There is nothing quite like cooking in a foreign country to really experience the local culture.
My husband and I love cooking together, so booking a cooking class in Ho Chi Minh city was a no-brainer.
Vietnam’s culture revolves heavily around food – there are people cooking and eating literally on every single street, at all hours of the day.
Ho Chi Minh, also known as Saigon, offers visitors many different cooking classes that teach the basics of Vietnamese cooking.
Here’s a list of the best cooking classes and market tours in Ho Chi Minh city.
1. Chef Vu Cooking Class (USD $33)
We chose this cooking class and market tour and we had a great time. We learned a lot about Vietnamese cuisine and it was very reasonably priced. The cyclo tour was unique and fun.
Services include:
- Pickup from hotel in a cyclo at 9am
- 30-minute cyclo tour
- Ben Thanh market visit
- Cooking class with varied menu (4-course meal)
- Afternoon private cooking class available (more expensive)
- Lasts about 3 hours
2. HCM Cooking Class (USD $55)
Photo by HCM Cooking Class
The HCM Cooking Class will offer you a unique experience. Unlike the other cooking classes, it is located in an agricultural village where they grow the food you will be cooking with.
Services include:
- Pickup and drop-off for an additional fee (see website for details)
- Tour of the farm
- Tour of mushroom house and medicine garden
- Selection of herbs and veggies from garden
- Many different cooking classes available (half-day, full-day (includes tour of other areas of the village), vegetarian, etc.)
- Take-home recipe booklet
- Kid-friendly ($40)
3. Saigon Cooking Class (USD $45)
Photo by Saigon Cooking Class
The Saigon Cooking Class is very well rated on Tripadvisor (5 stars, 559 reviews). It is very popular and they also offer a pho cooking class for an additional $15.
Services include:
- No pickup or drop-off from/to hotel
- Ben Thanh market visit from 8:45am to 9:45am
- Cooking class from 10am-1pm
- 4-course meal
- Take-home recipe booklet
- Kid-friendly ($28)
4. Ho Chi Minh Food Experience (USD $75)
Photo by Viator
The Ho Chi Minh Food Experience is a bit more expensive than other cooking classes in the area. However, it lasts longer than others and includes pickup and drop-off from/to your hotel.
Services include:
- Pickup and drop-off from/to hotel (departure time 8:15am)
- Half-day market tour (Ben Thanh market)
- Select vegetable and spices
- Menu varies – it includes an appetizer, salad or soup, main course, and dessert
- 20-person limit
- Lasts about 5 hours
5. Grain Cooking Studio (USD $48)
Photo by Grain Cooking Studio
Although Grain Cooking Studio doesn’t offer a market tour, the studio in which the classes take place is clean and very professional. It is rated 5 stars on Tripadvisor by 133 reviewers.
Services include:
- Pickup or drop-off from/to hotel available for an extra fee
- No market tour
- 4-course meal (see full menu)
- Take-home recipe booklet
- Classes available from 9am-12pm and from 2pm-5pm
- Lasts about 3 hours
- Kid-friendly ($40)
- Private classes available upon request
