Hoi An: Cooking Class with Local Chef & 4 Vietnamese Dishes

Cook Four Vietnamese Dishes in a Home Kitchen in Hoi An

You arrive at Jolie's home kitchen in Hoi An and cook four traditional Vietnamese dishes (papaya salad, pho, rice pancake, and eggplant in claypot) under guidance from a professional chef who sources organic ingredients from local vendors. Groups stay under ten people, vegetarian options are available for all dishes, and you eat what you've made with juice and water included. The class takes a few hours and ends with you sitting down to your own meal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cooking class with Jolie in Hoi An

• Meet native host in Hoi An
• Learn to prepare papaya salad
• Cook pho with Jolie's recipe
• Make Vietnamese rice pancake
• Prepare eggplant in claypot
• Enjoy seasonal fruits dessert
• Play piano or guitar

The experience

"You know, most people come to Vietnam and eat the food, but they never understand why it tastes like this," Jolie says, standing in her kitchen in the old quarter of Hoi An. She's talking about the papaya salad you're about to make, not the ingredients themselves, but the way she sources them, the time of day she buys them, the hands that grew them. That's the difference between a cooking class in Hoi An and this one. You're not in a restaurant kitchen or a tourist studio. You're in her home, with no more than ten people, learning to make four dishes the way they're actually cooked here: papaya salad, pho, Vietnamese rice pancake with peanut sauce, and eggplant in claypot. Each one takes maybe thirty or forty minutes, and you make it yourself while Jolie guides you through the steps, not hovering, just there when you need her.

The morning starts with sourcing. Jolie has spent years finding the right vendors for organic vegetables and the best cuts of meat, and she takes that seriously. You'll work with what she's chosen that day: seasonal fruit, herbs that smell different from what you buy at home, fish sauce that's been aged properly. The rice pancake is the one that surprised me most. It's thinner than I expected, and the peanut sauce is the thing that makes it work. The pho comes next, and there's a recipe Jolie's known for. It's the broth that takes time, but by the class you're working with what's already been built. Vegetarian options run through all four dishes, so if you don't eat meat, you're not doing a modified version. You're cooking the real thing with different protein.

Between cooking stations, there's juice and water, and the rhythm is relaxed enough that you're not stressed about timing. Jolie mentioned the piano and guitar in the kitchen. You can play if you want, which sounds odd until you're there and it makes sense. It's her home, and the class is built around that. You eat what you've made at the end, sitting down with the other people in the group, tasting your own work. That's the part that lands different from a restaurant meal. You know exactly what went into it because your hands did.

What’s included

Your class includes all ingredients for four traditional Vietnamese dishes (papaya salad, pho, Vietnamese rice pancake with peanut sauce, and eggplant in claypot), instruction from a professional chef in her home kitchen, juice and bottled water throughout, and the meal you prepare and eat together at the end. Vegetarian versions of all dishes are available on request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by HPT TRAVEL COMPANY LIMITED

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to learn how Vietnamese home cooking actually works, not just taste it in a restaurant: Jolie's sourcing and her kitchen are what make the difference, and the small group size means you're cooking, not watching.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): 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.

How long is the cooking class?

The class typically runs several hours, with time for sourcing ingredients, cooking four dishes, and eating together at the end. Exact duration isn't fixed. It depends on the group and the pace.

Is the class suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available for all four dishes, and you cook the full recipe with plant-based ingredients instead of a modified version.

What if I have no cooking experience?

The class is designed for all levels. Jolie guides you through each step, and the focus is on learning traditional techniques, not on prior skill.

Is the kitchen wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The kitchen and all areas are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options nearby support accessible arrival.

What's included in the price?

The class includes instruction, all ingredients for four dishes, juice, bottled water, and the meal you cook and eat at the end.

Can I request specific dishes?

The four dishes (papaya salad, pho, rice pancake, and eggplant in claypot) are the standard menu. Dietary restrictions like vegetarian or allergies can be accommodated within these dishes.

How many people are in a typical class?

Groups are limited to 10 people or fewer, keeping the class small and allowing Jolie to guide each person individually.