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The Insider’s Saigon Tour by Vintage Vespa (4.5 Hours)
USD
$73
/pax
Why you’ll love this trip?
- Saigon’s highlights and its backstreets in one morning or afternoon, on a classic Vespa.
- The Saigon Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and Independence Palace.
- Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, Cholon and the incense coils of Thien Hau Temple.
- Ride under the Saigon River and see the skyline from Thu Thiem.
- Lunch at a local restaurant and a Vietnamese coffee.
- Small group US$73 or private US$107, with free hotel pick-up.
Tour Information & Itinerary
The Insider’s Saigon Tour by Vintage Vespa is a 4.5-hour ride around Ho Chi Minh City on the back of a classic Vespa, with a professional driver for every guest and an English-speaking guide. You see the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and Independence Palace, ride the backstreets to Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, Cholon and Thien Hau Temple, cross under the Saigon River through the Thu Thiem Tunnel for a skyline view, and finish with lunch. US$73 per person in a small group, or US$107 per person private.
Status (checked October 2026): Notre Dame Cathedral is still under restoration, so you see it from the square outside; Independence Palace is also seen from outside on this tour. Stops can change on public holidays and during state events.
Tour at a Glance
| Tour code | VTE-SG124 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4.5 hours – morning 8:00–12:30 or afternoon 12:00–16:30 |
| Route | Your hotel – Saigon Central Post Office – Notre Dame Cathedral – Independence Palace (outside) – Thich Quang Duc Monument – backstreets – Ho Thi Ky Flower Market – Cholon (Chinatown) and Binh Tay Market – Thien Hau Temple – Thu Thiem Tunnel and skyline viewpoint – lunch – your hotel |
| Tour style | City sightseeing as a passenger on a vintage Vespa, one guest per scooter with a professional driver; small group or private with an English-speaking guide |
| Departure | Daily – morning or afternoon |
| Pick-up / drop-off | Free from hotels, Airbnbs and homestays in central Ho Chi Minh City |
| Meals | Lunch at a local restaurant and a Vietnamese coffee |
| Activity level | Easy – short walks at each stop |
| Best for | First-time visitors who want Saigon’s main sights, Chinatown and local life in one morning or afternoon |
| Guide language | English (other languages on request) |
| Price | US$73 per person (small group) · US$107 per person (private) |
Tour Highlights
1. French Colonial Saigon: Post Office, Notre Dame and Independence Palace
Start in the heart of the city at the Saigon Central Post Office, still a working post office under its iron-and-glass vaulted hall, and the red-brick Notre Dame Cathedral across the square (built 1877–1880). Ride on to the gates of Independence Palace, where a tank crashed through on 30 April 1975 and ended the war.
2. Thich Quang Duc Monument
At this crossroads in the city centre, the monk Thích Quảng Đức burned himself to death on 11 June 1963 in protest against the Diem government’s treatment of Buddhists. The photo of that day went around the world; your guide tells the story beside the memorial.
3. Backstreets and Ho Thi Ky Flower Market
Leave the boulevards for narrow alleys where Saigon really lives, then walk through Ho Thi Ky, the city’s busiest flower market – a lane of florists, fresh blooms and snack stalls.
4. Cholon, Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple
Cholon, Saigon’s Chinatown, has traded since the 18th century. See the 1928–1930 Binh Tay Market and step into Thien Hau Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess who protects sailors, with giant incense coils hanging from the roof.
5. Thu Thiem Tunnel and the Saigon Skyline
Ride through the Thu Thiem Tunnel under the Saigon River and stop on the far bank for the classic photo of the skyline, from the Bitexco Financial Tower to the riverside towers of the old centre.
6. Lunch Like a Local
Finish at a local restaurant for lunch and a Vietnamese coffee before your driver takes you back to your hotel. Learn more about the dishes in our Saigon food guide.
Who This Tour Is For – and Who Should Choose Another
Ideal for: first-time visitors, couples, families with older children and photographers who want the city’s highlights and its everyday life without sitting in a car or bus.
Consider another option if:
- You want to go inside Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum – choose the Ho Chi Minh City Tour 1 Day.
- You are mainly here for the food – the Saigon After Dark Street Food Tour by Vintage Vespa or the Saigon Vintage Vespa Foodie Tour suit you better.
- You are pregnant or have back or neck problems – a scooter ride is not recommended.
