Saigon tastes better at scooter speed. I love the way this tour pairs Bia Hoi street-style beer with proper beer talk, then lands on Lao Gia Beer for a taste of Saigon’s older brewing tricks. The second big win is the guidance: people like Tuco (Cuong) and Letty make each stop feel explained, not just served.

One thing to consider: you’re doing this at night on a scooter, so your comfort level matters. The good news is you get a high-quality helmet and a rain poncho, and the guides are clearly focused on keeping you safe and in control of your pace.

Key Things To Know Before You Go

• Five beer tastings plus five local dishes so you get a full food-and-beer night, not random snacks.
• Bia Hoi at the start sets the local tone before you move into craft styles.
• Lao Gia Beer is a highlight, including styles like IPA, Pale Ale, and both Black and Golden Pilsners.
• You’ll ride a scooter with hotel pickup/drop-off, which saves time and helps you see neighborhoods you’d skip on foot.
• The tour can be tailored to your taste and your adventure level, so you’re not stuck in one gear.

A Scooter Beer Tour That Explains the City, Not Just the Drinks

This is the kind of night you want in Ho Chi Minh City when you feel like you’ve seen the big sights in daylight and now you want the real rhythm. The scooter part matters. Saigon at night is busy, loud, and visual, and getting around on the back of a scooter lets you move with the city instead of against it.

What I like most is that the tour isn’t only about sipping. You also learn why certain beers are popular, how local beer culture works, and how neighborhoods change as you travel through town. Guides such as Travis, Alex, Eli, and Alice (and many others on the team) pop up in people’s stories for a reason: they keep the evening moving with clear explanations and a relaxed vibe.

The format is simple: you’re picked up from your location, start with beer, then roll through multiple stops to reach five beer tastings total. Each beer gets paired with a dish, with vegan options available too. The result is a full, well-rounded food-and-drink evening that feels practical, not fancy-for-fancy’s-sake.

Starting With Bia Hoi: The Local Way to Break the Ice

Bia Hoi is the opening move, and it’s a smart one. It’s Vietnam’s famous fresh beer, and starting here gives you the local baseline. Before you taste anything more “craft” or more experimental, you get familiar with the style of the night itself—casual, social, and tied to street life.

In real terms, this helps you enjoy the rest of the tour. When your first glass is Bia Hoi, you get your bearings fast. Later on, when you’re tasting other beers with different flavors and strengths, you’ll notice the differences instead of feeling like you’re just collecting samples.

One practical bonus: because you start with a beer right away, the first stop doesn’t feel like “waiting for the fun.” You’re already in it.

Lao Gia Beer and the 19th-Century Brewing Story

One of the signature stops is Lao Gia Beer, often described as old master beer. You’ll taste it as part of the five-beer plan, and the explanation is part of the package.

What makes it interesting is the claimed link to 19th-century brewing technique. You also get to experience different styles within the Lao Gia lineup—bold hoppy IPAs, smooth Pale Ales, plus Black and Golden Pilsners. That range is perfect for a beer tour because it shows how one brewery can swing across flavors, not just repeat one safe profile.

If you’re a craft beer fan, this is where you’ll feel the tour earns its name. You’re not only doing “local beer time.” You’re tasting recognized craft-leaning styles and learning what’s driving them—especially in a city where beer culture is everywhere, but good beer still needs context to appreciate.

If you’re not a beer nerd, don’t worry. The guides can steer the conversation toward what you actually care about—taste, history, and what to try later on your own.

The Rest of the Beer Stops: Variety With a Purpose

After Bia Hoi and Lao Gia Beer, the tour keeps moving through other well-chosen spots for craft beer. The exact locations can vary by night, but the structure is consistent: you’ll hit enough places to reach five authentic beers total.

In practice, this design prevents a common disappointment. Many casual tours stack one decent bar and then pad the rest with whatever is near the route. Here, the five tastings are clearly treated like a progression. You start with the street-style atmosphere, then widen into craft styles, then finish with a mix that keeps your palate awake.

There’s one balanced note to keep in mind: if you’re a die-hard craft beer enthusiast expecting only “hipster” microbreweries and a tap list full of rare releases, you might find that some stops lean more local than ultra-hipster. The tour still focuses on good beer, but it aims for a local feel, not a craft-brewer brag-fest.

Food Pairings: Five Dishes That Actually Match the Beer

Beer is fun, but food is the engine of this tour. You’ll get five delicious local dishes designed to pair with what you’re drinking. That pairing is one of the things that makes the night feel complete.

You’ll also have options for vegan food lovers, which matters on tours like this. Too many beer nights treat vegetarian as an afterthought. Here, it’s baked in from the start, so you won’t spend the evening worrying if you’ll find something you can eat.

The biggest practical advantage: the tour doesn’t just hand you bar snacks. Your stomach stays taken care of through multiple stops, which helps you enjoy the ride instead of rushing to the next drink. And that’s especially important because this is a scooter night, not a sit-down dinner where you can slow everything down.

From conversations I’ve had with people who took the tour, one theme shows up again and again: the food felt new, not tourist-menu predictable. Guides like Travis and Binh (mentioned in a glowing solo-traveler experience) reportedly made sure dishes changed from stop to stop, so you’re not eating the same thing dressed up in a different bowl.

