A Culinary Journey from Market to Plate

The popular Red Bridge Cooking School is situated along the banks of the Thu Bon River, just 3 kms from central Hoi An and was the perfect way to spend half a day immersing ourselves in the rich flavors and techniques of traditional Vietnamese cuisine.  We booked our place with the school which included a guided tour of Hoi An’s colourful central market, a boat trip on the Hoi An River, and a two-hour hands-on cooking class.   

The tour began with a walk to the Hoi An central market, the largest market in Hoi An. We had a chance to interact with the stall holders, learn more about their daily lives leaving us feeling like we had been immersed in a truly authentic experience. We hand-picked the freshest ingredients, from aromatic herbs to the vibrant vegetables required to create an authentic Vietnamese feast in our cooking class.

One of the things that struck me throughout our trip in Vietnam was that everything centred around eating fresh food.  There were no trucks carting frozen food, just motorcycles transporting everything you could imagine, and markets full of fresh food and live fish in plastic containers which would be served at the family dinner table that evening.  Click here to read more about our time in Vietnam. 

With all the ingredients required in hand, we boarded the Red Bridge boat and sailed along the Thu Bon River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Along the way, it is a perfect chance to enjoy the peaceful and unique views of the water coconut, huge fishing nets, small fishing boats as well as the daily life on the river of local fishermen.  After 25 minutes on the boat, we arrived at the Red Bridge school, and our tour guide took us through their herb garden where we gathered more fresh ingredients. 

Under the expert guidance of the Red Bridge chef, we watched a masterful demonstration of each dish before stepping up to prepare the same dishes ourselves. The class also included a delightful introduction to the art of Vietnamese food carving, where we learned the intricate skill of plate decoration. After our hard work, we gathered together to savour the delicious meals we had created. It was a fun and memorable family activity, and for me, it was another exciting item checked off my bucket list! 

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