Free tour
👩🍳 Saigon Local Bites: A Hands-On Home Cooking & Tasting Journey
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Guru: Detour Asia
PRO
Verified quality
Registered on 23 April 2023
Detour Asia offers an alternative tour experience for travelers in Southeast Asia, guided by local experts who know their cities inside and out. Skip the typical tourist spots and immerse yourself in authentic culture, discovering hidden gems and local favorites. Explore with those who love and understand their cities' secrets and surprises. Make your next adventure unconventional. Proudly featured in Lonely Planet Travel Guide (2016 & 2019).
Free reservation and cancellation
Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free
Tour description
Join a friendly local guide and step inside real Saigon homes!
This one-of-a-kind experience takes you beyond the usual tourist paths. You'll explore quiet neighborhoods, meet local families, and even help cook their favorite dishes — all in their own kitchens.
🏠 Start at the guide’s family home:
- 👋 Get a warm welcome and intro to the area
- ☕ Brew Vietnamese coffee the traditional way
- 🥬 Make fresh spring rolls with pork, shrimp & herbs
- 🍽️ Enjoy what you’ve made — just like a local family meal
👣 Walk and taste through the neighborhood:
Your guide will take you through peaceful alleys to visit other local homes. Each family shares their specialty dish and a bit of their story. This isn’t a restaurant tour — it’s a real community experience.
🍜 What you’ll taste (and sometimes help cook):
- Bánh xèo Nam Bộ – Crispy Southern pancakes
- Bún thịt nướng – Grilled pork & vermicelli noodles
- Bánh tráng Trảng Bàng – Pork & herb rice paper rolls
- Bánh tráng nướng – "Vietnamese pizza" grilled over charcoal
- Bột chiên – Fried rice flour cakes with egg
- Ốc bươu nhồi thịt – Snails stuffed with pork & lemongrass
- Sticky banana rice – Grilled banana wrapped in sticky rice
- Cambodian snacks – A surprise cross-border twist
- Nước mía – Fresh sugarcane juice
💸 What’s not included?
This is a tip-based tour — no upfront cost!
You only pay for your food (about 10 USD) and leave a tip for your guide based on the experience.
❤️ Why join this walk?
- Connect with real locals
- Learn hands-on cooking skills
- Support family-run home kitchens
- Discover a side of Saigon most visitors never see
Highlights
What will we see on this tour?
Meeting point:
23 Tôn Thất Tùng, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
7-Eleven - Tôn Thất Tùng, Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
1
Free entry
Local Guide’s Family
The heart of this experience is your local guide’s own home in a quiet Saigon neighborhood. Here, you’ll:
Get a glimpse of real local life
Make fresh spring rolls and brew Vietnamese coffee with hands-on guidance
Sit down to enjoy what you’ve made, just like a family meal
Afterward, take a short walk to nearby homes, where local families cook their specialty dishes and share their stories — a true taste of Vietnamese hospitality.
2
Outside visit
Make Banh Xeo
3
Outside visit
Bun Thit Nuong
How much does this tour cost?
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €15 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).
Who is this tour for?
Accessibility
Not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts bookings of up to 20 people.
Pets
Not suitable for bringing pets.
What should I know?
Minimum attendees
Does not require a minimum number of people to conduct the tour.
Additional costs
The tour requires payment for entries or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you cannot attend the tour, please cancel the reservation, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or card payment accepted.
👩🍳 Saigon Local Bites: A Hands-On Home Cooking & Tasting Journey
