Hanoi: Cooking Class & Market Tour in Old Quarter House

Summary

Hanoi food class with chef-led market walk and hands-on cooking

You’ll wander Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter market with a local chef, learn to choose fresh ingredients, then cook four classic Vietnamese dishes inside a historic house. Taste your creations over lunch or dinner with new friends — and maybe leave smelling faintly of lemongrass (it lingers!).

What’s the experience like?

“You can tell if the fish is good by the eyes,” Chef Lan said, holding up a slippery little guy at the market. I nodded like I knew what she meant, but honestly, I was just trying not to drop my phone into a basket of cilantro. The Old Quarter was already buzzing — scooters weaving past, that sharp scent of fish sauce everywhere. We stopped for herbs and I tried to say “rau ram” (Li laughed when I tried — probably butchered it), then Lan picked out tiny limes and something that looked like ginger but wasn’t. She explained every choice, even when I got distracted by a lady balancing chickens in baskets on her bike.

The cooking class was inside this old yellow house that felt like it had stories in the walls — dark wood beams, sunlight slanting across tiled floors. We all washed our hands and sipped some kind of herbal drink that tasted both sweet and grassy. Chopping lemongrass was harder than it looks (my fingers still smelled citrusy hours later). Lan showed us how to roll spring rolls so they wouldn’t explode in the oil — mine still did anyway. There was a lot of laughing, mostly at ourselves. The kitchen filled with steam and sizzling sounds, and someone’s chili paste made me sneeze so hard I nearly lost my place at the wok.

Sitting down together felt like the best part — just bowls of noodles, crispy pancakes, dipping sauces lined up on the table. It didn’t matter that my rolls were a little lopsided; everyone shared bites and swapped stories about their hometowns. After dessert (some kind of sticky rice thing with coconut), Lan poured tiny glasses of Hanoi beer and we just sat there for a while listening to rain hit the courtyard tiles outside. Funny how food can make strangers feel like old friends for an afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class and market tour

• Meet chef at meeting point
• Discuss menu with chef
• Tour local market
• Cook four traditional dishes
• Enjoy lunch or dinner

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Hanoi cooking class?

Yes, pickup is included if you’re staying in the Old Quarter or French Quarter areas.

How many dishes do we cook during the class?

You’ll make four traditional Vietnamese dishes during your session.

Does this tour include lunch or dinner?

Yes, after cooking you’ll sit down together to enjoy either lunch or dinner depending on your chosen time slot.

Are drinks provided during the experience?

Yes, you get bottled water, soft drinks, coffee or tea, herbal welcome drink, plus Hanoi beer with your meal.

Is this Hanoi cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it’s wheelchair accessible according to the info provided.

Can infants join? Are seats available for them?

Infants are welcome but must sit on an adult’s lap; specialized infant seats are available too.

Do we visit a real local market as part of this day trip?

Yes, you’ll walk through a local market in Hanoi’s Old Quarter with your chef before cooking.

How long does the whole experience last?

This is a half-day activity including both the market tour and hands-on cooking session.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from central Hanoi (Old Quarter or French Quarter), all ingredients for four traditional Vietnamese dishes cooked under guidance from an experienced chef inside an ancient house, bottled water plus coffee or tea and soft drinks throughout, seasonal fruits after your meal, snacks along the way at the market tour, alcoholic beverages like Hanoi beer during lunch or dinner — all wrapped up with plenty of laughter and shared stories before heading back full (and maybe still smelling like lemongrass).