Private cooking class in Hoi An: Market, boat, kitchen

You buy ingredients like a local, then cook what you chose.

A private cooking class in Hoi An that begins at the local market, moves through the water coconut forest by basket boat, and ends in Chef Thanh's home kitchen, where you prepare five traditional Vietnamese dishes and eat them. Chef Thanh speaks English and guides you through ingredients, techniques and the reasoning behind each dish. Hotel pickup in Hoi An is included, as is lunch: the meal you cook yourself.

The experience

The day starts at the market in Hoi An, where you learn to haggle with vendors and choose the ingredients for the dishes you'll cook later. This is not a tour of the market. You're buying what you need, moving through the stalls the way locals do. After shopping, you board a basket boat (a coracle made of woven palm), for a 45-minute ride through the water coconut forest along the Thu Bon river. The boat moves slowly enough to watch how local artists perform traditional techniques: you'll see how they shake the boat, how they catch crabs, and how palm leaves become souvenirs. It's a working landscape, not a show.

Back on land, you head to Chef Thanh's home kitchen. Over the next stretch of the afternoon, you cook five dishes: green mango salad with shrimp, sweet and sour fish sauce, chicken noodle soup (phở gà), crispy pork spring rolls, and seasonal fruit. Thanh walks you through each one: the why behind the technique, the balance of flavors, how to read the ingredients. You're not watching a demonstration. You're handling the knife, the pan, the heat. When everything is ready, you sit down and eat what you made.

The class runs about three and a half hours total. A driver picks you up from your hotel in Hoi An and brings you back after lunch. If you're staying in Da Nang, transportation can be arranged for an additional fee. Children from age 2 are welcome, though they'll need to sit on an adult's lap during the basket boat ride.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hoi An.
• basket boat ride through the water coconut forest.
• all ingredients and cooking instruction.
• lunch (the dishes you prepare).
• English-speaking chef.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Youth (6 to 11 years) · Infant (2 to 5 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Public transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lantern Restauarnt & Cooking Class

Is this one for you?The morning market visit and 45-minute basket boat ride mean you're on your feet and moving through water before you reach the kitchen, so the class suits travelers who want to see how locals shop and move through the landscape, not just cook in a studio.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 11 years); Infant (2 to 5 years): 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.

What do I actually cook in Chef Thanh's kitchen?

You prepare five dishes: green mango salad with shrimp, sweet and sour fish sauce, chicken noodle soup, crispy pork spring rolls, and seasonal fruit. Each one teaches a different technique or flavor principle in Vietnamese cooking.

How long is the basket boat ride through the coconut forest?

The basket boat ride lasts about 45 minutes. You travel along the Thu Bon river through the water coconut forest, watching local artists demonstrate traditional techniques like boat shaking and crab-catching.

Does the price include getting to and from my hotel?

Yes, free pickup and drop-off are included if you're staying in Hoi An. Hotels in Da Nang can be arranged for an additional charge.

Is lunch included, or do I need to eat separately?

Lunch is included. It's the five dishes you cook yourself during the class. You eat together after cooking.

What language does Chef Thanh speak?

Chef Thanh speaks English and guides you through the cooking, explaining ingredients, techniques and the reasoning behind each dish.