REVIEW · HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi Minh City: Craft Beer and Local Food Tour by Scooter
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Vietventure Commercial Service Company Limited · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Saigon at night tastes better from the back of a scooter. This tour strings together five beers and five local dishes with a guide who knows where the city hangs out. You’ll also hear the beer stories that connect street-style bia hoi to Vietnam’s craft wave, and you’ll see Saigon from the inside lanes, not just the main roads.
Two things I really like: the way the food is built to match the pours, and the emphasis on safety and comfort with a helmet and rain poncho. If you’re nervous about scootering in traffic, the guide approach described by riders is a big part of why this works.
One thing to consider: this isn’t a brewery-only crawl, and for hardcore craft fans the beer lineup may skew more toward local canned styles than the specific hipster IPAs you might expect.
In This Review
- Key Points I’d Plan Around
- Scooter Nights in Ho Chi Minh City: Why This Route Works
- Your First Pour: Bia Hoi and the Street-Beer Mood
- Lao Gia Beer: Old Master Brews and the 19th-Century Story
- The Food Stops: Five Pairings That Keep the Night Fun
- Scooter Logistics Without the Stress: Helmets, Ponchos, and Real Safety
- Guides Are the Whole Point: From Cuong Tuco to Travis and Letty
- How Much Is $44 Worth for Beer, Food, and a Scooter Night?
- When This Tour Might Not Fit Your Beer Obsession
- Who Should Book This Scooter Beer and Food Tour
- Should You Book It?
- FAQ
- FAQ
- How many beers and dishes are included?
- Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
- Do I get vegetarian options?
- What should I expect for the scooter setup?
- Does the tour include accident insurance?
- What languages are the guides available in?
- Can the tour be customized?
- What’s the start of the beer experience?
- Can I reserve now and pay later?
- What’s the cancellation window for a refund?
Key Points I’d Plan Around

- Scooter transport with helmet and rain poncho means you can focus on tasting, not figuring out logistics.
- Five beers + five dishes is a real meal plan, not random snacks at stop number four.
- Bia hoi to street-style bia set to craft styles gives you a quick map of Saigon’s beer culture.
- Lao Gia Beer and its 19th-century brewing technique adds real context to what you’re drinking.
- Small-group energy with guide-and-driver pairs can feel like hanging with friends who know the city.
- Customizable pace and taste helps if you want bold beer flavors or a calmer, more social ride.
Scooter Nights in Ho Chi Minh City: Why This Route Works

If you want the city to click, you have to move the way locals do. Riding pillion on a scooter is the shortcut to that feeling: you’re in the thick of the neighborhoods, not parked on the edge. Add a beer-and-food schedule, and suddenly the night has structure instead of wandering.
What makes this tour practical is the built-in rhythm. You start with a classic glass of bia hoi, then you work your way through the Saigon beer scene with multiple tastings, and you stop to eat in between so you don’t end up stuffed on one thing. The pairing matters because Vietnamese beers tend to go best with local flavors that can be salty, herbal, fried, or tangy—so the guide’s order of stops can change what each sip feels like.
The scooter portion also solves another problem: Saigon at night can look chaotic from a map. This route handles the hard part for you—where to go, when to turn, and how to find the smaller places where people actually eat and drink.
You can also read our reviews of more food & drink experiences in Ho Chi Minh City
Your First Pour: Bia Hoi and the Street-Beer Mood

The tour kicks off with a cold glass of Bia Hoi, Vietnam’s famous fresh beer. That first stop isn’t just for caffeine-by-beer vibes—it’s the easiest way to understand the local mindset around drinking: simple, shared, and tied to neighborhood life.
From there, you’ll head to more beer spots on the route. The experience is designed so you’re not guessing what to order or whether the place is tourist-friendly (a common problem when you try to do this on your own). Expect a mix that includes street-style bia set and then styles that lean more craft.
I like this opening because it sets expectations fast. You quickly learn what the guide thinks is “the right kind of beer” for the area and the food. Even if you’re not a beer nerd, you’ll leave with a better sense of what locals mean when they talk beer culture versus craft branding.
Lao Gia Beer: Old Master Brews and the 19th-Century Story

