Saigon Vespa Tour with Female Riders: Hidden Alleys & Landmarks

5.00

(29 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Right from the start, you feel the city’s pulse—motorbikes weaving, the smell of strong coffee drifting from a street stall, and our guide, Linh, waving us over with a grin. She handed me a helmet, checked if I was comfortable, and off we went, zipping through narrow alleys where the morning air was still cool and the city hadn’t quite heated up yet. The hum of the Vespa mixed with the chatter of vendors setting up their fruit carts, and I caught a glimpse of kids in uniforms darting between puddles left by last night’s rain.

We stopped at the Central Post Office, its yellow walls glowing in the early light. Linh pointed out the old wooden phone booths inside—she said her grandfather used to call home from there when he first moved to Saigon. Notre Dame Cathedral was next, its red bricks faded but still impressive. We didn’t linger long; instead, we cruised past the Reunification Palace gates, where locals were already gathering for morning tai chi. The Thich Quang Duc memorial was quiet—just the soft sound of incense burning and a few old men playing chess nearby.

Then came my favorite part: weaving through backstreets most tourists never see. We passed tiny noodle shops, a woman selling banh mi from her bicycle, and a group of teenagers laughing over iced tea. At Ho Thi Ky flower market, the air was thick with the scent of lilies and marigolds. I snapped a photo of a vendor arranging lotus blossoms—she winked at me and handed over a single bloom for luck.

Cholon’s Chinatown was busy as ever, with scooters honking and shopkeepers calling out deals on spices and dried fruit. Binh Tay Market was a maze of colors and sounds—Linh led us to her favorite stall for a quick taste of sweet coconut candy. We paused at Thien Hau Pagoda, where the smoke from coils of incense curled up into the sunlight. Before heading back, we rode past Thu Thiem Tunnel and stopped at a spot overlooking the river—Saigon’s skyline looked almost peaceful from there.

Lunch was at a tucked-away local spot—plastic stools, cold drinks, and a bowl of steaming pho that hit the spot after all that riding. By the end, I felt like I’d seen a side of Saigon most visitors miss. Linh dropped me off at my hotel with a wave and a promise to send me her favorite street food recommendations.