Vietnamese food ranks number one on our list of best foods we’ve eaten on our year + journey through Asia and we couldn’t wait to find a cooking class! That said, picking a class is often tougher than you’d expect. As tourism has flourished in SE Asia, so too have the numbers of restaurants, small eateries, and you guessed it… cooking classes!

With so many options (even with the help of Trip Advisor) it can be overwhelming to try and make the right choice. But don’t worry, you don’t have to look any further. We’ve got you covered! You’re about to cook with leaping flames, the best ingredients, and have a little “extra spice” in your culinary adventure.

What Cooking Class Should I Take In Hoi An?

If you’re searching for the answer to this question you’re in the right place. So, strap in because we’re about to inspire you to take an AMAZING cooking class with Hoi An Eco Cooking Class.

For starters, this spot does half day courses (8:30am-1:30pm) for $32/person. They offer hotel pick up, a stop at the local market, the opportunity to make 7 different dishes, and a fantastic ride in a Thuyen Thung — a traditional Vietnamese bamboo fishing boat shaped like a basket. We loved this class because of a few different things:

• The incredibly fun, helpful, and informative family that runs the classes.
• The market tour is the perfect blend of picking up ingredients and learning about the culture and customs of each one.
• The open-air pavilion and beautiful scenery where you’ll cook alongside new friends.
• The breadth of dishes you’ll make (and how delicious they are!).
• Racing down the small canal in the traditional boats (the “extra spice” in this class). Plus fishing for small crabs.
• And playing with fire – you’ll cook with some enormous flames!

After meandering the marketplace and learning all about the delightful ingredients we were about to cook with, we arrived at the kitchen where we were greeted by a beautiful open-air pavilion and some lovely tea.

Shortly after getting settled, we climbed into Vietnamese fishing boats and set off down the canals, donning traditional conical hats, in search of tiny crabs to catch and release. Catching crabs on a makeshift fishing pole was quite fun but nothing compared to the laughter I experienced a few minutes later.

All of a sudden, TJ and our boat captain rowed us down the waterways lined with palms at as fast as they could yelling “Faster, Faster” as we raced our fellow classmates. I was laughing so hard my eyes streamed with tears and my abs felt like they were on fire.

It was such fun to learn about the boats and the tradition of fishing in Vietnam; meet local fishermen; and have a wonderful icebreaker with our fellow classmates. This certainly was some extra “spice” – even before the cooking began! Upon our return to harbor, we set out to cook a myriad of delightful dishes.

Check Out The Vietnamese Delicacies You’ll Cook

• Sweet & Sour Fish Sauce – Try your hand at making Vietnam’s traditional dipping sauce. You’ll find it in almost every restaurant across the country and it packs a punch with flavor and spice – if you want it to!
• Round Rice Paper – Instead of simply making spring rolls in pre-made rice paper you’ll have the opportunity to make your own papers in the traditional way. Don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks!

• Goi Cuon – Once you’ve completed your Rice Paper get ready to make a delightful snack filled with herbs, veggies, and some meat if you like.
• Grilled Eggplant – Tie your hair back and get ready for an adventure. This eggplant dish comes with a flaming tomato sauce that’s sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you cook it.

• Pho Bo – A breakfast staple in Vietnam, this popular beef noodle soup dish was a blast to make and oh so yummy.
• Nom Hoa Chuoi – Banana Flower Salad – Salads in the US typically include greens of some sort, but this one is different. Instead, its base is banana flower (yum!) and it’s paired with: carrot, mango, cucumber, grilled pork/shrimp, and delicious herbs.
• Banh Xeo – You’ll know this is Alli’s favorite if you’ve checked out our list of Must Try Foods in SE Asia. This savory moon crepe, that sizzles when it touches the pan, is full of pork and bean sprouts and is perfect dipped in your homemade sweet & sour fish sauce!

We had a wonderful time learning about Vietnamese cuisine and trying our hand at cooking these delightful dishes. We can’t wait to cook for friends and family with our new cookbook when we return home!

If your mouth is watering too much to wait for our return, try making something on your own 🙂 Huy, from https://www.hungryhuy.com has some delightful dishes to get you going.

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