• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Take a walk off the beaten track, away from the tourist crowds, and see the real side of Ho Chi Minh City. On this private tour, go beyond the classic route and explore Quân 6 where you’ll experience a different Ho Chi Minh City, like a local with a local by your side!

Destination

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Vietnamese

Included

• Private Guide
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 4 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Ben Thanh Market, exit/gate 3 - Ho Chi Minh City to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Off the Beaten Track

   Done with the main highlights of Ho Chi Minh City? Check out the Quân 6. Explore a lesser-known part of the city that will give you a more authentic feel of Ho Chi Minh City. Check out Binh Tay market, Ba Chien Hau pagoda and more!

4. The Real Deal

   Let a local expert in the area you’ll visit show you their Ho Chi Minh City from a different perspective - away from the tourist traps. See street art, cultural hot spots, local vendors, hangout spots, and historical gems, and embrace the vibe!

5. Personalized Recommendations

   Want to explore more of the area after the tour? Your host is happy to recommend their favorite eateries and where to take a break while wandering in this vibrant area

6. Unique Plan

   Depending on your host, this tour will be experienced based on their knowledge, passion, and expertise. Pick a host that matches your interests and see their city through their eyes!

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Mike

(About local HUYEN)

7 March 2025

Unfortunately, we had to cancel our tour due to complications with our Viking cruise schedule changes. We spent a lot of time planning our tour with Huyen and she was wonderful, even though we never met! The website and online chats with Huyan were so helpful in planning our food tour. Thank you Withlocals for all the support and help. Sorry we couldn’t make it work. we will definitely use your site again in the future. Mike n LucyTour cancelled but still awesome!

Scott

(About local Thien)

28 February 2025

My wife and I selected this tour to follow (the next day) the more extensive HMC tour. It was an excellent addition, no overlap with the first tour, and experiences that would be pretty difficult for us to do with Thien. Thien's knowledge and enthusiasm are great, her English is perfect, and we had a great time.An excellent extension to the other tours.

Krystyna

(About local Thien)

26 February 2025

Interesting tour showing Chinatown and the surrounding environs. Mostly markets of which we’ve seen enough all over the world. Presented with gusto and a lot of energy. Was more interesting to learn about the history and economics and politics of this complex country. Hustle and bustle of district 5&6

netty🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jecky)

24 February 2025

Jecky guided us by public coach to "China Town" in Ho Chi Minh. He was prompt in time waiting for us and asked if we had special wishes. We are not the youngest people anymore so we told him not to long walks. He showed us interesting pagoda's and wanted to bring us to the flowermarket what we didn't do because we were very tired and were not yet used to the high temperatures. Jecky was kind, flexible and patient. Thank you JeckyKind, flexible and patient

Julie 🇦🇺 Australia

(About local HUYEN)

24 February 2025

Huyen was a great guide, knowledgeable, fun and easy to understand. I would thoroughly recommend her.

Sylvia

(About local Thien)

22 February 2025

Our Off the Beaten track tour with Thien was way beyond seeing Chinatown. Thien provided immense insight into the culture and history of Vietnam with her knowledge and personal family experience. Highly recommended.Insightful experience

john🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Thien)

21 February 2025

Great trip and she adjusted the pace and we returned in a Grab but the bus and markets were good .Thien was a true local and gave us insight into life in Saigon. Would recommend her!Charming guide

fybywk6j74

(About local HUYEN)

21 February 2025

We Spent 3 hours today touring Saigon with Huyen. She was just excellent! She’s funny and has so much knowledge of the city. I learned and saw so much aboutbthe “ local life” in Saigon Huyen has great English too. I highly recommend her as a guide! You won’t be disappointed Fantastic Experience

Anette🇩🇰 Denmark

(About local Spring or Hieu)

18 February 2025

We had a fantastic tour with Hieu. His English is very easy to understand, and he was truly a great storyteller. We gained insight into different areas and history and got to experience a lot of local culture as well. He is kind, friendly, and very attentive. Unfortunately, two members of our family had suffered from food poisoning in the days prior, and Hieu was incredibly considerate and accommodating. This tour opened our eyes to all that Vietnam has to offer beyond the usual tourist spots—things we would never have discovered on our own. We highly recommend Hieu to anyone considering a guide in Ho Chi Minh City. We will definitely call him again next time we’re here! Best Ho Chi Minh guide one could wish for

David

(About local Thien)

12 January 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our day out with Thien. She was very happy, friendly and informative. We enjoyed seeing the Chinatown market and the old temple. Thank you Thien. Great day out

antonius🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local HUYEN)

12 January 2025

We enjoyed our tour with Huyen very much. She is very kind and helpfunctie! One will not visit plces like we without Huyen. We can recommend her highly.

Alexander🇩🇪 Germany

(About local HUYEN)

12 January 2025

Dear Huyen, thank you very much for your efforts in showing us Saigon from a local's perspective. The idea of ​​taking the bus to the market and the temple was also very good. We really enjoyed the time with you. Hopefully see you soon. Best wishes. Sjoerd and AlexGreat experience in Saigon with Huyen

Paige🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Spring or Hieu)

9 January 2025

We had a great morning with Hieu who took us to far flung districts away from the usual tourist places. The second oldest coffee shop where we learned how to make traditional coffee was really special. And, the communist apartment blocks were interesting. Hieu was knowledgeable, friendly and really took joy is showing us his city. He even gave us suggestions for a delightful lunch spot and places to visit after leaving him. Highly recommend booking this tour!Hidden Ho Chi Minh

Danni

(About local HUYEN)

6 January 2025

Huyen is an amazing, friendly and fun guide, full of life and laughter. She showed us a side of the city we would not otherwise have experienced. She is knowledgeable, smart and witty. She ensured we saw and experienced as much as we could in the time we had. The bang mi we shared was one of my highlights! I highly recommend Huyen as your personal tour guide! Experience Ho Chi Minh. Ity like a local

Michael🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jecky)

27 December 2024

Jecky was knowledgeable and had just the right approach to talking versus letting us take things in. The mangosteen was especially fun to try!Cho lun area

Simon🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Thien)

24 December 2024

Excellent tour ‘off the beaten track’ with Thiem. We got to see so many parts of Saigon that we would have not been able to see by ourselves including China Town and the oldest coffee shop. We really appreciated Thiem’s flexibility on the tour to adjust and take us to see areas that we were particularly interested in. Thank you, Thiem for your time and an unforgettable experience. Excellent Afternoon ‘Off the beaten track’

Vanessa🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local HUYEN)

20 December 2024

Huyen was warm and engaging from the first moment and treated us like a friend. We spent a fun 2.5 hours exploring district 5 & 6. She provided an experience and insight that we couldn’t have gained on our own. What a great way to explore the city and gain a valuable perspective from a kind, knowledgeable local. Highly recommend. Warm and engaging

Scott🇺🇸 United States

(About local HUYEN)

16 December 2024

Huyen provided us with a wonderful tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Her enthusiasm and knowledge are impressive and her warmth infectious. She made the day a highlight of our stay in the this vibrant city. Wonderful Tour

Mikael🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Spring or Hieu)

10 December 2024

We booked a tour with Hieu, "off the beaten track in Sigon". We have been on lots of tours in different countries and cities. As we told Hieu, he is the most professional and personal guide we have ever had. He took us to places in Saigon we would never had found. He also suggested other things to see and do in Saigon. I can really recommend this tour.Fantastic tour guide in Saigon

James🇬🇬 Guernsey

(About local HUYEN)

5 December 2024

Huyen was very professional and was excited to show us as much as possible in the time available. We navigated tiny alleys and markets between the tour highlights and saw very interesting sights on the way. Huyen is a lovely host and very keen to please. A Lovely Enthusiastic Host

Kelly🇬🇬 Guernsey

(About local HUYEN)

23 November 2024

Huyen guided us around China town and a local market. She kindly sourced some local souvenirs for us too. Huyen was happy to answer and questions we had. We had a very enjoyable day xSuper Friendly

Sophie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Spring or Hieu)

21 November 2024

We really enjoyed Hieu's "Off the Beaten Track" tour. Hieu is really informative, interesting and easy to chat to. We went to places we wouldn't have discovered on our own and more importantly we learnt about local culture, history and family life. Hieu even offered recommendations for us after the tour and made sure we got in a grab safely. A top notch tour with a top notch guide! Highlight of our trip!

