5 Vietnamese food tours that captivate foreign palates

Vietnamese cuisine is highly favored by international visitors for its variety of ingredients, flavors, and regional cooking styles. Food tours have become popular offerings by inbound tourism companies, accessible via online travel agencies.

Here are five food tours spanning Vietnam's three regions that have garnered positive reviews from visitors.

1. Hanoi street food tour

The Small Group Hanoi Street Food Tour with a Real Foodie, run by Ha Food Tours, ranks among Vietnam’s top 10 food tours according to Tripadvisor. Over 3,000 travelers have left positive reviews, with 99% recommending it.

Foreign visitors enjoy green papaya with beef jerky salad in Hanoi’s Old Quarter in October 2024. Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor

This three-hour tour departs from the Old Quarter at 6 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., with a maximum of six participants. Guests walk around the Old Quarter, exploring Hanoi’s history while sampling local street food.

The menu varies daily and includes staples like pho, sticky rice, and glutinous rice balls.

Priced at VND726,000 ($29) per person, the tour can be booked on Tripadvisor or directly through the company.

2. Hoi An evening walking food tour

Available on Klook, the Hoi An Evening Walking Food Tour runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Participants stroll through Hoi An’s ancient town, sampling delicacies like cao lau - thick noodles, banh mi, and Quang-style noodles. The tour also includes a night market visit, local coffee, and dinner with locals.

Visitors enjoy banh mi in Hoi An. Photo courtesy of Getyourguide

After dinner, guests take a boat ride along the Hoai River, floating lanterns while listening to stories of the river’s history. The tour concludes with traditional games.

The cost is VND900,000 ($35.50) per person.

3. Da Nang food tour by motorbike

Offered through Viator on Tripadvisor, the Da Nang Food Tour by Motorbike is guided by local Vietnamese speakers fluent in English or French.

The five-hour tour departs daily at 5 p.m., where participants explore the coastal city on motorbikes and experience local life.

The tour stops at six locations, with guests tasting Da Nang street foods, such as crispy pancakes banh xeo and grilled meat roll nem lui, and enjoying a main course at a restaurant. Weekend guests get the chance to see the Dragon Bridge fire show.

Priced at $45 per person, the tour is limited to eight guests each.

4. Ho Chi Minh City food tour by motorbike

The XO Foodie Tour in Ho Chi Minh City, led by XO Tours, was listed among the world's top nine food tours by Forbes in 2018.

A unique feature of this tour is that all drivers and guides are female, dressed in Vietnamese traditional dress ao dai, as they chauffeur guests on motorbikes.

Tour participants in Ho Chi Minh City explore local culinary gems by motorbike in October 2024. Photo courtesy of Angela S

This tour takes guests to hidden food spots known only to locals, offering a broader experience beyond popular dishes like banh mi or pho.

Participants sample at least ten dishes, with vegetarian options available. Locations are rotated regularly for a fresh experience.

The tour departs daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., costing $82 per person, with a maximum of 16 participants.

5. Can Tho food tour by a local chef

The Can Tho Food Tour, designed by a local chef and organized by Fabulous Mekong Eco Tours, takes participants through the culinary landscape of the Mekong Delta with dishes such as banh cong (fried mung bean cakes), fried frog, or clay-pot eggplant.

The tour costs approximately $39 per person, including a guide, food costs, and hotel pickup. The three-hour tour, limited to 15 guests, begins daily at 6 p.m. with English and French-speaking guides available.