Vietnamese cooking class with Ben Thanh Market visit

You cook the dish, then sit down and eat it the same afternoon.

A half-day cooking class in Vietnam where you visit Ben Thanh Market with a chef, return to the kitchen to learn three traditional Vietnamese dishes, and eat lunch or dinner from what you've prepared. Morning and afternoon sessions include the market visit; evening does not. The class runs three hours and is taught in English or French, with children welcome from age 9.

The Experience

The morning or afternoon session begins at Ben Thanh Market, where your chef guides you through the stalls to learn about the ingredients you'll use later—the fresh herbs, the proteins, the produce that make Vietnamese cooking work. You see how locals shop, what's in season, and the rhythm of the market itself. Then you walk back to the cooking class, put on an apron, and start with a welcome drink before the chef walks you through the fundamentals: how to balance the flavors, how to handle the heat, how to layer spice and acid and richness the way the dishes demand.

The menu changes based on what you choose—beef salad with young banana and star fruit, or rolls; braised chicken with ginger and sizzling pancake, or chicken noodle soup. The chef focuses on technique you can actually use at home, not just the steps for today. You also learn fruit carving, which is part of the visual tradition here. Dietary requirements are accommodated, and the class offers initiation, advanced, vegetarian or professional levels depending on your experience.

When the cooking is done, you eat together in a shared space—the food you made, the people you met during the session. You leave with a detailed recipe book, a certificate of completion, and a souvenir gift. The evening session skips the market and runs 5pm to 7:30pm if you'd rather cook and eat dinner. Iced tea is included; the class is taught by a live chef in English or French.

What’s included

• Market visit (morning and afternoon sessions only).
• cooking ingredients.
• instruction from a live chef in English or French.
• welcome drink.
• lunch or dinner from the dishes you prepare.
• iced tea.
• detailed recipe book.
• certificate of completion.
• souvenir gift.

Good to know

Infant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by "Mai" Home - The Saigon Culinary Art Centre

Is this one for you?Start your day at the market to see where Vietnamese ingredients come from, then cook and eat what you've selected—same-day meals you'll confidently recreate at home.

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Top questions

Does the market visit happen in every session?

The market visit is included in the morning session (8:30am–12pm) and the afternoon session (2pm–5:30pm). The evening session (5pm–7:30pm) has no market visit and goes straight to cooking class.

What do I actually cook and eat?

You prepare dishes from three Vietnamese regions—typically beef salad with young banana and star fruit or rolls, braised chicken with ginger and sizzling pancake or chicken noodle soup, plus fruit carving for display. You eat what you cook at the end of the class.

Can I request a vegetarian menu or adjust for dietary needs?

Yes. The class offers vegetarian menus and accommodates dietary requirements on request, and you can choose from initiation, advanced, vegetarian or professional course levels depending on your cooking experience.

What do I take home?

You receive a detailed recipe book so you can recreate the dishes, a certificate of completion, and a signature souvenir gift from Mai Home.

Is this suitable for children?

Children are welcome from age 9. Infants can attend if they sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available.

How long does the class take?

The morning and afternoon sessions run three hours each. Morning is 8:30am–12pm, afternoon is 2pm–5:30pm, and evening is 5pm–7:30pm.