Eva

(About local Thien)

16 November 2024

Our tour with Thien in Saigon was an extraordinary experience that went far beyond the usual sightseeing. We saw non-touristic places and vibrant spots in Chinatown. Thien has deep knowledge of Vietnam’s history, combined with personal stories about her family, and this combination made the tour incredibly enriching and authentic. In many aspects this tour opened our eyes and helped us to understand better Vietnamese culture.Authentic Saigon tour

Klaus🇩🇪 Germany

(About local HUYEN)

10 November 2024

Ich hatte zwei Touren mit Huyen gebucht. Die Highlight Tour und Off the Beaten Track. Huyen war ein toller Host. Sie zeigte mir die Highlights von Ho Chi Minh City und ging auch auf meine Fragen und Wünsche ein. Huyen ist sehr gesprächig, erzählt sehr viel über die Geschichte und das Leben der Menschen in Ho Chi Minh City. Bei der Off the Beaten Track fuhren wir mit dem lokalen Bus in einen anderen Distrikt und besuchten unter anderem zwei Märkte. Es war sehr interessant zu sehen wie in Ho Chi Minh City Geschäfte gemacht werden und Handel getrieben wird. Durch Huyen habe ich sehr viel über die Menschen und Kultur von Vietnam gelernt. Bin sehr froh, dass ich die zwei Touren mit Huyen gebucht hatte. Huyen ist eine sehr freundliche, kommunikative und kompetente Führerin. Vielen Dank für die tollen Erlebnisse. Klaus aus Deutschland Highlights und Off the Beaten Track

Gabriela🇵🇱 Poland

(About local Spring or Hieu)

7 November 2024

We went on a trip with Hieu to places that are far from tourist attractions of HCMC. It was soooo nice to wonder around small streets of the district inhabited only by the locals. Hieu showed us places we wouldn’t ’ venture to on our own. And we had a chance to understand the history of those places, the ways locals go on with their lives. We tried local specialties and got to chat a bit with Unties, the stall owners. It was an incredible trip! Hieu proved himself a guide that is well informed, well organised and very nice to talk to. Great off-the-beaten-path experience!

James🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local HUYEN)

4 November 2024

Those who are considering to engage Huyen as a loval guide, go ahead. won't go wrong. Huyen is an able and good guide, with lots of local knowledge to share, whether they be the cultural aspects or on-the-ground aspects. Her good grasp of things enabled flexibility in arrangements, and ability to have impromptu suggestions for the programme.Great experience.

Constantin

(About local Spring or Hieu)

3 November 2024

We usually prefer to explore on our own rather than taking guided tours, but in Saigon, we felt it was essential to dive deeper into the local people, customs, beliefs, way of life, and the complex history of the city. Hieu, our guide, was fantastic and truly made the experience memorable. His English was excellent, and it was a pleasure to talk with him – the time flew by! He was open to all our questions, always responding with a smile and a touch of humor. We learned so much, and we are grateful for this immersive experience with Hieu. Highly recommended! An authentic and engaging experience

Matthew

(About local Thien)

24 October 2024

If you want the local experience and knowledge of someone from Saigon than Thien is the best choice. She is happy to speak about everything in Vietnam life , culture and history and all the while having a laugh and fun. Couldn't recommend highly enoughTruly local experience !

Irene🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Thien)

2 October 2024

We had a very enjoyable tour with Thien. She has boundless energy and stories about her city and it was a great way to learn more about this exciting place well away from the easily found tourist venues. She is a gifted guide who is well able to answer a curious tourist’s questions. Vivacious host!

Saki🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Thien)

2 October 2024

I am a solo traveler. I had already explored most of the touristy places in the city by myself so that I wanted to explore some places where only the locals know. She took me to Chinatown(we took a bus there! Very fun experience for me as a tourist), we walked around and visited a few temples then a few markets as well. Thien let me feel the local vibes and experience the lively atmosphere there. She is very friendly and knowledgeable. She answered all my questions during the tour. She teaches a lot of things which you cannot know by searching online. I learned many things about Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City. At the end she gave me a location of this hidden local coffee shop and I visited it after the tour. It was a great experience. I really had a fun time. Highly recommended! :)A fun walk with Thien :)

Larry🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local HUYEN)

28 September 2024

Went to places we have never been and would have never gone too ! Very informative 100% recommendGreat guide Great tour

Daniel

(About local Spring or Hieu)