Insider’s Saigon Tour Price
Prices are per person in US dollars, including the Vespa, driver, guide, lunch and entrance fees.
| Option | Price per person | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Small group tour | US$73 | Join other travellers; one driver per guest; shared English-speaking guide |
| Private tour | US$107 | Your party only, with your own guide; stops and timing adjusted to you |
- Prices are per person in US dollars (USD) for the 2026–2027 season.
- Included: hotel pick-up and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City, vintage Vespa with fuel and professional driver, full-face helmet, English-speaking guide, lunch, a coffee and all entrance fees.
- Travelling with children? Ask us about child prices and minimum age when you enquire.
Send us your date, morning or afternoon, and number of travellers to check availability and book.
Why Book Direct with Vietnam Tour Expert
- Local team: we confirm your date, pick-up time and any dietary needs with the Vespa team in Ho Chi Minh City before the day.
- Local price, best price guarantee: no online-agency commission. If you find the same tour with the same services for less, send us the quote and we will review it and match the price.
- One trip, one contact: we can add hotels, transfers, the Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels and the rest of Vietnam to the same plan.
- Fast replies: we usually answer within 24 hours, and you can reach us on WhatsApp on +84 88 626 1368.
Customise This Tour
- Go inside: on a private tour, add time inside Independence Palace (open daily 7:00–18:00) or the War Remnants Museum.
- More Chinatown: add other Cholon temples and a herbal medicine street.
- Swap lunch for street food: or continue into the evening with the Saigon After Dark Street Food Tour by Vintage Vespa.
- Add a day trip: combine with the Cu Chi Tunnels or the Mekong Delta.
Tell us what you would like to change and we will send a tailored plan.
Compare Similar Tours
| Tour | Duration | Main places | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Insider’s Saigon Tour by Vintage Vespa (this tour) | 4.5 hours (morning or afternoon) | Post Office, Notre Dame, Independence Palace, flower market, Cholon, Thien Hau Temple, Thu Thiem skyline view, lunch | US$73 |
| Saigon Vintage Vespa Foodie Tour | About 3.5–4 hours (lunch or dinner) | Bánh xèo and spring rolls, grilled banana sticky rice, seafood, Nhieu Loc canal walk, avocado ice cream | US$83 |
| Saigon After Dark Street Food Tour by Vintage Vespa | About 4 hours (18:00–22:00) | Rooftop sunset drink, seafood street, bánh xèo and nem lụi, dessert, live music café | US$93 |
| Saigon Vespa Countryside Tour: Mekong Delta Villages | 5 hours (morning or afternoon) | Red dirt back roads, river ferry, local market, rice fields, rice wine family, Cao Dai temple, lunch | US$77 |
| Ho Chi Minh City Tour 1 Day | Full day (private car) | Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Post Office, Ben Thanh Market | US$26 |
Local Expert Notes by Jimmy
- Morning or afternoon? From March to May the morning is cooler; in the rainy season (May–November) showers usually come in the afternoon, so mornings are drier.
- Dress for temples: shoulders and knees covered for Thien Hau Temple, and closed shoes for the Vespa.
- Bring small change in Vietnamese dong for flowers, drinks or incense.
- Holidays: around 30 April and 2 September the centre is busy and some roads close; Tết 2027 falls on 6 February 2027 and Cholon is at its most colourful in the week before.
- Addresses: since July 2025 Ho Chi Minh City uses wards instead of districts, but locals and taxis still say “District 1”.
More planning help: Saigon travel guide, Saigon travel tips, where to stay in Saigon and Saigon transportation.
Ready to ride? Send us an inquiry with your date and number of travellers – we usually reply within 24 hours.
Updated 24 October 2026 · By Jimmy, Vietnam Tour Expert
Day by day itinerary
About the Insider’s Saigon Tour
This 4.5-hour tour shows Ho Chi Minh City from the back of a vintage Vespa. A professional driver takes each guest and an English-speaking guide explains every stop, from French colonial landmarks to Chinatown temples and the modern skyline. Choose the morning (8:00–12:30) or afternoon (12:00–16:30) tour.
Brief itinerary
- Pick-up – Central Post Office – Notre Dame Cathedral – Independence Palace – Thich Quang Duc Monument
- Backstreets – Ho Thi Ky Flower Market – Cholon and Binh Tay Market – Thien Hau Temple
- Thu Thiem Tunnel and skyline view – lunch – back to your hotel
The Insider’s Saigon Tour: Colonial Landmarks, Chinatown and the Skyline by Vintage Vespa (4.5 Hours)
Meals: lunch and a coffee · Overnight: No overnight
Times: morning 8:00–12:30 or afternoon 12:00–16:30.
