Experiencing Cooking Tour in Hoi An Ancient Town

By D.HOANG-DISC• 23/07/2013 10:37

(QNO) - The guidebook Lonely Planet has ranked cooking tourism services in Hoi An in the “Top 10” of the special travel experiences in the world such as Surfing in Hawaii (USA), yoga in Rishikesh (India), learning calligraphy at Kyoto (Japan), Training Kung fu at Shaolin Temple (China), learning Spanish in Patagonia (Argentina)...The trips organised by the Western Travel Agencies to Asian countries were often associated with cuisine activities. The most especial attraction may be the cooking classes where the local delicacies are guided to make. Visitors will have their opportunity to choose ingredients and make the local dishes by themselves. It is the best way for visitors to learn more about native country.

Ingredients in Hoi An Market.

Visitors often like to choose the cooking classes in Hoi An among those in Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh City because of the charming scenery of Hoi An ancient town. The cooking classes are often held in the tranquil gardens or in the ancient houses where visitors can learn to cook local unique specialties and dishes of Vietnamese cuisine such as pho (noodle soup), bun bo (beef rice vermicelli)... They are also guided to go to the Hoi An market to buy fresh raw materials sold by friendly sale-men.

Going to Hoi An market.

According to Caroline Mills, a reporter of Travelfish.org – an online travel magazine, the two most unique features that make the attraction of Hoi An tourism are the tailoring service and cooking instructions. She said: "Hoi An is a paradise of culinary enthusiasts. Anyone once ate in the restaurants there, the next thing on the list of what they should do is attending a cooking class. It was a fascinating experience that they have in Hoi An to show off to their friends at home, that they can make a dinner with Hoi An’s specialties. It is here that I became tricky: I love everything when preparing a family meal in Hoi An. Everything was perfect, from the butcher at the market (she's always giggling and happy to welcome me) to the friendly grocer.

Cooking classes organised in many restaurants and hotels in Hoi An.

The cooking classes in Hoi An were held in several places in the ancient town such as the Red Bridge Restaurant (in village 4, Cam Thanh), Green Bamboo restaurant (Truong Minh Hung, Cam An ward)…. You can enroll in Morning Glory Restaurant (106 Nguyen Thai Hoc). Here you will learn how to make Hoi An’s street foods, especially to discover the secrets of the famous banh xeo (fried pancake). Besides, visitors can also enroll the half-day cooking tour Taste of Hoi An (Huong Vi Hoi An - 109 Nguyen Thai Hoc) by Neville Dean, an Australian who came to live in Hoi An with his wife a few years ago. This cooking tour has now been attracting many visitors from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

The result of over an hour of cooking, tourists are enjoying their dishes.

By D.HOANG-DISC