Tour operator
Jack Tran Tours
A local tour company running since 2005, offering basket boat, fishing village and rice-farming experiences in the countryside around Hoi An.
Red Bridge Cooking School
A long-running Hoi An cooking school on the Thu Bon River, combining a market tour, a boat trip and a herb garden walk with hands-on cooking and lunch.
At a glance
- Type
- Cooking class with market tour and boat trip
- Area
- Thu Bon riverside, Hoi An, Vietnam
- Official site
- visithoian.com
Good to know
- Market tour
- River boat trip
- Herb garden
- Small groups
- Evening class option
Why we recommend it
Red Bridge Cooking School is one of Hoi An's established cooking schools, run by the same local group as Hai Cafe and Red Bridge Restaurant. The school is set on the banks of the Thu Bon River, about 3 km from central Hoi An, and its programmes run every day of the year, with half-day, full-day and evening options.
The Half Day Tour is the classic choice. It runs from 08:15 to 13:00 and starts with a guided tour of Hoi An's Central Market, where you see the ingredients used in local cooking, and a boat trip on the river. There you walk through the herb garden, then join a two-hour hands-on cooking class and finish by eating what you have made for lunch.
For keen cooks, the Deluxe Tour runs from 08:00 to 15:00 and is limited to eight people. It begins with a tour of the Tra Que organic herb gardens and shopping at a local village market, followed by three hours of more in-depth cooking. You prepare four Vietnamese dishes, including beef noodle soup, pho, and clay-pot fish with dill, before lunch and a boat trip back to Hoi An.
If your days are already full, the Hai Cafe Evening Cooking Class runs from 18:00 to 20:00 in the centre of the Ancient Town, at Hai Cafe on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. It is a shorter class, about 1 hour 15 minutes, followed by dinner, and the dishes include fried spring rolls, grilled fish in banana leaves and a beef salad served in a bamboo basket. Groups are capped at ten.
Booking is done online, with payment through PayPal or credit card, after which you email the school with your preferred date to receive a full confirmation. When booking, you can choose to add a small donation to New Borns Vietnam, a charity that supports sick babies across the country.
The classes suit couples, families with older children and solo travellers who enjoy food, and the morning programmes make a full introduction to Hoi An's markets, river and countryside as well as its cooking. The Deluxe Tour is the best choice for serious cooks who want small numbers, while the evening class works for anyone short of time.
Red Bridge Cooking School FAQs
What does the Half Day Tour include?
A Central Market tour, a boat trip, a herb garden walk, a two-hour cooking class and lunch, from 08:15 to 13:00.
Is there a longer class?
Yes, the Deluxe Tour runs from 08:00 to 15:00 with a visit to Tra Que herb gardens and three hours of cooking.
What dishes do you cook on the Deluxe Tour?
Four Vietnamese dishes, including pho and clay-pot fish with dill.
Is there an evening class?
Yes, at Hai Cafe in the Ancient Town from 18:00 to 20:00, followed by dinner.
How big are the groups?
The Deluxe Tour is limited to eight people and the evening class to ten.
How do you book?
Online with PayPal or card, then email [email protected] with your preferred date.
Where is the school?
On the banks of the Thu Bon River, about 3 km from central Hoi An.