Cook like a local in Hanoi

At Red Bean restaurants, we believe immersion in Vietnamese cuisine through combining a cooking class with a market food tour is a delicious way to learn more about the country, history and culture.

Vietnam has one of the world’s most diverse, culturally significant and healthiest of cuisines. A fusion of many principles makes Vietnamese cooking so irresistibly delicious and seductively special.  Vietnamese cuisine combines the five elements of metal, wood, fire, water and earth with a melting pot of cultures inspired by France, China, India and other Asian nations. The result is a unique food philosophy, deceptively simple yet deliciously complex.

Through a Red Bean cooking class, you will gain experience in creating and cooking authentic Vietnamese dishes in a fun, hands on way.  This is also a chance to listen to an insider’s view on the importance of food in Vietnamese society, the significance of different combinations, origins and traditions of the dishes you will create, as well as skills needed for selecting and combining the best ingredients.  You will come away with a newfound appreciation and understanding of Vietnamese cooking.

Red Bean Central Restaurant (La Siesta Classic Hang Thung Hotel, no. 21 Hang Thung Street)

Red Bean Hoi An Restaurant (La Siesta Hoi An Resort and Spa, no. 132 Hung Vuong, Thanh Ha, Hoi An, Vietnam)

One of Red Bean’s chefs, both instructor and food guide, will lead you on a colorful walking tour around one of the neighborhood wet markets to choose the ingredients for the meal you will create. Mingle and chat with the stallholders, take in the sounds and aromas of the market, taste many common or not so common fresh products, while Chef guides you in how to select the best produce and bargain for the best price.  This is also a chance to learn some simple and relevant words of Vietnamese.

The cooking class starts back at Red Bean at your own workstation – your base for the next few hours from where you will create your own Vietnamese meal.

Chef will guide you step-by-step through the intricacies and principles of making each dish. What are the secrets to make some of the best aromatic pho or the skills involved in rolling the perfect spring roll? How can one judge the right combinations of the five elements to create the perfect balance of flavors?  Once your creations are made, Chef will explain how to serve and decorate the dishes, the correct way to eat them and what the accompanying garnishes should be. Then, sit down in Red Bean restaurant and savor the meal you have created.

Red Bean cooking classes in Hanoi are held daily:

10:30-14:00 (lunch)

14:30-18:30 (dinner)

OPTION 1:

VIETNAMESE TRADITIONAL RICE NOODLE WITH BEEF SOUP (PHỞ BÒ)

Rice noodle beef soup consists of a delicious  clear broth made from bones, oxtail and flank which have been boiled for a long time up to 8-12 hours.  The broth is the secret of what makes a great Pho. With the addition of many spices, herbs and garnish and mint, our Chef will teach you step by step how to make this iconic Vietnamese dish. 

HANOI DEEP FRIED SPRING ROLLS (NEM CHIÊN):

Hanoi spring rolls are another Vietnamese favourite! Under our Chef’s instructions you will learn the correct way to finely chop and combine the key ingredients vermicelli, mushrooms, pork, onions and carrots. Learn how to place just the right quantity of this mixture on the rice paper sheets, how roll them (this is the difficult part) and deep fry to a crispy light golden colour. Serve with a great fish sauce dressing.

HA NOI CHA’GRILLED PORK (BÚN CHẢ):

Bún chả is one of Hanoi’s favourite and most traditional grilled pork dishes. Our Chef will show you how to select pork meat with the best flavour, colour and taste. Learn how to marinate and cook the pork meat and serve with white rice noodles (Bún) and dipping sauce.
     
OPTION 2:
    
VIETNAMESE TRADITIONAL RICE NOODLE WITH CHICKEN SOUP (PHỞ GÀ)

Rice noodle chicken soup consists of a delicious  clear broth made from simmering chicken meat, spices and herbs. It is a lighter type of noodle soup compared to Pho Bo.  Learn how to create a perfect dish of Pho Ga garnished with herbs and spices. . 

GREEN MANGO SALAD WITH SEAFOOD:

The fresh ingredients of mango combined with seafood creates a very nutritious and fresh tasting salad. Chef will guide you throughout the process from A to Z to create this healthy and refreshing dish.
 
GRILLED FISH IN HANOI STYLE (CHẢ CÁ):

The key ingredient of Chả Cá is a kind of fresh water fish which is marinated in spices and pan-eared or grilled over charcoal. Chef will explain how to select the best fish at market, how to fillet the fish and create this delicious dish full of flavour, texture and colour, garnished with traditional herbs. 

– Private class for 01 person: VND2,375,000
– Private class for 02 person: VND1,625,000 per person
– Private class for 04 person: VND1,375,000 per person
– Children over 12 years old charged @ adult price
– Children under 12 years old: VND375,000 per child (Accompanied by a parent)