Vietnam is known for its distinctive flavors and the use of fresh ingredients in cuisine. It’s considered to be one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. A foodie at heart, I knew I wanted to not only try all of the Vietnamese food (which I can say with all certainty that I accomplished); but also learn how to cook Vietnamese dishes.
While visiting Vietnam, I joined Coconut Tours for their Hoi An Eco Tour and Cooking Class. This tour includes a market tour, a basket-boat ride with local fishermen, and a cooking class. If you ask me, it was one of the best tours I’ve done. It’s definitely at the top of my list as one of my favorite things in Vietnam!
Exploring Central Market
We began our day at the Central Market. A colorful street market lying near the banks of the Thu Bon River. The rich smell of fragrant herbs and spices fills the air, fresh exotic fruits and vegetables are on display and a huge selection of fresh fish is readily available due to the riverside location.
We sampled a variety of herbs and learned about what dishes they are used in. Diếp Cá, better known as Fish Mint, was one of the herbs we tried. Luckily, Fish Mint was not one of the ingredients for our meals as it was quite…unpleasant!
A Basket-Boat Ride to Remember
After we picked up the ingredients, we made our way to the dock to board a large boat. Traveling down the Thu Bon River for a 30-minute boat ride, our guide explained the various methods of fishing used today in Vietnam. As I pulled out my camera to catch the fisherman going by in their basket-boats, I realized they were pulling up to our boat to give us a ride. I clearly had no idea this was part of the tour.
We hopped into the basket-boats two at a time and made our way through the coconut forest. I definitely got in the right basket boat! The fisherman guiding my boat was all about having fun. Spinning the basket in circles, paddling super fast, and what I can only presume was a little bit of Vietnamese shit talking to the other fisherman.
As we neared our destination, our guide shouted, “RACE!”. All 8 basket-boats in our group casually ‘lined up’, someone shouted “GO!” and we were off!
Do I even need to tell you who won?
Cooking Local
We arrived at Coconut Tours Hoi An Eco Tour and Cooking Class and were greeted with traditional Vietnamese lotus tea, chef hats, and aprons. Dividing into two groups, we found our spots around the chef’s table. Throughout the morning, we learned how to properly cut vegetables, prepare sauces, and make the following Vietnamese dishes: fresh spring rolls, papaya salad with shrimp, braised pork, and rice pancakes.
The Hoi An Eco Tour and Cooking Class was such a fun way to learn local dishes, meet new friends from around the world, eat our delicious masterpiece, and even return with a souvenir. All the recipes from the day!!!
I’m so excited to try out all the recipes again for friends and family. It certainly won’t be the same as cooking barefoot in a hut in the middle of Vietnam but I’m sure the food will bring back all the fabulous memories! Stay tuned…
If you’re in Hoi An and would like to book this tour with Hoi An Eco Tour and Cooking Class click here.
Cost: 860,000 VND ($35 USD)
More on visiting Vietnam below!
