Ho Chi Minh City 3 Days: A Culinary Alley Pilgrimage — From Bánh Xèo to Egg Coffee
Base yourself within walking distance of Bến Thành Market, filling every hour from morning to night with nothing but food.
Why we recommend this plan
The true taste of Saigon lies on the plastic chairs tucked inside alleyways. From Southern-style bánh xèo and bún chả to a bowl of hủ tiếu, freshly baked bánh mì, and egg coffee topped with egg cream — we’ve designed a 3-day itinerary centered within walking distance of Bến Thành Market, filled exclusively with food from morning to night. This is a culinary pilgrimage focused less on travel and more on the 'density of each meal.'
A Walking Route for Eating
- Heritage Restaurant Pilgrimage: Strategically visit popular local staples like Bánh Xèo 46A (on Trần Đình Xu) and Bếp Mẹin by time slot. The proper way to eat bánh xèo is to wrap the yellow crepe in lettuce and herbs, then dip it in nước mắm.
- Guided Food Tour: At night, join a guide for a street food alley walk, safely exploring local gems that are hard to find on your own.
- Mekong Culinary Day Tour: Experience Southern rustic flavors in one day, including tropical fruits, honey tea, coconut candy, and elephant ear fish dishes.
Master Vietnamese coffee culture by hand with an egg coffee-making workshop, allowing you to recreate the taste of Saigon back home. This itinerary is perfect for those for whom eating is the primary purpose of travel.
The itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Saigon — Ben Thanh Eats and Bui Vien Nights
14:00Private Pickup at Tan Son Nhat Airport
Direct transfer to your base within walking distance of Ben Thanh in a private vehicle. Culinary travel requires stamina, so start your journey comfortably.
Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport Private Pickup & Sending ServiceFrom ฿89815:30Check-in at Happy Life Hotel (Walking Distance to Ben Thanh Market)
A base in District 1 within walking distance of Ben Thanh Market. Optimal for a culinary pilgrimage as morning noodle shops to night street stalls are all within walking distance.
The Heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Perfect Base within Walking Distance of Ben Thanh Market [Happylife Hotel]From ฿2,57117:00Ben Thanh Market Food Alley & Bún Chả 46A
Warm up with Ben Thanh Market street food, then head to Bún Chả 46A on Dinh Cong Trang Street. This legendary old shop serves the original Southern-style Bún Chả: wrap the yellow fried items in lettuce and herbs, and dip in nước chấm.
20:00Bui Vien Street Beer & Seafood
End your first day at Bui Vien, where the entire street becomes an outdoor pub at night. Enjoy cool Bia Saigon with grilled clams and shrimp.
- Day 2
From Morning Bánh Mì to Night Street Food Tour
08:00Local Breakfast — Bánh Mì & Hủ Tiếu
The standard local morning. Start your day in Saigon with crispy Bánh Mì and Southern-style dry noodles Hủ Tiếu.
10:00Traditional Egg Coffee Making Class
A Vietnamese Egg Coffee class where you whisk the egg cream yourself. An essential hands-on experience for coffee lovers.
[Ho Chi Minh City] Vietnam's Sweet Temptation: Traditional Egg Coffee Making ExperienceFrom ฿78513:00Bún Chả & Cơm Tấm Lunch
Taste the two pillars of Southern working-class cuisine: Bún Chả, where charcoal-grilled pork is soaked in tangy broth, and Cơm Tấm, broken rice topped with ribs.
18:00Walking Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour
A food tour with a guide visiting alleyway old shops to taste Bún Chả, Hủ Tiếu, Egg Coffee, and more. Safely explore local eateries that are hard to find on your own.
[Ho Chi Minh City] Ho Chi Minh Walking Street Food TourFrom ฿224 - Day 3
Mekong Culinary Day Tour — Tastes of the Southern Rustic
08:00Departure for My Tho Mekong Delta Tour
About 1.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. A day trip to seek river cuisine, tasting tropical delicacies grown in the delta at their source.
[Ho Chi Minh City] My Tho Mekong Delta Jungle Waterway Exploration Day TourFrom ฿22411:00Coconut Candy, Honey Tea, & Tropical Fruits
A culinary course where you make and taste fresh coconut candy, try honey tea at a bee farm, and sample seasonal tropical fruits at an orchard.
12:30Elephant Ear Fish Lunch
A Southern rustic lunch featuring the Mekong specialty: whole fried 'Elephant Ear Fish' wrapped in rice paper. Accompanied by a traditional music performance.
17:00Return to Ho Chi Minh & Departure
After a 3-day trip filled with river cuisine, head to the airport. Pick up your last coffee and dried mangoes on the way back.