Hanoi Cooking Class: Market Tour, Garden Villa & Egg Coffee

Summary

Cook Vietnamese classics with locals in a cozy Hanoi villa after exploring the city’s colorful markets

You’ll wander through Hanoi’s bustling market gathering fresh ingredients with your local guide before cooking classic dishes together in a leafy garden villa. Roll spring rolls by hand, taste homemade fruit wine, and finish with creamy egg coffee around the table. This isn’t just about recipes — it’s laughter, stories, and feeling welcome in someone else’s kitchen.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the smell — not of food yet, but the market itself. Herbs piled high on plastic sheets, a whiff of fish sauce somewhere (not subtle), and vendors calling out prices I couldn’t follow. Our guide, Linh, grinned as she handed me a bunch of banana flowers. “For salad,” she said. I’d never seen them up close before. The market felt like organized chaos — kids darting around, old men sipping tea on tiny stools, and us tourists trying to blend in with our baskets. I tried to say “cảm ơn” to one of the ladies selling mint and pretty much butchered it; she just laughed and patted my arm.

Back at the villa — honestly, it looked more like someone’s family home than a cooking school — we washed our hands under a mango tree and got started. The kitchen opened right onto the garden, so you could hear birds over the clatter of pans. Linh showed us how to roll nem rán (spring rolls). My first one fell apart completely but nobody cared; there was this easy warmth in the room, like we were all cousins who hadn’t met yet. Someone from Germany tried to flip bánh xèo too early and it stuck to the pan — everyone cheered anyway. When we made bún chả, Linh told stories about her grandmother’s secret marinade (she swore it was just patience). Lunch happened around a big wooden table with more food than we could finish.

I didn’t expect to love egg coffee as much as I did — thick, sweet foam on top of strong brew, almost like dessert in a cup. We sipped slowly while Linh poured homemade fruit wine for anyone curious (it was surprisingly good). At some point someone put on old Vietnamese pop songs and people started humming along even though none of us knew the words. It felt less like a class and more like being invited into someone’s life for an afternoon.

Walking back out into Hanoi’s noise after that felt strange — quieter inside somehow. I still think about that moment when everyone went quiet tasting their own food for the first time; maybe that’s what traveling is really about.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Market visit and cooking class

• Visit vibrant local market
• Pick fresh ingredients
• Return to French villa
• Join hands-on cooking session
• Prepare four iconic dishes
• Enjoy homemade meal together

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Hanoi cooking class?

Yes, complimentary pickup and drop-off are included within Hanoi’s Old Quarter and French Quarter.

What dishes do you learn to cook during the class?

You’ll prepare four Vietnamese dishes: a salad (banana flower/papaya/green mango), bún chả or pho or cha ca la vong, spring rolls or bánh xèo, plus signature egg coffee.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available?

Yes, vegetarian and vegan options are available for all dishes—just let them know your dietary needs when booking.

How long does the cooking class last?

The experience typically lasts around half a day including market visit and meal time.

Is this Hanoi cooking class suitable for children or wheelchair users?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible and families with children are welcome; infant seats are available if needed.

Does the tour include lunch or dinner?

Your session includes either a full Vietnamese lunch or dinner depending on your chosen time slot.

Do I need to bring anything for the class?

No need—everything from utensils to aprons is provided; just come hungry!

Will there be an English-speaking guide?

Yes, an experienced English-speaking local guide will lead your group throughout.

What’s included

Your experience includes hotel pickup and drop-off within central Hanoi, all fresh ingredients from the local market tour, use of every utensil you’ll need in a comfortable air-conditioned space at the villa, hands-on guidance from an English-speaking host trained by Sofitel Metropole’s former chef director, unlimited mineral water throughout your session plus herbal tea on arrival. After cooking you’ll enjoy a full Vietnamese meal together—with fresh fruit served afterward—and sample homemade fruit wine alongside signature egg coffee before heading back into town.