the tour, your Vespa team will return you safely to your hotel or the agreed drop-off location in central Ho Chi Minh City.

Inclusions

Included

  • Vintage Vespa transportation
  • Friendly and experienced Vespa driver
  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Complimentary pick-up and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City
  • Selected local food and drinks
  • Bottled drinking water
  • Safety helmet
  • Rain poncho when required
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Wet wipes
  • Fuel
  • Entrance fees for attractions included in the itinerary
  • Local passenger accident insurance.

Not included

  • Personal travel insurance
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Alcoholic beverages unless specifically stated
  • Personal expenses
  • Additional food or drinks ordered independently
  • Services not specifically mentioned in the inclusions.

Rates

Check your date
Travel datesAdult 12+Child 2–11Infant Under 2
All dates$92QuotedQuoted

“Quoted”: we confirm this price when we reply to your request.

  • Prices are in US dollars and include taxes.
  • A 30% deposit confirms your booking — 50% for groups of 7 or more, infants included.
  • VAT invoices are available on request.

We accept

Book two different tours, save 10%Pair this ride with another tour — 10% off the total price.

Reviews

5.0 4,565 reviews on Tripadvisor

What travelers say about Vietnam Backstreet Tours across all our rides — 98% of reviews are positive.

  • Tripadvisor

    "Most welcoming, enthusiastic and knowledgeable"

    We arranged a half day countryside and Hanoi City tour on Vespa motorbikes through our hotel. Tom and Duc (Donald) were most welcoming, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, answering any questions we had…

    Samir P· Couple

  • Google

    "A truly unforgettable experience"

    We had a fantastic time in Hanoi with Vietnam Backstreet Tours. We discovered amazing places and learned so much! Tim was so knowledgeable and shared many stories with us. We loved the tour!

    Ruth Amarilla· United States · Family

  • Facebook

    "I can really recommend this highlight"

    Today we did a wonderful motorbike tour in Hanoi with the guys from Vietnam Backstreet. Many thanks to Mr. Boo and his team for all the impressions we got from Hanoi — we will keep them in our mind!

    Michael Herrmann· Germany · Friends

Tripadvisor Google Facebook

Q&As

Do I need any riding experience?

No. You ride as a passenger behind one of our professional, experienced drivers — just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Where does the tour start and end?

We pick you up free of charge anywhere within 3 km of the city centre, and drop you off there too — pick-up and drop-off can be two different places.

Do you provide helmets and rain gear?

Yes. Helmets are provided, and on wet days we hand out two-piece raincoats and stop at covered places along the way.

Can I bring children?

Yes — you can include children (2–11) and infants (under 2) in your booking. We confirm their prices when we reply to your request.

Can I change my tour date?

Date changes are free with at least 24 hours' notice. Changes made within 24 hours of the tour are charged 30% of the tour price.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancel more than 24 hours ahead and we charge no cancellation fee (your bank or PayPal may keep a transaction fee of about 5%). Cancellations within 24 hours are charged in full. Refunds take 7–14 working days.

What if the weather turns bad?

Light rain doesn't stop us. If severe weather forces us to cancel, you can move to another date free of charge or get a 100% refund of the tour price, less bank fees.

Do you offer travel insurance?

Travel insurance is optional. We can arrange PTI cover for about US$3.50 per person per day.

Can you arrange a private tour for a larger group?

Yes. We run private tours and tours for larger groups, and can tailor the itinerary to you — tell us what you have in mind in the booking form or on WhatsApp.

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