12 September 2024

I recently had the pleasure of taking the "Off the Beaten Track in Ho Chi Minh City" tour with Hieu, and it was an outstanding experience. The 2.5 hours flew by as we explored vibrant markets, unique neighborhoods, and enjoyed a delicious street food lunch. We even visited a coffee shop established in 1938, where the coffee was exceptional—comparable to the best in Melbourne. The tour was refreshingly free of other tourists, making it a truly authentic experience. Hieu was a true professional, fielding my endless questions about Vietnamese history with ease. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Ho Chi Min City.AMAZING TOUR IN HANOI

Peter🇦🇺 Australia

(About local HUYEN)

6 September 2024

Huyen conducted an excellent 6 tour tour for us of HCM City. We asked for “off the beaten track” and she delivered in spades. She navigated us through the markets, stopping to explain local foods and customs and for us to try treats. She provided us with a honest and insightful narrative of the difficult and traumatic past of Vietnam. She radiates enthusiasm, humour and engagement. Local knowledge and colour

SABRINA

(About local Thien)

30 August 2024

Our tour in Chinatown with Thien was a wonderful experience. First of all she is very nice and she provided us with a lot of info about Vietnam's war also based on the experience of her own family. We went on a local bus and then we went through the market and the streets of Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh. While walking Thien explained everything we saw and also let us visit two famous temples. We recommend this tour to all those interested in going beyond touristic places and like to go deeply in Vietnam's culture.A tour with a special taste

Chen🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local HUYEN)

12 August 2024

We really enjoyed our morning with Huyen. Taking the local bus, exploring the innards of the local markets, dodging traffic on the streets, understanding the history of Chinese settlers in Ho Chi Minh's history, and finally, a short interlude in the colourful flower market - all lovely glimpses of Ho Chi Minh. And all made possible by Huyen who was bubbly, always informative, full of unexpected nuggets of information, well-equipped and funny - "when crossing the road, we do it like sticky rice".An interesting walk with a lovely host

Constantin🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Thien)

9 August 2024

We loved the tour with Thien! She was insightful, funny, bubbly, knowledgeable and super interesting! We saw a side of Saigon that we would not have seen by ourselves! Highly recommended tour & guide! Thank you super bubbly & nice guide!

denis🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Jecky)

24 July 2024

We recently had the pleasure of joining Jecky on the "Off the Beaten Track in Ho Chi Minh City: Quân 6 Tour," and it was an unforgettable experience! Jecky's extensive knowledge and passion for the city were evident from the start. He took us to local markets where we sampled exotic fruits like the delicious mangosteen, something we had never tried before. The taste was extraordinary, and being able to enjoy them right at the market stand added to the authenticity of the experience. The visit to the wholesale market was another highlight. Jecky encouraged us to bargain our own way, making the experience both interactive and fun. His insider tips and guidance made us feel like locals for the day. The bus tour and the meal at the recommended restaurant were simply amazing. Jecky knew exactly where to take us, revealing hidden gems we would never have discovered on our own. The food was incredible, and the ambiance of the restaurant made it a perfect ending to our adventure. Jecky's skills as a photographer added another layer of enjoyment. He captured beautiful moments that we will cherish forever. Even our 4-year-old daughter had a fantastic time, thanks to Jecky's engaging and friendly demeanor. This tour truly showcased a different side of Ho Chi Minh City. From exploring the hippest streets to uncovering alternative spots known only by locals, Jecky made sure we embraced the local culture. His storytelling, full of unique anecdotes and personal insights, brought the city to life in a way we had never experienced before. If you want to see the authentic side of Ho Chi Minh City and have a guide who can personalize the tour to your wishes, Jecky is the perfect host. This tour was more than just sightseeing; it was an immersive journey into the heart of Quân 6.A Family-Friendly Adventure in Quân 6

Andrew🇨🇦 Canada

(About local HUYEN)

22 July 2024

My family and I had the best tour experience with Huyen. She is so knowledgeable and passionate about her city. She brought us to non touristy spots and learned how locals live day to day. Visited wet markets, wholesale markets, temples, pagodas and food spots. Each step of the way giving us more and more information about HCMC. The funny part was crossing the roads. That was equivalent to playing the real life video game of “frogger”. I asked her how do you just cross the road with on coming traffic and she just responded with “you just do it!!” That cracked me up and scared me at the same time. Nevertheless if you have the opportunity to ever visit this beautiful city, and fortunate enough to book her. Your whole trip will be that much better. Can’t say enough!! We will be back for a longer stay in the near future and will book Huyen again. Amazing and Extremely Kind

