Taking local cooking classes

The benefit of immersing yourself in culinary arts is the most effective way to get to know a country. No matter in which country you are: it’s no doubt that food links closely to that country’s culture. Vietnam’s cuisine strongly distinguishes itself from other countries. As a traveler, you’re suggested to participate in courses of a meal to experience the diversity in Vietnamese food culture. Within the class, the process of knowing the rituals of food, buying ingredients, and cooking the dishes through a course of cooking will give you an in-depth understanding of a culture. Learning to cook traditional dishes could be a huge challenge for foreign regarding the complication in flavors and textures. With famous dishes like Pho, you’ll learn which spices and ingredients are used in making delicious and elegant broth. It would be more exciting to join the cooking class with your friends and loved ones. You could finish cooking and enjoy the meal together and properly, it could be the best meal you ever taste on your trip. 

Saigon Cooking Class, 74 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.

M.O.M Cooking Class, 39A Co Bac Street, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1.

GRAIN Cooking Studio, 71-75 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.

Chef Vu's Cooking Class, 6/28 Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1.

Noir. Dining in the dark

Being blindfolded and having dinner in a restaurant, what should it be like?

Enjoying the meal in the darkness is assumed to be the most unique concept behind Noir. Dining in the dark restaurant. It’s not just a usual dining experience, but rather a most bizarre culinary journey when you’re challenged to finish dishes in the darkness, using only taste, smell, touch, and sound. The visual sense is blocked that the remaining senses will be more active, which passively elevates your palates. The menu consists of distinct creations inspired by European and Asian cuisine. You can choose to practice on the blindfolds games first and then move to a space filled with completely dark. It'll be incredibly exciting to invite your family and friends to come here, your children will definitely indulge in the blindfolded game and guess what they’re eating during the meal. 

Noir. Dining in the dark, 178 – 180D, Hai Ba Trung Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1.

Opening hours: 11:30am - 2:30pm | 5:30pm - 11pm

Tasting premium ‘Pho’ at Landmark 81

Pho is always known as a typical vocabulary in the Vietnamese dictionary and also in Vietnam's cuisine. As a local, it’s underlying that this delicious and nutritious specialty could be a great option at any time of the day. The guests may easily find Pho sold in many restaurants and street vendors along the streets in Saigon. But in Landmark 81 (Oriental Pearl restaurant), it’s worth a visit to have an indescribable experience of enjoying a luxury bowl of Pho while viewing the clown on the skyscraper. Inspired by the Southern recipe of ‘Pho’, the palatable broth is continuously steamed for about 48 hours, with the main ingredients including Australian beef bones, Japanese Wagyu beef, Australian Black Angus beef. The noodles are specially provided by a famous supplier in Hanoi, so they are soft and slightly chewy in texture.  

Oriental Pearl Restaurant, floor 66, Landmark 81 - 720A, Dien Bien Phu Street, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District.

Opening hours: Monday - Thursday: 6am - 10pm | Friday - Sunday: 6am - 11pm

Din Ky - Cu Lao Xanh - floating restaurant

If you’re excited about the dining experience on the yacht and the feeling of being completely separated from the hustle and bustle of the city, Din Ky - Cu Lao Xanh is a great alternative to have a family dinner that you shouldn’t miss out on. Din Ky is a seafood eatery placed on the green island in the middle of the river. To get there, you’re required to travel on a boat across a small river. The place is an outdoor dining spot with an airy Southern village style, which is definitely suitable for a birthday party, a banquet, or just simply family reunions. If you’re a fan of seafood, the restaurant is worth visiting as their dishes are cooked with fresh ingredients daily. In addition to the meal, the restaurant also has other recreational activities such as fishing, river cruises, unique and l art performances.

Din Ky - Cu Lao Xanh, 88 Nguyen Duc Canh Street, Tan Phong Ward, District 7.

Opening hours: 10am - 11pm.

Once-try tray of traditional dishes in Cuc Gach Quan

Visiting Vietnam, you shouldn't miss Vietnam's traditional family meal!

Whereas F&B ventures currently follow the modern design in Saigon, Cuc Gach Quan is truly a place that brings the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the countryside into the heart of this vibrant city. They focus on the true value of a ‘countryman’ living toward the motto ‘eat green, live healthy’ and respect for the environment. By that, they aim to re-create the traditional rice tray, introducing how the countryside meal would be like. You’ll have a tray of 4 main dishes ‘stir-fried, salty, soup and vegetables, which are processed according to the taste of the countryside. Drinks here are familiar things in the home garden such as black bean juice and fruit juice. Not just simply a business doing, the cozy place makes you feel like visiting your hometown and having a family meal. 

Cuc Gach Quan, 10 Dang Tat Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1.

Opening hours: 9:00am - 11:00pm.