{"id":9975,"date":"2024-03-26T09:52:24","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T22:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/?p=9975"},"modified":"2025-05-01T17:45:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T07:45:45","slug":"ho-chi-minh-motorbike-food-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/ho-chi-minh-motorbike-food-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Dine & Dash: Tour Around Ho Chi Minh’s Culinary Scene on a Motorbike"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On a motorbike street food tour in the Vietnamese capital, Nate Robinson joins the river of bike commuters that flow along Saigon\u2019s streets in search of spicy seafood, killer crepes and sky-high cocktails<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been less than a day in Ho Chi Minh City, and I\u2019m about to break my mother\u2019s golden rule: don\u2019t hop on a motorbike abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d explored a little of Vietnam\u2019s freewheeling capital previously \u2013 seeing sights and taking bites \u2013 but Ho Chi Minh City\u2019s mysteries still taunted me. On my daytrip I had already seen glimpses of the city\u2019s celebrated spirit but I was hungry for more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My mission: tuck into Ho Chi Minh City\u2019s legendary nightlife. My ride: an original 1964 Vespa scooter, a holdover from when the city was named Saigon, the bike painted as grey as the monsoon sky and almost as thunderous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the fastest,\u201d says my guide, proudly patting the machine. I didn\u2019t tell him I\u2019d never ridden before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Spice drunk on Seafood Street<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Vinh Khanh (Seafood Street), Ho Chi Minh City.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Southern Vietnam\u2019s notorious heat drops away as we hurtle down French boulevards lined by mighty emerald dipterocarps, tropical trees planted by the European colonialists. We zip through side streets filled with flower sellers, past twilight markets and textile workers, bakeries and soup hawkers, beggars, businessmen, baristas and Catholic churches frocked in blazing neon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pull in front of our first stop, SUNLAND Hotel, where we\u2019re shown an elevator to D CHILL, a bustling rooftop beer garden. I nurse a G&T and stare in wonder at what lies below. After a quick drink we set out to explore District 4, Ho Chi Minh City\u2019s smallest neighbourhood where the city\u2019s luxury outlets and French colonial sights disappear, replaced with coffee carts, plantain sundae sellers and plastic chairs on every street corner. It\u2019s a poorer part of town, and tourists rarely visit. What was once infamous for being a den of iniquity is now renowned for its seafood; at District\u2019s 4 culinary heart is Vinh Khanh (Seafood Street), a sprawling food precinct that\u2019s packed with local delicacies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discover Ho Chi Minh City<\/h3>\t\n\t
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