The Seafood Trail – a night eating adventure

Saigon Opera House (Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater)

Pass-by Only

Discover one of Ho Chi Minh City’s “snail streets”. Here we’ll try a range of “snails” … but don’t worry, they’re not really snails. Ốc is the Vietnamese word that’s shorthand for all crustaceans. So you will be able to sample a variety of seafood — the best seafood in Ho Chi Minh City, no less — including sea snails that are eaten with a safety pin, mussels, scallops and tasty prawns-on-a-stick. (Because food ALWAYS tastes better on a stick.) We’ll buy some snacks from wandering vendors. Depending on who walks past, the snacks could include sliced green mango, boiled quail eggs or rice crackers, as well as more exotic offerings. On this tour, you will be required to participate in the rowdy Vietnamese toasting ritual (even if you’re only drinking soft drink) of mot-hai-ba-YO! If you are shy, we’ll only make you do it once. In most cases our tour will start in a little alley near the zoo, then adjourn to Snail Street for two more stops. Our progressive tapas-style street food extravaganza usually includes hotpot, and a quick dessert at a local market. During the tour, you’ll hear stories of the local area, and learn how to taste the history in simple street food. At the end of the tour we hope you’ll also have a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and history. (As well as a very full stomach.) This is a tour for the adventurous. We will pick you up on xe om (motorbike taxis), order a range of unusual dishes and drop you back to your accommodation on xe oms. (We do have a scardey-cat option, though, for people who don’t want to get on the back of a motorbike and would prefer to navigate the traffic in a taxi.)