Kai🇭🇰 Hong Kong

(About local Thien)

10 June 2024

We started the journey in the classic Saigon local coffee shop with over 80 years of age. Thien was the most passionate host that I’ve met in anywhere. She guided us through the local streets and different iconic Saigon architectures that built throughout the modern era. During the 4-hour tour, you learned from history to modern-day Saigon, from war to daily meal of common people. If you ever visit here in Saigon, Thien is highly recommended for accompanying your trip. Half-day Saigon with an enthusiastic host

Dennis🇩🇪 Germany

(About local HUYEN)

7 June 2024

Huyền was really welcoming and like a good friend from the beginning. We requested a personalized tour and she fulfilled all our wishes. In addition to getting to know typical local places, she also gave us an insight into Vietnamese culture. We will definitely book Huyền again as a guide as soon as we are back in Vietnam. Thanks again for the great experience.We couldn't have wished for a better guide

Tannia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Spring or Hieu)

1 June 2024

Hieu was a wonderful host & showed me a bunch of local gems. Highly recommend this tour if you want to get an authentic taste of Saigon! Wonderful time!

Damien🇦🇺 Australia

(About local HUYEN)

26 May 2024

Our group of ten (including 5 kids under 9 years old) had a fantastic time exploring the market with Huyen. Huyen was fantastic with the kids, and kept them really engaged. The walking tour was our first day in HCM and it was a great way to kick of our trip. Highly recommended! Fantastic family fun

Dermot🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Spring or Hieu)

25 May 2024

This was a really interesting tour of some non touristy areas of Saigon. Hieu was so pleasant & interesting to chat to as he showed us some real areas & how people live there. He was very warm & friendly & also gave good advice & recommendations. Thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks Hieu!Really interesting tour

Hetal🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Thien)

3 May 2024

Thank you Thien for an incredibly open, honest, revealing, entertaining and curiosity quenching time. It was by far one of the best times we have had from all our travel experiences (and one of the most human ones!). What an honour for us to have spent so much time exploring your city and understanding it through your eyes and experience. Anyone wishing to have an immersive travel experience should do this! And do it with Thien. Her reputation of "The Hip Storyteller" does not begin to describe the real Thien. Book it now - you will not regret a moment of it. Love you Thien! Thank you.One of our best experiences of all time!

Stephen

(About local HUYEN)

30 April 2024

An interesting and fun walking tour with Huyen, a knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining guide. Definitely recommend!!Great Private Tour

Chris

(About local Spring or Hieu)

29 April 2024

Hieu was great. He is perfect to take you to off the beaten track locations. His knowledge is first class and he is extremely friendly! We would highly recomend him to anyone who wants to learn about the real SaigonHighly Recomended

Arch🇨🇦 Canada

(About local HUYEN)

23 April 2024

Did the district 6 market and visited a buddist temple/pagoda. It was an eye opener for us. Huyen was great. Very informative, lots of information. Very local tour. Very few westerners were seen. Good way to start our visit to Saigon.Very informative morning.

Sharon 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local HUYEN)

9 April 2024

Spent a delightful couple of hours on our first day in Ho Chi Minh with Huyen. She took us to the less travelled (for tourists) area to see the sights, sounds and smells accompanied by lots of interesting stories, anecdotes and laughter. What a fun few hours. Would definitely recommend taking time out to do this tour with Huyen. Will give you a different perspective and understanding of the Vietnamese history and way of life.Fascinating tour with lovely funny Huyen

Nicole🇺🇸 United States

(About local Thien)

3 April 2024

If you want a truly unique experience, book an adventure with Thien! We learned a ton about the local culture and saw a side of Chinatown that we would only have been able to see with the experience of a local. One of our most memorable experiences was getting to try sweet sugarcane juice from this super sweet couple who went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Getting a real Vietnamese coffee cafe experience and another warm welcome from “the Coffee Lady” are memories we will cherish. Thanks for a wonderful experience, Thien!! Not a tour, but an adventure!

Johannes

(About local Thien)

31 March 2024

Thien has been very nice and informative in our walk with her. I would recommend her!A nice way to explore Saigon