Rail Side and Alleys - Urban Walking Tour , Ho Chi Minh City

This is a unique opportunity to leave the hustle and bustle of downtown Saigon and walk through hidden alleys around the outskirts of the city to get an in-depth look at the real lives of the locals. 

 

After a short drive from your hotel, you will start your walk from some of the charming local alleyways in Phu Nhuan district. You will  pass by houses with kids playing after school with old people sitting out front chatting and sipping tea. You can stop whenever you like as you come across less visited temples, small pagodas or simply pause to say hi to curious kids looking at foreigners pass by. Next amble through a colourful local market, where people buy and sell in all kinds of wares. After a morning of walking you will walk along a hidden rail track up to a local coffee shop for a cool drink and friendly chat with the owner and locals that drink there.

 

After your short rest you will transfer by road to the open stalls at the back of Tan Dinh market where office workers stop by for freshly made food after they have clocked off. After a snack (if desired) you will continue to walk along lively streets with fashion shops, bakeries with fresh baguettes and up to Nam Chon temple where you can witness the daily martial arts class at 5pm. Your final stop of the day will be a small temple where parents often come to pray before their children sit examinations, hoping they will achieve good marks.