Saigon Chinatown Food Tour: Binh Tay Market, Teochew Coffee & Cho Lon
Day tour
Food tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
1N (Participation Duration)
Car,Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/10
0 booked
Tour description
Most travelers never venture far beyond District 1. Cho Lon — Saigon's Chinatown and the largest Chinatown in Vietnam — lies six kilometers west of downtown, and it feels like an entirely different city: Cantonese and Teochew family businesses, traditional herbal medicine shops, temple courtyards thick with incense smoke, and a culinary heritage brought across the sea.
We begin inside Binh Tay Market, a 1920s market hall built around a central courtyard by a Chinese merchant, at a time when it was still a wholesale hub rather than a tourist stop. You will enjoy hu tieu — the clear noodle soup with pork and shrimp that Cho Lon contributed to the rest of Vietnam — alongside local vendors having their breakfast, and sample a Chinese sweet soup simmered with lotus seeds and dried longan.
Afterward, we wander into the historic streets for a Teochew-style coffee, finely ground and filtered through a cloth sock straight into a glass, sipped while perched on plastic stools alongside the morning paper. Your guide will lead you down a herbal medicine street and into one of the city's oldest Chinese temples, sharing stories of how the Chinese community built this neighborhood, what unfolded after 1975, and what endures today.
The final leg takes you to a Bib Gourmand-recognized pho spot on Nguyen Trai Street, where southern flavors reach their richest and most generous expression, followed by a pastry stop in the An Dong Market arcade, and a traditional Chinese dessert to conclude the journey.
Small group, capped at 10 guests. Primarily walking, with two short taxi rides included, as Cho Lon's highlights span about two kilometers.
We begin inside Binh Tay Market, a 1920s market hall built around a central courtyard by a Chinese merchant, at a time when it was still a wholesale hub rather than a tourist stop. You will enjoy hu tieu — the clear noodle soup with pork and shrimp that Cho Lon contributed to the rest of Vietnam — alongside local vendors having their breakfast, and sample a Chinese sweet soup simmered with lotus seeds and dried longan.
Afterward, we wander into the historic streets for a Teochew-style coffee, finely ground and filtered through a cloth sock straight into a glass, sipped while perched on plastic stools alongside the morning paper. Your guide will lead you down a herbal medicine street and into one of the city's oldest Chinese temples, sharing stories of how the Chinese community built this neighborhood, what unfolded after 1975, and what endures today.
The final leg takes you to a Bib Gourmand-recognized pho spot on Nguyen Trai Street, where southern flavors reach their richest and most generous expression, followed by a pastry stop in the An Dong Market arcade, and a traditional Chinese dessert to conclude the journey.
Small group, capped at 10 guests. Primarily walking, with two short taxi rides included, as Cho Lon's highlights span about two kilometers.
Meeting point:
View on map
Binh Tay Market main gate, Thap Muoi Street, Cho Lon area, Ho Chi Minh City
We meet at the clock-tower gate of Binh Tay Market on Thap Muoi Street (Cho Lon ward, old District 6). Your guide will have a small sign. About 25 minutes by taxi from Ben Thanh.
Detailed itinerary
Stop 1 - Binh Tay Market, Thap Muoi Street: A market building constructed by Chinese merchants in the 1920s, surrounding an airy central courtyard. We have hu tieu—a clear noodle soup with pork and shrimp—at the vendors' canteen during wholesale market hours.
Stop 2 - Chinese Sweet Soup: Lotus seeds, dried longans, and snow fungus in warm sugar syrup, a Cantonese dessert tradition that Cho Lon continues to preserve in Vietnam.
Stop 3 - Teochew Cloth-Filter Coffee: Finely ground coffee filtered through a fabric bag into a glass, brewed by families who have made it this way for three generations. Served with condensed milk or drunk black, bold and bitter.
Stop 4 - Traditional Medicine Street and On Lang Pagoda: A short guided walk through dried goods shops and traditional herbal medicine stores, leading into one of the city's oldest Chinese pagodas, accompanied by the guide's insights into the history of the Chinese community.
Stop 5 - Pho Le, Nguyen Trai: A Bib Gourmand-recognized pho restaurant and the most compelling case for southern-style pho—a sweeter broth, generous fresh herbs, beef tendon, and brisket.
