Hue cooking class: 500-year garden, ancestral home, art

Cook in a garden where one family has lived for nearly 500 years

A three-hour cooking class at An Nhien Garden Vegetarian Restaurant in Hue where you learn to make two signature vegetarian dishes from a chef, tour the ancestral home of the Nguyen Mau family (residents since 1558), and walk through an open-space art exhibition with over 50 artworks. The class includes all cooking equipment, ingredients, and a full five-course Hue vegetarian meal afterward. Minimum age is 15. The guide speaks English and Vietnamese.

The experience

You arrive at An Nhien Garden and begin with a guided tour of the ancestral home belonging to the Nguyen Mau family, who have lived on this land since 1558. The storyteller walks you through nearly half a millennium of family history inside one of Hue's most traditional ancestral homes, grounding the cooking you'll do later in the place and the people who shaped the cuisine. After the historical tour, you move through the Open Space Art Exhibition on the grounds (over 50 artworks ranging from ancient rock arrangements to contemporary sculptures and abstract paintings), before settling in to cook.

The chef teaches you to make two of the restaurant's most popular dishes: Fig and king oyster mushroom salad, and An Nhien rolls. All equipment and ingredients are prepared and included. You work hands-on with instruction, learning not just technique but the stories behind Hue's vegetarian traditions. Once the cooking finishes, you sit down to eat a full five-course Hue vegetarian meal that you've partly made yourself, plus complimentary alkaline water. Additional drinks can be ordered separately if you want them.

What’s included

• Guided tour of the ancestral home of the Nguyen Mau family with nearly 500 years of history.
• open-space art exhibition with 50+ artworks on the grounds.
• hands-on cooking instruction from the chef for two signature Hue vegetarian dishes.
• all cooking equipment, utensils and ingredients.
• five-course Hue vegetarian meal after the class.
• complimentary alkaline water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 15:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (15 to 75 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Healthy Cooking Class In Centuries-old Garden

Is this one for you?The class runs three hours and sits on the grounds of An Nhien Garden itself, so you don't need a car or knowledge of where to go. The space is accessible by public transit, and everything from the historical tour through the final course happens in one location. Pick this if you're staying in central Hue without transport and want to spend a free afternoon learning to cook rather than hunting for a restaurant.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

52 verified traveler reviews

5 ★52

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

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.

Can I get to the cooking class without my own transport?

An Nhien Garden is accessible by public transportation, and the restaurant is located near public transit options. If you need private transport arranged, an additional 300,000 VND is charged at checkout.

What two dishes will I learn to cook?

You'll make Fig and king oyster mushroom salad and An Nhien rolls, both signature vegetarian dishes from the restaurant's menu.

Is the meal after the class included in the price?

Yes, a full five-course Hue vegetarian meal is included after you finish cooking. If you have food allergies or medical restrictions, inform the restaurant before finalizing payment so they can adjust the menu.

What's included in the class fee?

All cooking equipment, utensils, and ingredients are included, along with the historical tour, the art exhibition walk, complimentary alkaline water, and the five-course meal afterward.

Is the space wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces at An Nhien Garden are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are also wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed.