Early Riser Walk

What this walk is

This is a chill tour ^^

We will try hot dumplings, grandma noodles, exotic fruits, wet market (not so wet), good cafe, cat spotting, cool alleys, fried bananas, and a little but heavy history. I designed this tour because this is the best time to enjoy Saigon. It is a chill tour, but I will share some heavy history, so it's most suitable for adults.

Read some reviews if you want proof. Booking direct with me, not through a platform, also gets you the best price.

Early in the morning, Saigon has this soft side that most people never see. That's the part I love sharing. It's usually me, Spring, taking you around the neighborhoods I like a lot. On the rare day I can't, it's someone I trained myself, and I'll tell you upfront who that is. We'll wander through back alleys that don't make it to Google Maps, try the kind of breakfast only locals know and talk about what life here is like. By the time the city is fully awake, you'll have a belly full of good food and a little piece of Saigon that belongs only to you :)

Where we go

We go roughly in this order, but it shifts depending on the day, the weather and what's open.

1. The Thich Quang Duc monument

   This is where we meet and where the walk begins. In 1963, the monk Thich Quang Duc sat down at this exact intersection and set himself on fire to protest religious persecution. He sat still the whole time. I will share with you stories of him and how Buddhism affects Vietnamese culture.

2. Noodles in a secret alley

   We kick off the morning the Vietnamese way: noodles. The kind of spot that has no sign, no English menu, and has never needed either. I like these spots a lot and the grandma's family is friends of mine, she makes really good noodles, dumplings and beef stew :)

3. Exotic fruits

   Fresh juicy fruits from the local market. Whatever is in season that day.

4. The chessboard market

   The second-largest wet market in the city. Locals call it the chessboard market because of how the alleys cross in a grid. Fruits with wild names, curious vendors, a food maze that most visitors never find.

5. Taste of the Mekong

   Chuối chiên. Golden crispy banana fritters fresh from a bubbling street-side wok. Sweet and savoury Mekong-style snacks, like grandma used to make. Crunchy, messy, ridiculously satisfying. You'll want a second one, just let me know. I mean, I can eat like 7 of these and I'm not feeling guilty :D

6. The hidden communist complex

   A short but powerful story about the American war, in the exact alley where generations of communist families still live. This is also heavy stories and images, and I will cover the American war from my perspective.

7. Coffee making with the aunties

   See how aunties do it. Bold Vietnamese coffee, made the old way. We will do some chit chat too.

Make it yours. Want to swap a stop, skip something, or need it to work around a diet or an allergy? Message me on WhatsApp and tell me what you'd change.

What's included

• Full Vietnamese breakfast across all stops
• Light bites throughout the walk
• Vietnamese coffee or tea
• Private, just you and your people
• Free cancellation up to 1 day before

Not included: transport to the meeting point, anything you choose to buy at the market. You don't need to bring money, though small bills are handy. Hotel pickup is included if you'd rather.

Where we meet

In front of the Thich Quang Duc monument, District 3. It's the monk on the plinth at the intersection. Hard to miss. I'll send a photo of the exact spot after you message me on WhatsApp.

I can also pick you up at your hotel in downtown Saigon. Honestly though, it's easier to meet me here. Type Thich Quang Duc monument into Grab and it drops you right there, cheap and quick.