Stop 6 - An Dong Market Arcades: Steamed and fried pastries from stalls under the arcades, along with a walk through the aisles of dried seafood and candied fruits.
Stop 7 - Finishing with Chinese Sweet Soup: A chilled sweet soup or silken tofu in ginger syrup, accompanied by the guide's notes on how to explore Cho Lon's culinary scene on your own.
Stop 2 - Chinese Sweet Soup: Lotus seeds, dried longans, and snow fungus in warm sugar syrup, a Cantonese dessert tradition that Cho Lon continues to preserve in Vietnam.
Stop 3 - Teochew Cloth-Filter Coffee: Finely ground coffee filtered through a fabric bag into a glass, brewed by families who have made it this way for three generations. Served with condensed milk or drunk black, bold and bitter.
Stop 4 - Traditional Medicine Street and On Lang Pagoda: A short guided walk through dried goods shops and traditional herbal medicine stores, leading into one of the city's oldest Chinese pagodas, accompanied by the guide's insights into the history of the Chinese community.
Stop 5 - Pho Le, Nguyen Trai: A Bib Gourmand-recognized pho restaurant and the most compelling case for southern-style pho—a sweeter broth, generous fresh herbs, beef tendon, and brisket.
Stop 6 - An Dong Market Arcades: Steamed and fried pastries from stalls under the arcades, along with a walk through the aisles of dried seafood and candied fruits.
Stop 7 - Finishing with Chinese Sweet Soup: A chilled sweet soup or silken tofu in ginger syrup, accompanied by the guide's notes on how to explore Cho Lon's culinary scene on your own.
Tour price includes
• English-speaking local culinary guide for a small group (maximum 10 guests)
• All 6 food and beverage tastings listed in the itinerary
• One glass of Teochew coffee and one Chinese dessert
• Two short air-conditioned taxi rides within Cho Lon
• Bottled water and wet wipes throughout the tour
• All taxes and service fees
• All 6 food and beverage tastings listed in the itinerary
• One glass of Teochew coffee and one Chinese dessert
• Two short air-conditioned taxi rides within Cho Lon
• Bottled water and wet wipes throughout the tour
• All taxes and service fees
Tour price excludes
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in District 1 (available upon request for an additional surcharge)
• Beer and other alcoholic beverages
• Personal travel insurance
• Gratuities for the guide
• Any personal purchases made at the markets
• Beer and other alcoholic beverages
• Personal travel insurance
• Gratuities for the guide
• Any personal purchases made at the markets
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour start time for a full refund. Cancellations made within 24 hours are non-refundable. The tour operates rain or shine; both the markets and temples are sheltered. If we cancel the tour, you will receive a full refund or can reschedule at no additional cost.
Other notes
One departure daily at 07:30 AM. The early start is intentional — Binh Tay Market's food alleys are at their liveliest and best before 09:00 AM, and the neighborhood gets quite hot by mid-morning.
Getting there: the meeting point is about a 25-minute taxi or Grab ride from Ben Thanh. Metro Line 1 does not run to Cho Lon. We can arrange a hotel pick-up in District 1 for a surcharge if requested upon booking.
Temple visit: please dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered for the temple stop.
Addresses: following the July 2025 administrative reorganization, the former District 5 and District 6 are now the wards of Cho Lon, An Dong, and Cho Quan. Street numbers remain unchanged, and locals still widely refer to the old district names.
Dietary requirements: please notify us at least 48 hours in advance. Vegetarian options are easily accommodated — Cho Lon has a rich Buddhist vegetarian tradition, and we can curate a completely meat-free itinerary.
Getting there: the meeting point is about a 25-minute taxi or Grab ride from Ben Thanh. Metro Line 1 does not run to Cho Lon. We can arrange a hotel pick-up in District 1 for a surcharge if requested upon booking.
Temple visit: please dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered for the temple stop.
Addresses: following the July 2025 administrative reorganization, the former District 5 and District 6 are now the wards of Cho Lon, An Dong, and Cho Quan. Street numbers remain unchanged, and locals still widely refer to the old district names.
Dietary requirements: please notify us at least 48 hours in advance. Vegetarian options are easily accommodated — Cho Lon has a rich Buddhist vegetarian tradition, and we can curate a completely meat-free itinerary.
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $49 |
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