Hoi An: Bay Mau Cooking Class, Market & Basket Boat Ride

Summary

Hoi an food class with market stroll & basket boat ride

You’ll shop for fresh ingredients at a lively Hoi An market before gliding through Cam Thanh’s coconut forest on a basket boat. Learn hands-on techniques from your local chef-guide inside a riverside stilt house as you cook classic Vietnamese dishes together — then share your homemade meal over endless passion fruit juice and laughter.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I signed up for the Bay Mau cooking class mostly because I wanted to eat better pho — but I didn’t expect to start my morning elbow-deep in herbs at a market in Hoi An, fumbling with my Vietnamese numbers while our guide (she said to call her Miss Lan) grinned and nudged me toward the freshest mint. The air smelled like fish sauce and ripe jackfruit. It was loud, too — vendors calling out prices, scooters weaving through gaps that barely fit a bicycle. I liked that nobody seemed to care how slowly I picked out my greens.

After the market, we climbed into these round bamboo basket boats down by the Cam Thanh coconut forest. They wobble like crazy — I nearly tipped us over trying to sit down (Miss Lan just laughed and said “good balance!” which felt generous). The water was calm though, and you could hear birds somewhere above the palms. There was this moment where the sun hit the river just right and everything went quiet except for someone’s radio playing old pop songs from across the water. Kind of peaceful, actually.

The actual cooking part happened in this wooden stilt house by the river — open windows, fans humming softly, bowls of bright vegetables everywhere. We pounded rice with a heavy stone mortar until my arms started aching (harder than it looks), then ground it into milk for pancakes. Miss Lan showed us how to roll salad rolls so tight they wouldn’t fall apart — mine looked lumpy but tasted fine after dunking them in chili sauce. Lunch was what we made: pho with beef or chicken, rice pancakes, bun bo nam bo… plus as much passion fruit juice as we wanted. Honestly, I’m still thinking about that soup broth.

We finished up slow — everyone just sitting around swapping stories and eating together while the river breeze came through. Someone tried to say “thank you” in Vietnamese; Miss Lan corrected him gently and we all laughed. It wasn’t fancy or anything, but it felt real in a way that stuck with me after I left Hoi An.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class with market and boat ride

• Visit local market for ingredients
• Ride bamboo basket boat in Bay Mau
• Explore Cam Thanh coconut village
• Learn traditional cooking techniques
• Prepare 4 Vietnamese dishes
• Taste your cooked dishes
• Enjoy passion fruit juice and water

Top questions

How long does the Bay Mau cooking class take?

The activity includes market visit, boat ride, cooking class, and meal; plan for about half a day.

Is pickup included from hotels in Hoi An?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at your Hoi An hotel is included.

What dishes do you cook during this Hoi An class?

You’ll prepare pho (beef or chicken), rice pancakes, bun bo nam bo (beef vermicelli), and salad rolls.

Do you visit a local market before cooking?

Yes, there’s an option to visit a local market to choose fresh ingredients with your guide.

Is lunch provided during the tour?

Your meal is what you cook during the class; lunch or dinner is included depending on timing.

Are drinks included during the experience?

You get unlimited mineral water and passion fruit juice throughout the class.

What is a basket boat ride like?

You’ll ride traditional round bamboo boats through Cam Thanh coconut forest before cooking.

Is this suitable for infants or travelers with spinal injuries?

Specialized infant seats are available; not recommended for those with spinal injuries.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Hoi An, all fresh ingredients from the local market, a guided bamboo basket boat trip through Cam Thanh coconut forest, hands-on cooking instruction from an English-speaking chef-guide inside a riverside stilt house, unlimited mineral water and passion fruit juice throughout the class, plus lunch or dinner made by you — along with chopstick souvenirs to take home.