A Saigon dinner cruise is worth it if you are after a relaxed, scenic evening on the water with the city lights as your backdrop — expect to pay about $20 USD to $70 USD for 2.5 to 3 hours. It is not worth it if you are chasing great food or an authentic taste of the city, because the buffet is usually average and the route stays on the river.
Dinner cruises are one of the most-booked evening activities in Ho Chi Minh City, and plenty of guests love them. But “worth it” depends entirely on what you want out of the night. Here is the honest picture, drawn from what cruise passengers themselves report.
What you get for the money
For your ticket you get a table for the sailing, a buffet or set-menu dinner, usually a live band or a short cultural show, and two to three hours drifting past the District 1 skyline. Boarding is typically between 6pm and 7:15pm from Bach Dang Wharf.
| What’s usually included | What usually costs extra |
|---|---|
| Dinner (buffet or set menu) | Drinks — often the priciest part |
| Live music / show | Premium deck or window seats |
| 2.5–3 hours on the river | Hotel transfers (on some boats) |
Is a Saigon Dinner Cruise Worth It? The Honest Downsides
Two complaints come up again and again from real passengers. First, the food is the weak link — often described as modest, sometimes served lukewarm because the wind on the open deck cools it fast. Second, drinks are marked up steeply, so the bill can climb well past the ticket price.
Local tip: Sit outside on the terrace for the views, but eat quickly — the breeze that makes the deck pleasant also turns your dinner cold. Treat the meal as a bonus, not the main event.
None of this makes a cruise bad. It makes it a views-and-atmosphere experience with dinner attached, rather than a dining experience. Go in with that expectation and you will enjoy it.
When a dinner cruise is the right call
Book one if you want a calm, romantic evening, you are travelling with older relatives or small children who need to sit, it is a special occasion, or you simply want to see the skyline lit up from the water without much effort. For those nights, it delivers.
When you’re better off on the streets
If what you actually want is to taste Ho Chi Minh City and feel its after-dark energy, a cruise keeps you at arm’s length from all of it. The real Saigon at night is in the alley kitchens of District 4, the plastic-stool noodle stalls, the night markets and the backstreets — none of which you reach from the middle of the river.
That is the trip our guests tell us they remember most. On our Saigon By Night tour ($39 USD, 3.5 hours) you ride pillion with an all-women driver team through the parts of the city a cruise floats right past — eating as you go, from stalls locals actually queue at. Many travellers do both: a cruise one evening for the postcard, a street ride the next for the real thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a dinner cruise in Saigon?
About $20 USD to $70 USD per person depending on the boat, as of July 2026. The premium boats sit at the top of that range.
Is the food good on a Saigon dinner cruise?
It is generally average — fine, but not a highlight. Go for the views, not the buffet.
How long does a dinner cruise last?
Usually 2.5 to 3 hours, boarding from around 6pm at Bach Dang Wharf.
Is a dinner cruise better than a night food tour?
They are different nights out. A cruise is calm and scenic; a night food tour is hands-on and local. See our comparison above.
Do I need to book ahead?
For weekends and holidays, yes. For the best deck seats, always.
Different experiences for different moods — a cruise for the view from the water, a ride for the city itself. KissTour runs the street-level version every night, all-women drivers, book now and pay cash after.
Last updated: July 9, 2026.
