Roger and Lynsey Sugarman arrived in Ho Chi Minh City in November for a three-day exploration. Upon the recommendation of friends, the American couple opted to discover the city through a street food tour.
The tour, which is conducted on classic Vespa scooters, begins at 5:30 p.m. with a driver for each tourist, who also serves as a guide.
Nguyen Viet Dang Khoa, the operations manager of Vespa A Go Go, shared that Delight Dining is one of their signature street food tours. The tour takes guests through the central districts with stops at food spots.
The Sugarmans' first stop after leaving their hotel on Ton Duc Thang Street was Song Anh Beef Noodle Soup, located in Ban Co Market in District 3. The market is well-known for its old Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment block, with food stalls offering a variety of Saigonese dishes, such as snails, broken rice, pho, and vermicelli.
“This is the first time I’ve tried beef noodle soup (bun bo Hue), and it’s much richer in flavor compared to the pho I’ve had before”, said Lynsey.
At each stop, one guide accompanies the guests, explaining the history of the restaurant, the dishes, and the cultural significance behind them. Guests typically spend about 15-30 minutes at each food stop.
Other guides help by watching over the Vespas while guests eat and assisting with any issues that may arise, such as scooter malfunctions.
“Old Vespas can break down from time to time, so having a guide for support is essential on these tours”, Khoa said, adding that each vehicle is checked by the maintenance team before every ride.
Lynsey, who had never ridden a motorcycle before, felt a bit uneasy getting on and off the scooter. She was guided by the staff to wear a helmet and mount the vehicle.
According to the tour organizers, all drivers are trained and certified. They are required to have licenses, experience, and the ability to handle manual gear transmissions, which is necessary to control a Vespa.
Leaving the market, the driver took them to the next destination, a nighttime food street on Tran Tuan Khai Street in District 5.
During their Vespa ride, Lynsey clutched the back of the scooter tightly and held her breath as the driver navigated through busy intersections.
“When we went through the roundabout, I thought the vehicles were going to crash into each other”, she said, adding that the experience of riding a scooter in the streets was both scary and thrilling, giving her a glimpse into the local way of getting around.
The couple stopped for grilled food at a popular spot in an alley. The guide mentioned that the restaurant is always fully booked, so reservations must be made at least a day in advance. For other stops, reservations are also made in advance to avoid wait times and ensure a smooth experience.
The food spots on the tour are fixed, though they may be adjusted if guests have specific dietary preferences, such as vegetarian or Halal options.
After enjoying their grilled food, Roger and Lynsey took a stroll around District 1, walking to Mong Bridge, a historic bridge offering views of the city at night.
“The city at night is so colorful and lively. If we hadn’t been on the scooter, we would have missed these moments”, Roger said.
He mentioned that he had visited other tourist spots in Southeast Asia, like Thailand, and found the streets in Ho Chi Minh City to be similar. However, in previous trips, he always used a car to get around.
The final stop on the tour was a seafood restaurant on Vinh Khanh Street in District 4, known for its late-night dining and seafood stalls. The guides joined the couple for a meal, teaching them the local way of enjoying food and drinks.
Throughout the tour, the Sugarmans remarked that every dish was easy to enjoy. The dish they liked the most was grilled scallops with onion butter.
“Before coming to Vietnam, we only knew about pho and banh mi. After this trip, we’ve realized how diverse Vietnamese cuisine is,” they said, noting that the tour offered excellent value for $79, providing both quality service and a cultural experience.
After the late-night meal, the drivers took the couple back to their hotel, ending the adventure.
“Late at night, the roads are quieter, and the weather is so much better than during the day. The next time we come back to Vietnam, we’ll definitely choose to explore the city by scooter again,” Roger said.