Pick-up: your Vespa driver collects you at your hotel, Airbnb or homestay and rides to the meeting point to join your guide.
Colonial Saigon: stop at the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, then ride past Independence Palace.
Thich Quang Duc Monument: hear the story of the monk whose protest in June 1963 shocked the world.
Backstreets and flowers: ride through narrow alleys to see daily life, then walk through Ho Thi Ky Flower Market.
Chinatown: in Cholon, see Binh Tay Market and visit Thien Hau Temple with its hanging incense coils.
Skyline: ride through the Thu Thiem Tunnel under the Saigon River and stop for photos of the city skyline.
Lunch: eat at a local restaurant, with a Vietnamese coffee, then return to your hotel.
Inclusions
Meals
Lunch at a local restaurant + coffee
Transport
Vintage Vespa with driver
Accommodation
No overnight
Tour Inclusions
- Free hotel pick-up and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City
- Vintage Vespa with fuel and a professional driver (one guest per scooter)
- Full-face helmet, and rain poncho if needed
- English-speaking guide for 4.5 hours
- Lunch at a local restaurant and a coffee
- All entrance fees on the route
Tour Exclusions
- Drinks beyond those included
- Pick-up outside central Ho Chi Minh City (ask us)
- Tips for drivers and guide (appreciated)
- Personal expenses
Tour Price
Tour code: VTE-SG124
| Option | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Small group tour | US$73 |
| Private tour | US$107 |
- Prices are per person in US dollars (USD) for the 2026–2027 season.
- Included: hotel pick-up and drop-off, vintage Vespa with fuel and driver, full-face helmet, English-speaking guide, lunch, a coffee and entrance fees.
- Private tour: your party only, with stops and timing adjusted to you.
- Travelling with children? Ask us about child prices when you enquire.
Ready to book? Send us your date and number of travellers to confirm availability.
Tour Inquiry
FAQs about the Insider’s Saigon Tour by Vintage Vespa
1. How long is the Insider’s Saigon Tour?
4.5 hours: the morning tour runs from 8:00 to 12:30 and the afternoon tour from 12:00 to 16:30, including hotel pick-up and drop-off.
2. How much does the Insider’s Saigon Vespa tour cost?
US$73 per person in a small group or US$107 per person for a private tour, including the Vespa, driver, guide, lunch, a coffee and entrance fees.
3. What will I see on the tour?
Saigon Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace (outside), the Thich Quang Duc Monument, backstreets, Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, Cholon and Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Temple and the skyline from the Thu Thiem side of the river.
4. Can I go inside Notre Dame Cathedral?
Not at the moment. The cathedral has been under restoration since 2017 and work continues beyond 2026, so you see it from the square. Read our Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon guide.
5. Do I drive the Vespa myself?
No. You ride as a passenger behind a professional driver, one guest per scooter, so no licence is needed.
6. Is a Vespa tour safe in Saigon traffic?
The drivers ride these routes every day, full-face helmets are provided and the pace is gentle. Tell your guide if you would like the driver to go slower.
7. Morning or afternoon – which is better?
Mornings are cooler and usually dry in the rainy season; afternoons give softer light for photos at the river. The route is the same.
8. Is lunch included?
Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant and a Vietnamese coffee are included. Tell us about vegetarian or allergy needs when you book.
9. Where does the tour start?
At your hotel, Airbnb or homestay in central Ho Chi Minh City. Pick-up and drop-off are free.
10. Can children join?
Usually yes, if they can sit safely behind a driver and wear a helmet. Ask us about the minimum age and child prices.
11. What is the difference between the small group and private tour?
In the small group you share the guide with other travellers at US$73 per person. The private tour (US$107 per person) is for your party only, and the stops and timing can be changed.
12. What should I wear?
Closed shoes, and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for the temple. Sunscreen and sunglasses help in the dry season; ponchos are provided if it rains.
13. What happens if it rains?
Tours run in normal rain with ponchos. In a storm we move your tour to another time or day where possible.
14. How do I book the Insider’s Saigon Tour?
Send your date, morning or afternoon, number of travellers and hotel through the Tour Inquiry form or WhatsApp on +84 88 626 1368. We usually reply within 24 hours.
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