Xin Chao Private Vietnam Tour Guide — Local services in Ho Chi Minh City

We booked a half day tour in Saigon and a full day tour of Cholon (District 5) with Xin Chao Vietnam Tours in Oct 2016.

We are not "tour people." We are people that look for local friends to show us around their city. It was myself, my husband, and our 2.5 year old daughter. Guess what, I found some local friends through Loc and Kevin. I contacted Loc several days before our arrival in Saigon. I was looking for something very specific. My family is Chinese from Vietnam and left in 1978. It was my first time back and I wanted to get a feel for the mega city, get to know their old neighborhood of Cho Lon, and find our old family homes. My communication via email with Loc was prompt, clear and we worked out all the details. I sent him sparse info and some photos of the homes I wanted to visit - he was able to translate these old addresses (pre-1975) to today's addresses - vital info!

Our first half day tour was with Kevin and our friendly and professional driver Kiet. They picked us up at the hotel at the designated time; the car was impeccable, comfortable, and they provided us with bottled water and wipes. Kevin was great, chill, super flexible, and informative. We mentioned a few places in Saigon, District 1 we wanted to see, and he also suggested other places. It was great to have a local/private guide show us around, we got to see a lot more (with a private car) then we would have in 2-3 days on our own! He took us to a local market, and we all sat for a nice refreshing coffee, ice tea and juice right when we needed it. We also stopped for some banh mi and later we all together had pho at a local spot. It was a great and enjoyable day. Kiet was always prompt with picking us up at the various locations we stopped, which is amazing given the traffic and vehicles in the city!

Day 2 I was really looking forward to as it was the day we would visit Cho Lon with Loc; our driver again was Kiet. It was an investigative hunt, as we looked for the 5 sites I wanted to visit. I also hoped we would be able to peek into the family home. Loc was so optimistic, kind and he kinda spoke his way into the lady's house! Amazing we were able to spend sometime with her, and we were non-threatening and we had our daughter, so he explained why were were interested in visiting. Mission accomplished. We went to 3 local temples in Cho Lon with Loc, had a much needed cafe break, and a nice local lunch. It was a well-crafted, curated, perfect day. We absolutely would not have been able to find the homes, see as much as we did, and learn as much if we didn't have Loc with us. Loc is a kind person, very flexible, friendly and professional.

Loc is the founder and this business, its a small business and he really cares about his clients, making friends and building community. He really wants to show you Saigon from a local's perspective! No touristy stuff here!

We also will be going on the Foodie Tour organized by Loc tonight.

Both Kevin and Loc didn't rush us, even though the half day tour was 3-4 hours but we went over that. They treat you like friends. You can also pay the costs in USD or dong.

We are grateful that we found him and wish him the best. We really highly recommend to anyone coming to Saigon and...

As a Vietnam adoptee returning to the country of my origin for the first time since I left in 1975 as a baby, I was excited and nervous to make my homecoming trip to this beautiful country. 4 months prior to my trip, I made contact with Xin Chao Tours and was immediately drawn in by their professional email correspondence, recommended tour options based on our likes and interests, and ability to answer questions and concerns I had. We booked 2 days worth of tours:

Day #1 started with Ms Daisy meeting us at our downtown HCMC hotel with the private driver. Daisy was wonderful! It was like having both a tour guide, docent, and city ambassador rolled into one. We toured the flower markets and back alley shops/vendors, went on a rickshaw tour of the city, visited the oldest temple in HCMC (where Daisy gave a wonderful history tour), went to the War Remnants Museum, had a wonderful lunch where she ordered the food and taught us the proper/traditional way to wrap and eat the Banh Xeo, and ended with a walk about town to the city post office/city hall/Notre Dame Cathedral/other French inspired buildings in District 1. After freshening up at our hotel, we were met by a different group organized by Xin Chao to partake in a night scooter/foodie tour which was fantastic! Vy, Cao, and Bành were just terrific! Full of energy and so personable. We started with traditional Pho, made stop for Banh Mi, found a street vendor serving up terrific grilled "pizzas", enjoyed some ice cream, and ended with a refreshing milk tea. All food and drink were included in the tour price which was great. These 3 ensured we had a great and SAFE time. The motorbike ride was intimidating at first (HCMC traffic is crazy!), but their driving and care put us at ease immediately.

Day #2 began again the Daisy meeting us at our hotel with our drive and we embarked on the 2 hour 15 minute drive down to Cai Be on the Mekong River. Great to see rural Vietnam and Daisy interacted with us the whole ride down, explaining the sights and answering questions. Once we arrive on the Mekong delta, we tours a market, took a boat down river, transferred to a smaller row boat for a tour of the smaller canals and tributaries, stopped to see a performance of traditional folk music while snacking on local fruits, tours a local place where they demonstrated how to make rice paper and candies, and puffer rice treats (and we got the sample!), and ended the tour with a lovely lunch in a century old pagoda.

I can't say enough about Xin Chao. They far exceeded our expectations, partner with amazing and talented guides (and drivers), and are very reasonable in their pricing. We will return to Vietnam soon and the first call we'll make will be to book...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Trip of a Lifetime – Thanks to the Best Guide in Vietnam (Xin Chao Tours)

We just returned from a two-week private tour through Vietnam, and words truly cannot do justice to how incredible the experience was—all thanks to our phenomenal guide, Loc, and his outstanding company, Xin Chao Tours.

From the moment we stepped off the plane in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to our final heartfelt goodbye in Hanoi, Loc was nothing short of extraordinary. He went above and beyond in every way imaginable: patient, kind, endlessly generous, incredibly knowledgeable, and most of all, deeply passionate about his country. His love for Vietnam was contagious—and because of him, we absolutely fell in love with Vietnam too.

Our itinerary took us through Saigon, the Mekong Delta, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Pu Luong, and Ninh Binh, and Loc was with us every step of the way. He made every moment seamless, special, and full of joy. Whether we were learning about Vietnam’s complex history at the War Remnants Museum, cruising through coconut canals in Cai Be, or trekking through the breathtaking rice terraces of Pu Luong, Loc made sure we not only saw the country—but felt it.

And the food! Loc curated an incredible food journey that let us taste Vietnam from north to south. From scooter street food tours in Saigon to floating lantern walks in Hoi An with cao lau and chicken rice, to egg coffee in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, every bite was an experience—and every meal came with stories and smiles.

He made us feel like honored guests, not tourists. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, from private boat rides and cooking classes with locals, to hidden gems like the Ghost Town of Hue, the bamboo bridges of Co Lung, and the most beautiful scenic drives along Hai Van Pass and the Tam Giang Lagoon.

What sets Loc and Xin Chao Tours apart is how genuinely invested they are in sharing Vietnam’s soul, not just its sights. He made sure our entire family—ranging in age from mid 20s to 60s—was always comfortable, cared for, and connected to the culture around us. Whether it was helping us communicate with local villagers, guiding us through busy markets, or just laughing with us over lunch, he was always present, prepared, and full of heart.

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam—don’t hesitate for a second. Hire Xin Chao Tours. It will be the best decision you make. This wasn’t just a vacation—it was a journey full of life, flavor, meaning, and connection.

Thank you, Loc, and Xin Chao Tours, for showing us the real Vietnam and for making us feel like part of your family. We’ll be telling people about this trip for the rest...