Riding Saigon at Night: Safety, Speed, and Your Comfort Level

Let’s talk about the part that makes some people hesitate: scooters.

The highlights are clear—you hop on the back of a scooter and experience Saigon like a local. You’re also given a high-quality helmet and a rain poncho. Those two details are not fluff. They’re what make the experience workable even if weather turns.

And from real stories, the guides put a lot of emphasis on safety and confidence. Multiple people said they felt safe as passengers, and at least one person highlighted how the guide handled heavy rain without turning the night into chaos. That’s a big deal in Saigon, where streets can change fast.

Here’s the consideration: if you’re anxious about riding in traffic, choose the tour’s option to match your adventure level. The tour is designed to be customizable, so you shouldn’t feel forced into the most intense version of the ride. Think of it like this: you’re paying for a guided night that includes the scooter, so the smart move is to communicate your comfort early.

The Neighborhood Feel: Off-the-Main-Road Stops

One of the strongest selling points is where the stops take you. The tour is built to go off the beaten path and to visit places where locals eat, drink, and unwind. That’s what changes the whole evening from tourist-style hopping into something more authentic.

You’ll also pass by sightseeing spots along the way. So even if your goal is beer and food, you’re still getting that “this is Saigon” feeling—street texture, storefront life, and the way neighborhoods shift as you move.

Guides like Tom, Letty, and Cuong (Tuco) are repeatedly credited for knowing the city and sharing stories that connect food and beer to place. And that’s the trick: you remember a tour when you understand what you saw. The scooter route helps you cover ground, but the stories help it stick.

The $44 Question: Is It Worth It?

At $44 per person, this tour sits in the “small price, big payoff” category—if you like both beer and local food.

Here’s why it can feel like value:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which usually costs extra on other tours.
• You’re not just paying for transportation; you’re paying for guide-led route planning and pairing.
• You receive beers and food (including vegan options), so your spending stays predictable.
• Accident insurance is included, which is a practical safety add-on for a scooter night.

If you compare it to doing this on your own, you’ll likely spend time figuring out where to go and how to order. You might find good beer, but you’re paying for the shortcut: a guided sequence that reaches five beer tastings and five dishes without the guesswork.

There is one tradeoff to acknowledge. If you only want very specific “craft” releases from well-known industrial-grade craft breweries, this tour might not match your ideal style. But if your goal is a local Saigon beer night with variety, history, and good food pairing, it’s priced like a smart night out.

Who Should Book This Scooter Beer and Food Tour

This works best for:

• People who want a guided way to taste Saigon at night without planning a route
• Beer lovers who enjoy a mix of street-style beer and craft styles
• Foodies who want local dishes paired with what they’re drinking
• Solo travelers who want company and conversation (there are accounts of people going solo and still having a memorable experience)

It may not be ideal for:

• Visitors who refuse scooters on principle, even with helmets and ponchos
• Die-hard craft beer obsessives seeking only ultra-hipster brewery stops and specific hop-forward lineups

But even if you’re unsure about scooter travel, don’t assume it’s automatically a bad match. The tour’s custom approach and the included safety gear can make it feel manageable.

Practical Tips to Make the Night Smoother

You’ll have the best time if you come ready to do the basics well.

• Wear something you don’t mind getting a little rain or road grime on. The poncho helps, but you’re still outside.
• Drink at a pace that lets you enjoy the food stops. This is five beers total paired with five dishes, so there’s plenty happening.
• If you have dietary needs, tell the guide up front so your vegan (or other) choices match the pairing plan.
• Bring a small amount of cash only if you prefer it, but plan your night around what’s included: beers, dishes, pickup, and drop-off.

Should You Book This Ho Chi Minh City Beer Tour by Scooter?

If you want a night that feels local, tastes varied, and comes with stories you can actually use later, I think you should book it. The five-beer and five-dish structure is a strong design. You also get practical support: pickup/drop-off, helmet, poncho, and accident insurance.

The main reason to hesitate is if scooters genuinely stress you out. If that’s you, set expectations early and ask for the lower-adventure approach. If you’re comfortable with the idea of riding pillion-style through Saigon traffic, this tour is a high-value way to meet the city after dark.

FAQ

What does the tour include?

You get hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, a helmet and rain poncho, and beers and food (including vegetarian options). Accident insurance is included too.

How many beers and dishes do I try?

You’ll taste five authentic beers and enjoy five local dishes paired with the beers.

What beer do you start with?

The tour starts with a cold glass of Bia Hoi, Vietnam’s famous fresh beer.

Is Lao Gia Beer part of the tour?

Yes. You’ll try Lao Gia Beer, described as old master beer, including styles such as hoppy IPAs, Pale Ales, and Black and Golden Pilsners.

Are vegan options available?

Yes. The tour includes options for vegan food lovers.

What language are the guides?

The tour is offered with English-speaking guides, and Japanese is also listed as an available language.

Do I need to worry about safety?

You receive a high-quality helmet and rain poncho, and accident insurance is included. The tour also provides pickup and drop-off for a safer night plan.

Is scooter riding required?

Yes. The tour experience includes hopping on the back of a scooter to explore Saigon at night.

How much does the tour cost?

It costs $44 per person.

Can I pay later and cancel if plans change?

You can reserve and pay later (book your spot without paying today). You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.