Hanoi Cooking Class: Market Walk & Vietnamese Dishes

Cook Vietnamese dishes from scratch while supporting meals for cancer patients and education for children

A four-hour cooking class in Hanoi where you walk a local market, learn to prepare signature Vietnamese dishes like spring rolls and pho, and cook a full meal in a garden villa. Your class fee directly supports Rose Kitchen's community programs: monthly charity meals for cancer patients, educational initiatives for disadvantaged children, and employment for ethnic minority women. English-speaking cultural guides trained to five-star standards lead the instruction. Hotel pickup within the Old Quarter is available with selected options.

The experience

The morning or afternoon begins at a neighborhood market in Hanoi where you walk alongside your guide to explore seasonal ingredients and learn how Vietnamese cooks choose them. You'll hear stories about the produce, the vendors, and how these items anchor the dishes you're about to make. This is not a rushed tour through stalls. It's the foundation for understanding what you'll cook. Back at the garden villa, you step into a fully equipped kitchen where everything from knives to cutting boards is laid out and ready.

You choose your menu from signature Hanoi dishes: a salad (banana flower, papaya, or green mango), one iconic main (Bun Cha, Pho, or Cha Ca La Vong), and a roll or crepe (fried spring rolls, summer rolls, or Banh Xeo). Your guide walks you through each step: how to roll, how to stir-fry, how the flavors build. Vegetarian versions exist for every dish. As you cook, you'll taste Hanoi's famous egg coffee, a complimentary cup that sits at the heart of the city's coffee culture. The whole class runs four hours, and by the end you're sitting down to eat what you made, with fresh seasonal fruit and a tasting of homemade fruit wine included.

What sets this class apart is the commitment behind it. Rose Kitchen's guides are professionally trained by the former Head Chef and Training Director of Sofitel Metropole, so the instruction carries five-star standards. The kitchen runs on an eco-friendly setup: stainless-steel boxes, no plastic bags. And the money you spend goes directly to visible programs: monthly charity meals for cancer patients, educational support for disadvantaged children in remote regions, and stable employment for ethnic minority women who work as butlers and hosts. You're not donating separately. The impact is built into the class itself.

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Hanoi's Old Quarter comes with the full-experience options. If you prefer to meet at the villa, that's available too. The space is wheelchair accessible, and all cooking equipment is provided. Luggage storage is free for up to three days if you need it before or after. Dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, allergies) should be noted at booking so your guide can adjust the menu.

What’s included

• Four-hour cooking class with step-by-step instruction from an English-speaking cultural guide trained to five-star standards.
• market walk through seasonal ingredients and local vendors (full-experience options).
• choice of salad, main dish, and roll or crepe from signature Hanoi recipes.
• full Vietnamese lunch or dinner that you prepare.
• welcome herbal tea and complimentary egg coffee.
• fresh seasonal fruits after the meal.
• one tasting of homemade fruit wine.
• all cooking equipment and utensils.
• comfortable air-conditioned kitchen and dining space.
• hotel pickup and drop-off within the Old Quarter (with selected options).
• free luggage storage for up to three days.
• digital certificate and guidebook of local eats upon request.
• 20% discount on other hands-on cultural experiences at Rose Kitchen.

Options for this experience

4 options

Without market visit (meet at the villa)Guide in English · 10:00, 11:00, 16:00 and 17:00Join-in class lasting 3 hours and 30 minutes

Without market visit, with vegan option (meet at the villa)Guide in English · 10:00, 11:00, 16:00 and 17:00Vegan or vegetarian options. Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

Full experience with vegan option and transferGuide in English · 09:00, 10:00, 15:00 and 16:00Option for vegans and vegetarians, giving them a special opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine, carefully prepared to fit their diet. Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes. Sample menu: Banana Flower Salad, BBQ Grilled Pork Noodle (with mushrooms or tofu), Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls, Egg or Coconut Coffee. Pickup is included.

Full experience with transferGuide in English · 09:00, 10:00, 15:00 and 16:00Join-in class lasting 4 hours 30 minutes. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rose Kitchen Cooking Class

Is this one for you?Choose the full experience with market and transfer if you want the complete picture of where Vietnamese ingredients come from before you cook with them, and you'd rather not navigate Hanoi's streets with luggage. Pick the no-market option if you're short on time or prefer to focus entirely on the cooking and the meal itself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What dishes do I actually cook in the Hanoi cooking class?

You choose one salad (banana flower, papaya, or green mango), one main dish (Bun Cha, Pho, or Cha Ca La Vong), and one roll or crepe (fried spring rolls, summer rolls, or Banh Xeo), then prepare them step-by-step in the villa kitchen. Vegetarian versions are available for every dish, and you finish with a complimentary cup of Hanoi's signature egg coffee.

Does the class include a market visit, or do I just cook at the villa?

The full experience includes a market walk where you explore seasonal ingredients with your guide and learn about Vietnamese culinary culture before heading to the villa to cook. If you choose the no-market option, you meet directly at the villa and move straight into cooking.

What happens to the money I spend on this cooking class?

Rose Kitchen directs your booking fee toward community programs: monthly charity meals for cancer patients, educational support for disadvantaged children in remote regions, and employment for ethnic minority women who work as butlers and hosts at the villa.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I need to arrange my own transport to the class?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Hanoi's Old Quarter is included with the full-experience options. If you choose a no-transfer option, you meet at the garden villa. Public transportation is available nearby, and the operator can advise on routes.

How long is the cooking class, and what's included in the meal?

The class runs four hours and includes a full Vietnamese lunch or dinner that you prepare yourself, plus fresh seasonal fruits afterward, a welcome herbal tea, a complimentary tasting of homemade fruit wine, and Hanoi's iconic egg coffee. All cooking equipment and utensils are provided.

Can I do this class if I'm vegetarian or vegan?

Yes, vegetarian and vegan versions are available for every dish on the menu. Notify the operator of your dietary requirements at booking so your guide can adjust the recipes and ingredients accordingly.