Vietnamese Cooking Classes – What to Expect

Vietnamese foods are famous for its delightful taste as well as healthy ingredients. Some of them are really easy to master like fresh spring roll (Goi cuon) or Canh chua (sour soup) if you have the ingredients available. Some would be more challenging as it requires patience and skills like Pho and Banh xeo. Another thing about Vietnamese dishes is that they can be customized to your likings, creating various new dishes to adapt to the palate of many regions in Vietnam.

But Vietnamese cooking classes in Vietnam, for not only locals but also foreigners, are booming in recent years, teaching the authentic way of cooking so that people can fully understand the origins of Vietnamese cuisine. If you want to sign up for one, read our article and learn what you can expect from these Vietnamese cooking classes.

What dishes and how many dishes you will learn in a Vietnamese cooking class

Of course, you will sign up to learn signature Vietnamese dishes like Pho, Banh xeo, fried spring rolls. Besides, you can also opt for cooking daily meals like fish/chicken clay pots, salad, and canh (vegetables soup). These dishes are not only delicious but quite easy to make once you have learned it from the chef. Learn more about the best Vietnamese dishes.

Try making the crispy and savory fried spring rolls

The number and kind of dishes will depend on the course you enroll in. For example, if the class is in Hanoi, you will be more likely to cook Pho and other Northern Vietnamese dishes; and the full-day class includes more dishes than a mini-cooking class does.

How long a Vietnamese cooking class will last

A mini cooking class is more like observances of one or two dishes in the making. You can join in later to finish them with the help of the chef or try from the start with most ingredients that have been prepared. These kinds of classes should be quick about 30 minutes and usually included in food tours where you can focus more on eating rather than cooking.

Get your foods to the table and serve it hot after making it

A half-day cooking class will last longer, for about 3-4 hours. Usually, a meal of three dishes will be introduced with ingredients that have been bought and half-ready for cooking (cleaned and rinsed). You will start from ingredients preparation step like cutting meat, mincing garlic, and then repeat what the chef has performed from A to Z.

A full-day cooking class will be a full exploration, last for about 5-6 hours. You can actually go out to the local markets buying fresh ingredients, preparing the ingredients, and finally, get them to cook. Three or more dishes will be taught.

How many people can sign up for a Vietnamese cooking class

They are usually open for groups of 2 people or more. The maximum number is up to the venue capacity of the cooking class (10 or even 40). There are also private tours and private classes where you can sign up for 1 person only and take your time making good foods, but the price for this kind of class is often higher than the regular one.

Kids can also accompany you in joining these tours/classes and usually receive discounts. You should inform your cooking class operator in advance if you are vegetarians or on a diet with eating restriction to be better accommodated with a different set of the menu.

How much to pay for a Vietnamese cooking class

A mini cooking class is usually included in the food tours pricing. Most local vendors in Vietnam are friendly and will allow you to try cooking if you want to, but you should remember their English is quite limited and be aware of scams as well. It is advisable if you go with a local guide to show you around and support in communication with the locals.

The price for a half-day cooking class is usually about US$30 – US$40/person and US$40 – US$60/person for a full-day cooking class. It varies depending on the inclusions like duration of the class, number of dishes, market tour, pick-up, drop-off, and whether you can customize the class menu to your liking.

Why you should join a Vietnamese cooking class in Vietnam

Cooking classes take up a lot of your time, and thus, you may not have enough time for them in your tight schedule, but if you are serious about learning and mastering Vietnamese cuisine, here are the reasons why should sign up for a Vietnamese cooking class while in the country.

• See how the foods are made the local ways with local ingredients (and of course, try your works afterward). The best and most authentic cooking of a dish could only be observed in their own land.

Learning how to transform these fresh ingredients into delicious Banh xeo

• Get close to the locals when buying foods from the local wet markets like a regular local in their daily life, or receiving the instruction from the local chef.
• Skill up while traveling and make your own meal. This is something you can boast about and surprise your family and friends when returning home.
• Meet new people with the same love for food in the class. It is one of the most interesting things about going to new places, especially while you are on a solo travel.

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Where to find a Vietnamese cooking class while in Vietnam

Vietnamese cooking classes could be either professional ones or compliment service included in restaurants, hotels, and tours. There are cooking courses for foreign visitors in many tourist cities, especially Hoi An, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, where there are more options for you to choose like in cooking schools, cooking centers, and cooking tours.