Hanoi: Cooking Class & Market Tour with 5 Local Dishes

Summary

Learn Hanoi’s flavors in a real kitchen after a bustling market walk

You’ll wander Hanoi’s biggest market with a local chef, pick out fresh ingredients, then cook five classic dishes in a small group kitchen. Taste your own creations — from pho bo to egg coffee — and share laughs over rice vodka before heading back into the Old Quarter with new recipes (and maybe sticky fingers).

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the sound — vendors at Dong Xuan Market calling out prices, the clatter of knives on wooden blocks, the low hum of scooters weaving through tiny aisles. Our guide, Linh, handed me a bunch of fresh herbs and said, “Smell this — it’s what makes pho taste like Hanoi.” She grinned when I tried to repeat the Vietnamese name (I probably mangled it). The air smelled sharp and green. I didn’t expect to feel so awake just from sniffing basil at 9am.

We walked back to the Apron Up kitchen right in the Old Quarter, arms full of vegetables and spices. The city outside was still noisy, but inside it was just us around metal tables. Linh showed us how to slice beef for pho bo — thinner than I’d ever managed at home — and explained why you never rush the broth. My hands smelled like fish sauce for hours after making bun cha. There was this moment when we all tried rolling our first nem ran (spring rolls) and someone’s filling shot out the side; everyone laughed, even Linh.

I still think about that papaya salad — crunchy, sweet, sour all at once. We toasted with little glasses of rice vodka (it burns in a good way) before finishing with egg coffee that tasted like dessert and breakfast at the same time. The group swapped stories about home kitchens while Linh handed out cookbooks and certificates; she said “Now you can make Hanoi food anywhere.” Maybe not quite as well as her, but close enough for me.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Market visit and cooking class

• Explore local market with guide
• Learn about Vietnamese ingredients
• Cook 5 traditional Vietnamese dishes
• Enjoy your cooked meal together
• Try Vietnamese rice vodka
• Receive cookbook and certificate

Top questions

How long does the Hanoi cooking class take?

The class lasts about 3-4 hours including the market trip and cooking session.

What dishes will I learn to cook in this Hanoi cooking class?

You’ll make pho bo (beef noodle soup), bun cha (BBQ pork noodles), nem ran (fried spring rolls), papaya salad, and egg coffee or chocolate.

Is there a vegetarian option for this Hanoi cooking class?

Yes, vegetarians or non-red meat eaters can prepare vegetarian versions of each dish.

Does the class include drinks?

You’ll get Vietnamese rice vodka plus coffee or tea during the class.

Where is the cooking school located?

The Apron Up Cooking Class is right in Hanoi’s Old Quarter near Dong Xuan Market.

Is this cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the venue is wheelchair accessible.

Do I get recipes to take home?

You’ll receive a cookbook with all the recipes you learned in class.

Will I get a certificate after completing the class?

Yes, every participant receives a certificate at the end.

What’s included

Your morning includes an English-speaking chef guiding you through Hanoi’s main market to shop for ingredients together, hands-on lessons for five traditional dishes in a local kitchen, tastings of your own creations paired with Vietnamese rice vodka and egg coffee or tea, plus a recipe booklet and certificate to bring home.