Saigon by Night Tour: Dinner Cruise, Water Puppets or A O Show & Vespa?

13/11/2026

Page Contents

1 Why explore Ho Chi Minh City after dark?
2 Option 1: Dinner cruise on the Saigon River
3 Option 2: Water puppet show and dinner cruise
4 Option 3: A O Show and Vespa street food ride
5 Comparison: which Saigon by night tour should you choose?
6 Practical tips for your evening in Saigon
7 Dress comfortably
8 Plan around your flights
9 Groups and private evenings
10 Combine with a daytime tour
11 How to book with SACO TRAVEL
12 Frequently asked questions
13 How long does a Saigon by night tour take?
14 Is the Saigon by night tour suitable for children?
15 Does the tour include hotel pick-up?
16 How much does a Saigon by night tour cost?
17 Book your Saigon by night tour today

A Saigon by night tour is one of the easiest ways to make the most of a short stay in Ho Chi Minh City. When the heat of the day fades, the riverfront lights up, the streets fill with food stalls and the city shows a completely different face. SACO TRAVEL runs two evening programmes for international visitors: the Saigon by Night dinner cruise (with an optional water puppet show) and the A O Show & Vespa tour. This guide compares the options side by side so you can choose the evening that suits you, your family or your business guests.

Why explore Ho Chi Minh City after dark?

Saigon is a city that comes alive in the evening. Office workers head out for dinner, families gather along the riverbanks and the skyline around District 1 glows across the Saigon River. For travellers, evenings are also the most comfortable time to be outdoors: temperatures drop, and the city’s lights, music and street life are at their best.

An organised evening tour solves the practical problems that put many visitors off going out alone at night: finding your way through heavy traffic, knowing where to eat, getting tickets for a show and getting back to your hotel safely. With a guided Saigon by night tour, transport, an English-speaking guide and the main activities are arranged in advance.

Option 1: Dinner cruise on the Saigon River

The first option of the SACO TRAVEL Saigon by Night programme focuses on the river. The tour departs at 17:30 and you board a cruise for a dinner buffet of Vietnamese cuisine prepared with fresh local ingredients. As the boat glides along the Saigon River, you can enjoy the illuminated skyline, including landmarks such as the Bitexco Financial Tower, while the staff entertain guests with live performances.

This option is ideal if you:

want a relaxed, comfortable evening with minimal walking;
are celebrating a special occasion such as an anniversary or birthday;
are hosting business partners and want a memorable but easy-going dinner;
are travelling with older family members.

For more background on the river itself, read our article Saigon River Cruise Delights.

Option 2: Water puppet show and dinner cruise

The second option adds a cultural highlight. The tour departs earlier, at 16:30, and begins with a traditional water puppet show. This unique art form originated in the rural villages of northern Vietnam and has entertained audiences for centuries: wooden puppets appear to dance across a pool of water, accompanied by live music and storytelling.

After the show, you continue to the Saigon River for the dinner cruise and the city lights. It is a well-balanced evening that combines culture, food and views, and it works especially well for first-time visitors and families with children who enjoy colourful, music-filled performances.

Option 3: A O Show and Vespa street food ride

If you prefer energy and street life to a calm dinner, the A O Show & Vespa tour is the more adventurous choice. Your SACO TRAVEL guide picks you up at your hotel at 17:00 and takes you to the Saigon Opera House for sightseeing and photos. At 18:00 the A O Show begins: a fusion of traditional Vietnamese culture and modern performance, with acrobatics, dance and live music, using bamboo to depict scenes from rural life to urbanisation.

After the show, a classic Vespa picks you up for a ride through the busy streets of Saigon. You will see the city’s nightlife, stop for street food and pass through the colourful streets of Chinatown before returning to the meeting point at around 21:00.

Comparison: which Saigon by night tour should you choose?

The table below summarises the three evening options using the information on our tour pages.

Feature	Dinner cruise (Option 1)	Water puppets + dinner cruise (Option 2)	A O Show & Vespa
Departure	17:30	16:30	17:00 (hotel pick-up)
Estimated return	Around 21:30	Around 20:30	Around 21:00
Main highlights	River views, live performances	Water puppet show, river views	A O Show, Opera House, street food, Chinatown
Dinner	Buffet on the cruise	Buffet on the cruise	Street food and drinks as per itinerary
Transport	Air-con bus/van	Air-con bus/van	Air-con bus/van and Vespa motorbike
Included	English-speaking guide, water and wet tissues	English-speaking guide, entrance fee, water and wet tissues	English-speaking guide, entrance fee, water and wet tissues
Best for	Couples, business guests, older travellers	First-time visitors, families	Active travellers, food lovers

Tour prices depend on the date, group size and option chosen. Contact us for a free quotation.

Practical tips for your evening in Saigon

Dress comfortably

Evenings in Ho Chi Minh City are warm all year round. Light clothing and comfortable shoes are ideal. For the Vespa ride, closed shoes and trousers or longer shorts are more comfortable on the back of a motorbike.

Plan around your flights

Evening tours fit well on your first night, after an afternoon arrival, or on your last night before a late flight. Let us know your flight times when booking so we can suggest the most suitable option.

Groups and private evenings

For company groups, incentive trips or families travelling together, SACO TRAVEL can arrange private transport with a driver for the whole evening. See our car rental with driver service for vehicles from 7 to 45 seats.

Combine with a daytime tour

If you have a full day in the city, pair your evening tour with a daytime programme such as Saigon Then and Now to see both the history and the modern face of Ho Chi Minh City.

How to book with SACO TRAVEL

Booking is simple: send us your preferred date, number of guests, hotel address and the option you are interested in. Our team will confirm availability and send you a quotation. Payment is made only by bank transfer to the official company account, as described in our payment policy. Please also read our cancellation and refund policy before confirming.

With more than 22 years of experience, SACO TRAVEL was recognised at the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2025 (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) as a top tourist car transport company and one of the Top 10 domestic, inbound and outbound tour operators.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Saigon by night tour take?

The dinner cruise options take about four hours: Option 1 departs at 17:30 and returns around 21:30, while Option 2 departs at 16:30 and returns around 20:30. The A O Show & Vespa tour runs from 17:00 to around 21:00.

Is the Saigon by night tour suitable for children?

Yes. The water puppet show and dinner cruise option is especially popular with families. For the Vespa tour, please contact us in advance to discuss the ages of the children in your group.

Does the tour include hotel pick-up?

The A O Show & Vespa tour includes pick-up at your hotel, and the dinner cruise tours include transport by air-conditioned bus or van. Please send us your hotel address when booking, or call +84 913 57 27 27 to confirm the details.

How much does a Saigon by night tour cost?

Prices vary by option, date and group size. Contact SACO TRAVEL by WhatsApp or Zalo on +84 913 57 27 27 or by email for a free quotation.

Book your Saigon by night tour today

Whether you want a romantic river dinner, a cultural evening with water puppets or an exciting Vespa ride through the streets, SACO TRAVEL will help you enjoy the best of Ho Chi Minh City after dark. Contact us now: