Cooking Class

Vietnam Cooking Classes: An Authentic Culinary Journey

We offer immersive cooking classes that allow you to explore the authentic flavors of Vietnam. Learn traditional recipes, cook with local ingredients, and enjoy delicious meals while discovering the rich culinary heritage of each region. Whether you’re in bustling cities, peaceful villages, or remote areas, our cooking classes provide you with a deeper connection to Vietnamese culture and food.

1. Northern Vietnam:

Hanoi:
- Cooking Class Experience: Explore the heart of Vietnamese cuisine in Hanoi, learning to cook famous dishes such as Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), Bánh Cuốn (steamed rice rolls), and Bún Chả (grilled pork with vermicelli). After a local market tour to pick fresh herbs, meats, and vegetables, you’ll prepare the dishes in a hands-on class.
- Dishes Highlighted:
  - Pho: The quintessential Vietnamese dish, a fragrant soup made with simmered beef bones, rice noodles, and topped with fresh herbs.
  - Bún Chả: Grilled pork served with rice vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and a tangy dipping sauce.
  - Bánh Cuốn: Delicate rice rolls filled with minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, and herbs, served with fried shallots and dipping sauce.
- Highlights: Discover Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter, learn about the city’s culinary history, and explore local markets to gather authentic ingredients.
Sapa:
- Cooking Class Experience: In the remote highlands of Sapa, you’ll learn to cook dishes like Cơm Lam (rice cooked in bamboo), Thắng Cố (a traditional H’mong stew), and Grilled Fish wrapped in leaves. These dishes represent the local traditions of the H’mong, Tay, and Dao people, and you’ll often cook these meals in a homestay kitchen.
- Dishes Highlighted:
  - Cơm Lam: Fragrant rice cooked inside bamboo tubes over an open fire, often served with grilled meat.
  - Thắng Cố: A hearty stew with beef, herbs, and vegetables, traditionally cooked by the H’mong people.
  - Grilled Fish in Leaves: Fish caught from nearby rivers, marinated in local spices, and grilled with wild herbs wrapped in banana leaves.
- Highlights: A scenic trek through Sapa’s rice terraces, stay with an ethnic family, and gain insights into local cooking methods passed down through generations.

2. Central Vietnam:

Hoi An:
- Cooking Class Experience: Hoi An’s cuisine blends various influences, including Chinese, Japanese, and French. Learn to make Cao Lau (Hoi An noodles), Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese pancakes), and White Rose Dumplings (Bánh Bao Bánh Vạc). The class starts with a trip to the bustling market to pick up fresh ingredients before you begin cooking.
- Dishes Highlighted:
  - Cao Lau: Thick noodles served with pork, herbs, and a broth that’s distinctive to Hoi An, using water from the town’s ancient wells.
  - Bánh Xèo: Crispy, savory pancakes filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, often served with fresh herbs and dipping sauce.
  - White Rose Dumplings: Delicate rice flour dumplings filled with shrimp and topped with crispy shallots.
- Highlights: Explore Hoi An’s historic center, visit vibrant markets, and immerse yourself in the culinary traditions shaped by the town’s rich multicultural history.
Hue:
- Cooking Class Experience: Discover the royal cuisine of the Nguyen dynasty, with dishes such as Bánh Khoái (Hue pancakes), Bánh Bèo (steamed rice cakes), and Nem Lụi (grilled pork skewers). You’ll prepare the dishes in a restaurant or family kitchen, learning royal cooking techniques.
- Dishes Highlighted:
  - Bánh Khoái: Hue’s signature pancake, fried to a crisp, filled with shrimp, pork, and vegetables, and served with a flavorful dipping sauce.
  - Bánh Bèo: Soft steamed rice cakes topped with shrimp, crispy pork skin, and herbs, typically served with fish sauce.
  - Nem Lụi: Grilled pork skewers served with vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs, wrapped in rice paper with a tangy dipping sauce.
- Highlights: Learn the intricate techniques of Hue’s royal cuisine, and discover the history of royal food during the Nguyen dynasty.
Da Nang:
- Cooking Class Experience: Learn to prepare Mi Quang (Quang noodles), Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese pancakes), and Goi Cuon (fresh spring rolls). This class includes a market tour where you’ll shop for fresh vegetables, herbs, and proteins to create your own authentic meal.
- Dishes Highlighted:
  - Mi Quang: Noodles served with a rich broth, pork, shrimp, peanuts, and fresh herbs, a signature dish from Da Nang and Quang Nam Province.
  - Bánh Xèo: Crispy pancakes filled with shrimp and pork, typically enjoyed with fresh herbs and a dipping sauce.
  - Goi Cuon: Fresh spring rolls stuffed with shrimp, herbs, and vermicelli, wrapped in rice paper and served with a hoisin-peanut sauce.
- Highlights: Gain an understanding of Central Vietnam’s food culture, including its bold flavors and unique ingredients.

3. Southern Vietnam:

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):
- Cooking Class Experience: In Saigon, learn to make Southern Vietnamese dishes such as Bánh Mì (Vietnamese sandwich), Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), and Goi Cuon (fresh spring rolls). Classes start with a trip to a local market, where you’ll pick up fresh herbs, vegetables, and meats.
- Dishes Highlighted:
  - Bánh Mì: A popular Vietnamese sandwich made with crispy baguettes, pate, grilled meats, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs.
  - Pho: A flavorful noodle soup made with beef or chicken, served with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and lime.
  - Goi Cuon: Fresh spring rolls with shrimp, herbs, and vermicelli noodles, served with peanut dipping sauce.
- Highlights: Learn the secrets of creating these famous dishes, explore the lively markets of Saigon, and enjoy a hands-on experience with professional chefs.
Mekong Delta (Ben Tre, Can Tho):
- Cooking Class Experience: In the Mekong Delta, focus on local dishes made with fresh river fish, tropical fruits, and herbs. Learn to make dishes like Canh Chua (sour fish soup), Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese pancakes), and Goi Cuon (spring rolls).
- Dishes Highlighted:
  - Canh Chua: A sour fish soup made with river fish, tamarind, pineapple, and fresh herbs, a signature dish of the Mekong Delta.
  - Bánh Xèo: Savory pancakes filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, crispy on the outside and soft inside.
  - Goi Cuon: Fresh spring rolls filled with shrimp, herbs, and rice noodles, served with a peanut-based dipping sauce.
- Highlights: Learn how to cook with the freshest local ingredients, experience life on the river, and explore traditional Vietnamese farming and fishing techniques.

4. Customizable Cooking Classes Across Vietnam:

We also offer customized cooking classes in lesser-known regions of Vietnam, where you can learn traditional recipes from local villages. Our classes focus on family-owned recipes and dishes that are rarely seen in tourist hotspots. From the highlands of the North to the hidden villages of the South, we can arrange a cooking experience that’s completely unique to you.