Meet your guide at Ngoc Son Temple, a sacred site built on a small island, connected by the iconic red The Huc Bridge. Learn about the legend of the Sword Lake, the turtle god, and Vietnamese spiritual practices.
Head into the Old Quarter to explore a preserved traditional tube house from the late 19th century. Discover how Hanoians lived and traded in these narrow but deep homes, and admire the architecture.
Continue walking along Hang Dao, one of the oldest and busiest streets in the Old Quarter. Learn the storey of “36 streets”, the guild system, and how street names reflect traditional trades.
Conclude the tour at a quiet hidden gem tucked inside a small alley: Yên Thái Communal House, dedicated to village founders and deities. Learn about the ancient role of communal houses in village life and worship. Right a few steps away from it will be Yen Thai market, a local market nearby where you can get a glimpse of local life, buy fresh food and have a better understanding of Vietnamese ingredients plus their substitutes.
Next, head to a cooking class. Your instructor will show you how to make four classic Vietnamese dishes (fried spring rolls, papaya salad, pho rolls, mixed pho) and Vietnamese speciality egg coffee.
Your instructor will guide you step by step to make fried spring rolls first. This can be considered the ‘national’ dish for holidays and gathering feasts. It will require the flexibility of your hands to make even and lovely rolls.
Then move to papaya salad with the main flavours of sour and sweet. This type of salad will help to neutralize and take back your appetite after a fried dish.
Pho rolls and mixed pho are variants of the traditional rice noodles - Pho. These are locals’ favourites especially on summer days. For Pho rolls, learn how to skilfully separate and take out one uncut Pho sheet and also prepare ingredients to put inside and make delicious white and round rolls.
As for mixed Pho, roll your sleeves and blanch Pho noodles, it will require hot water to make them soft and warm. Get to know what is also needed to make delicious mixed Pho.
Finally, make Hanoi’s signature drink - egg coffee. Prepare to taste the frothy egg cream with traditional Vietnamese brewed coffee. Feel free to get creative and decorate your own coffee cup using cocoa sauce.