One of the most memorable parts is the stop at Lao Gia Beer (Old Master Beer). Riders get to try street-style craft beer that locals brew and talk about like it’s part of the neighborhood identity.
This stop stands out because you’re not only tasting—you’re also learning. The tour shares the brewing technique behind it, including a 19th-century brewing method that has earned international recognition. Even if you don’t care about the history for its own sake, it changes how you taste: you start to look for clarity, balance, and the way bitterness or malt shows up in the glass.
You can expect variety at this part of the night, including bold hoppy IPAs, smooth pale ales, and both black and golden pilsners. That’s a wide range in one evening, which is perfect if you’re traveling with someone who likes different flavor profiles—or if you’re trying to figure out your own preferences.
One practical note: beer styles vary a lot by venue, and one rider mentioned that some stops leaned more toward local canned beers than the hoppy styles they hoped for. If you’re a die-hard IPA hunter, you’ll still likely find something you enjoy, but go in knowing the guide may steer you toward what’s best where you are, not a straight line of your exact favorite style.
The Food Stops: Five Pairings That Keep the Night Fun

Beer without food can turn into a mess fast. The tour does the smart thing and builds in five local dishes to match what you’re drinking, so you keep your energy up while you taste widely.
You’ll have options for both vegan and non-vegan food lovers. That’s more important than it sounds, because beer tours often end up with a token salad. Here, the plan is designed so you can actually participate in the tasting rhythm instead of waiting around for one safe item.
You’ll also eat at places that feel local—cozy restaurants and alley-style spots where people eat and unwind. One rider highlighted that every dish felt new and not touristy, and that the guide kept switching things up. Another theme from the experiences is that the guide doesn’t just hand you food; they explain what you should notice with each pairing.
The biggest value here is pace. With five dishes spread across the route, you’re less likely to feel “locked in” to one heavy meal early. Instead, you can taste beer, reset your palate with a bite, and keep moving without the usual food tour fatigue.
Scooter Logistics Without the Stress: Helmets, Ponchos, and Real Safety

This is a scooter tour, which means your comfort matters. The tour includes a high-quality helmet and a rain poncho, and that’s a huge deal in Saigon, where weather can switch quickly. One rider even described heavy rain during their night, with the guide handling it well—exactly what you want when you paid for a plan, not chaos.
Comfort-wise, several riders said they felt safe on the scooter, including first-timers. That doesn’t mean it’s risk-free (you’re in real city traffic), but it does suggest the guides pay attention to how they ride and how they communicate with passengers. When a guide drives smoothly and clearly, your brain stops panicking and starts enjoying the ride.
Because you’re getting pickup and drop-off, you also don’t waste time with taxis or figuring out where the group meets. You can show up, get kitted with helmet and poncho, and focus on the night.
If you have motion sickness, plan accordingly. The tour description doesn’t mention special accommodations beyond basic safety gear, so I’d come prepared the way you would for any scooter-style ride—light stomach, medication if you use it, and a willingness to sit steady.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Ho Chi Minh City
Guides Are the Whole Point: From Cuong Tuco to Travis and Letty

In a tour like this, the guide isn’t a background character. They decide the order of stops, they match you to the right beer and food, and they create the feeling that the night is yours—not a scripted checklist.
Many riders highlight names like Tuco (Cuong), Travis, Alex, Eli, Letty, Alice, Tom, and Levy. The common thread is style: friendly conversation, city smarts, and real care about passenger comfort. Some riders even described the night feeling like hanging out with a friend rather than being herded through venues.
You also get story time along the way. The tour shares beer history, starting from older roots and moving into Vietnam’s craft beer revolution. That matters because it turns what could be a simple tasting list into something you can connect to your next meal, your next bar stop, or your next conversation with a local.
If you book solo, you might still go out with your guide and driver rather than being stuck waiting for a larger group. One rider noted they were the only one booked and still had a great night with their guide. That’s a big plus if you like one-on-one attention or you want to ask questions without shouting over a crowd.
How Much Is $44 Worth for Beer, Food, and a Scooter Night?

