Saigon Cooking Class: Farm Visit, Chef-Led Lunch & Pickup

Summary

Farm to table cooking in saigon with chef-led market visit

You’ll pick fresh ingredients from an organic Saigon farm before learning to cook four Vietnamese dishes with a local chef. Enjoy lunch together after your hands-on class, hear family stories from your guide, and take home recipes — plus hotel pickup makes it easy to join in.

What’s the experience like?

Someone handed me a conical hat before I’d even figured out where to put my bag. The air smelled green — like wet herbs and earth after rain — and our guide, Ms. Lan, was already waving us over to rows of mint and something she called “Vietnamese coriander.” I tried to say it back in Vietnamese. She laughed (kindly) and corrected me, then showed us how to pinch the leaves just so. There were dragonflies everywhere. I didn’t expect to get my hands dirty this early but honestly, it felt good.

We wandered through the little farm on the edge of Saigon, picking mushrooms that looked like tiny umbrellas and learning which plants made your soup taste bright or deep or sweet. Ms. Lan talked about her grandmother’s recipes while we filled our baskets — she said every family has their own way with pho broth. It was humid but not too hot; someone’s phone played old pop songs in the background, which made me smile for no reason.

Back at the kitchen (open walls, fans spinning), we washed what we’d picked and got straight into making spring rolls. I never realized how sticky rice paper could be until it stuck to my fingers — Ms. Lan showed me how to roll tighter without tearing it. We cooked four dishes: prawn wraps with coriander, papaya salad (I went for the veggie version), chicken stew, and a banana spring roll with coconut cream that I still think about sometimes when I’m hungry late at night.

Lunch was just us around a big wooden table, eating what we’d made while Ms. Lan poured tea and told stories about growing up in southern Vietnam. She handed out recipe cards at the end — mine’s already stained from trying that papaya salad at home. It wasn’t fancy or formal but felt real in a way you can’t fake, you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Farm-to-table cooking class in Saigon

• Welcome with traditional hat and basket
• Learn about organic farm and nutrition
• Pick your own fresh ingredients
• Hands-on cooking of four dishes
• Enjoy the meal you prepared
• Receive certificate and recipes

Top questions

How long is the Saigon cooking class?

The cooking class lasts approximately 6 hours.

Is hotel pickup included for this Saigon cooking experience?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Are vegetarian options available during the class?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if requested when booking.

What dishes do you make in this Saigon cooking class?

You’ll prepare prawn wraps or spring rolls, papaya salad with your choice of protein or vegetables, chicken stew or pho, and banana spring rolls with coconut cream or orange sauce.

Is this farm-to-table cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible.

Do you get recipes to take home after the class?

Yes, you’ll receive recipe cards at the end of the class.

Who leads the Saigon farm-to-table cooking class?

A local chef guides you through ingredient picking and cooking techniques.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle, all activities on the organic farm with a local guide, bottled water throughout, hands-on preparation of four Vietnamese dishes using fresh-picked ingredients, lunch together after cooking (with vegetarian options), plus recipe cards and a certificate to take home before heading back into Saigon.