Best Walking Tours in Ho Chi Minh City – Explore the City on Foot

There’s something about walking in Saigon that no car ride or motorbike tour can offer. Maybe it’s the warm breeze weaving through narrow alleys, or the way the city gently unfolds one layer at a time under your feet. Ho Chi Minh City – once Saigon – is a place of contrasts: old and new, loud and serene, sacred and spontaneous. And what is the best way to feel these contrasts? Simply walk.

If this is your first visit, or your tenth, these carefully curated walking tours in Ho Chi Minh City are crafted to help you connect with the streets, the people, and the spirit of Saigon.

---

5 Walking tours in Ho Chi Minh City you shouldn’t miss

1. Historical Walking Tour – “Soul of Saigon”

From French Colonies to Modern Vietnam
Style: Architecture, history, hidden gems

Begin where history whispers. The Myst Dong Khoi isn’t just a hotel – it’s a quiet ode to Saigon’s colonial past. From the moment you step inside, you’re surrounded by remnants of the old Ba Son shipyard: timber beams, a 5-ton anchor, and century-old Marseille tiles. You can sip a slow coffee at Bason Café, housed right within the lobby, and feel like time itself has paused for a breath.

📍 Route Highlights:

• Ho Huan Nghiep Street: A boulevard of French villas that have aged with charm, now home to consulates and quiet businesses.
• Carmelite Monastery (151 Dong Khoi Alley): This hidden church, discreet behind a narrow alley, has stood since colonial times.
• Saigon Opera House: Gaze at the intricate facade and hear tales of performances past.
• General Sciences Library: Even from the outside, it carries an air of old-world intellect. If open, step inside to explore.

☕ Local Tip: End with a bowl of phở or hủ tiếu near the Opera House – a favorite local breakfast spot with no-frills, just flavor.

---

2. Street Food Walking Tour – “Flavors & Alleys”

Taste Saigon Like a Local

Style: Street food, alley discovery, everyday life

This isn’t your typical food tour. It’s a wander through the city’s appetite – past open doors, sidewalk grills, and the laughter of neighbors. Saigon’s flavors live in its alleys, where time slows and taste speaks loud.

📍 Route Highlights:

• 18A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Alley: A warren of family-run stalls, unchanged for decades.
• 200 Ly Tu Trong Alley: Childhood snacks still made the old way – try the papaya salad or street-style corn.
• Nguyen Dinh Chieu Alley: Get your hands on a fresh bánh mì with roast pork or try the legendary egg-stuffed bánh cuốn.
• Hao Si Phuong (District 5): This nostalgic alley is best explored by motorbike at dusk – an unforgettable glimpse of Chinese-Vietnamese culture.

🍻 Wrap up: The rooftop at Rooty Rooftop Bar offers views that pair perfectly with Signature Cocktails inspired by different regions of Vietnam.

---

3. Cultural Walking Tour – Faiths of Saigon

Temples, Churches & Local Beliefs
Style: Spiritual, architectural, reflective

In a city defined by movement, spirituality offers moments of stillness. This walking tour opens the doors to Saigon’s sacred spaces, where diverse beliefs reflect the multicultural soul of the city.

📍 Route Highlights:

• Mariamman Temple (Chùa Bà Ấn, Trương Định Street): A vibrant and colorful Hindu temple, this sacred site is beloved by both the Indian and Vietnamese communities. It stands as a symbol of Hindu influence in the heart of Saigon.
  
• Notre-Dame Cathedral: A timeless icon of French colonial architecture, this cathedral has long served as both a spiritual center and a community gathering place.
  
• Saigon Central Post Office: More than a beautiful colonial landmark, this post office is deeply connected to the city’s development and the history of the Catholic community in Vietnam.
  

💡 Local Tip: Take a break with a cup of street-side coffee at a nearby cà phê bệt spot – a local favorite. Sip, watch the world go by, and maybe strike up a conversation with a friendly Saigoneer.

---

4. Art & Architecture Walking Tour – Saigon’s Creative Soul

Duration: ~2 hours
Style: Visual, nostalgic, photogenic

This tour is for those who notice the details – fading walls, dancing shadows, hand-carved wooden doors. Saigon’s beauty lives in its textures, waiting to be discovered by those who look closely.

📍 Route Highlights:

• Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập): A striking blend of modernist architecture and Eastern philosophy, symbolizing both resistance and peace.
  
• Ho Chi Minh City Museum (Gia Long Palace): Once the residence of the Governor of Cochinchina, this elegant building features domed roofs and ornate French-style decorations.
  
• Ben Thanh Market: A century-old architectural gem with its iconic clock tower – more than a bustling market, it’s a cultural landmark of Saigon.
  
• Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Building: A Beaux-Arts masterpiece from the French colonial era, majestic and stately – just viewing it from Nguyen Hue Boulevard is enough to leave an impression.
  
• Mong Bridge (Cầu Mống): One of the oldest iron bridges in the city, its fading blue color stretches across the Ben Nghe canal, built by the French over a century ago.
  
• Alley 26 Lý Tự Trọng: Featuring spiral staircases and weathered windows, this cinematic alley plays with light and shadow in the most poetic ways.
  

📸 Bring your camera – or simply open your eyes to the details. In Saigon, beauty doesn’t lie in perfection, but in the feelings it leaves behind.

---

5. Night Walking Tour – Saigon After Dark

Duration: ~2 hours
Style: Atmosphere, city lights, quiet wonder

When the sun sets, Saigon changes. It hums differently. There’s romance in the breeze, and the city begins to glow from the inside out.

📍 Route Highlights:

• Nguyen Hue Walking Street: Where couples stroll, kids skate, and music drifts into the sky.
• Bach Dang Wharf: The river reflects skyscrapers and lanterns alike.
• Tôn Thất Thiệp Street: A cozy hideaway with local cafés and bars.
• Bitexco Tower: End the night with a skyline toast — the city looks best from above.

🌙 Mood Tip: Let the evening take its time. Wander slow. Drink in the glow.

---

Travel Tips for Exploring Saigon on Foot

• Best Time: Early mornings or after 5 PM for cooler air and golden light
• Dress Light: Breathable clothes, sun protection, and comfy shoes
• Stay Hydrated: Vendors selling nước mía (sugarcane juice) are your best friends
• Safety First: Sidewalks are shared with bikes, strollers, and vendors
• Apps That Help: Google Maps, Grab, Google Translate, and your own sense of curiosity

---

Where to Stay to Join the Best Walking Tours

If you’re serious about walking in Saigon, start by staying at The Myst Dong Khoi.

• You’re steps from everything: history, food, nightlife
• Each room feels like a story — handcrafted wood, tiled bathtubs, soft light
• The Bason Café is a piece of history in itself
• After your walk, the rooftop pool is waiting

👉 Book your stay at The Myst Dong Khoi and let the city unfold at your pace.

---

Walk, Feel & Understand Saigon

Some cities are best seen from a bus. Saigon isn’t one of them.

Here, you walk to understand — the way a grandfather tells stories at a corner café, the way old temples sit quietly behind new walls, the way your feet find rhythm in the hum of the street.

So go ahead. Let Saigon surprise you, turn after turn. The sidewalk is ready.

And your story? It begins now.