At $44 per person, the value makes sense because you’re not just buying beer. Your ticket includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide (Japanese is also offered), helmet and rain poncho, and—most importantly—beers and food with vegetarian options. On top of that, there’s accident insurance.
Do the math like this: if you were to recreate this night on your own, you’d pay for transport across multiple stops, pay entry or minimums at several venues, and still end up doing a lot of decision-making on the fly. Here, the guide handles routing, ordering choices, and pacing. That’s why this can feel like good value even if you only consider the number of tastings.
It’s also a strong “first night in Saigon” activity. You get your bearings quickly: neighborhoods, street life, and a clear sense of what beer culture actually looks like after dark.
When This Tour Might Not Fit Your Beer Obsession

This tour is best for people who enjoy beer culture and local food more than people who want a strict brewery lab session.
One rider gave a caution for craft-focused drinkers: they felt the beers served were often local canned styles and didn’t match their expectation of getting lots of hoppy IPAs. Another rider had no issue with the variety, so the lineup can land differently depending on what’s available during your night.
So, I’d book with the right expectation:
- You’re getting five beers and five dishes, plus city context and guided routing.
- You might not get a lineup that perfectly matches your personal Untappd fantasies.
- You’ll still likely find flavors you enjoy, especially if you’re open to Vietnam’s local beer scene alongside craft-leaning styles.
If you only want one style (like only IPA, only barrel-aged, or only a specific brand), you may prefer a more specialized brewery visit. But if you want a fun evening with a mix and a guide story along the way, this is the move.
Who Should Book This Scooter Beer and Food Tour

I think this tour is a great match if you:
- want a low-effort way to explore Saigon at night without getting lost
- like food pairing with drinks, not just drinking
- enjoy hearing the story behind what you’re tasting
- are traveling with a friend and want shared conversation points
- want a guided scooter ride with safety gear and drop-off back to your hotel
It can also work well on a last night in Vietnam, because it gives you a final dose of local rhythm instead of ending with mall dinner plans. And if you’re a solo rider, the guide team can turn it into a social night quickly.
If you hate scooters or you’re extremely anxious about traffic, you’ll probably feel more stress than fun. In that case, you might prefer a walking or car-based food tour instead.
Should You Book It?
Yes, if you want a structured night with real local food, five beer tastings, and the added advantage of safe scooter handling and pickup/drop-off. The guide-led vibe—names like Tuco (Cuong), Travis, Alex, Letty, and Eli showing up across experiences—seems to be a major reason people remember the night.
Book it with open tastes. You’ll learn Saigon’s beer culture and drink along the way. If you’re a strict craft purist chasing a specific style every stop, you might be a little disappointed—though you’ll still get a fun ride, solid food, and context you can’t get from a bar crawl alone.
FAQ
FAQ
How many beers and dishes are included?
You’ll taste five beers and enjoy five local dishes as part of the tour.
Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
Yes. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off service.
Do I get vegetarian options?
Yes. The tour states that vegetarian options are available for the food.
What should I expect for the scooter setup?
You’ll be provided with a high-quality helmet and a rain poncho. You ride on the scooter as a pillion passenger with the guide/driver.
Does the tour include accident insurance?
Yes. Accident insurance is included.
What languages are the guides available in?
The tour is available with English and Japanese.
Can the tour be customized?
Yes. The tour is described as customizable to match your personal taste and adventure level.
What’s the start of the beer experience?
The tour begins with a cold glass of Bia Hoi before moving on to other beer stops.
Can I reserve now and pay later?
Yes. It offers reserve and pay later, where you can book your spot and pay nothing today.
What’s the cancellation window for a refund?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.































